Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-01
MR.. CRISP REFUSED.
Would Not Grant Coxey Permission to
Hold Meeting in the Capitol Grounds

w Quiz MOI 1funt COXey ferm1eo1On "a
Hold Meeting in the Capitol Grounds
Mr.. Coxey and Mr. Browne called on
Speaker Crisp last night to request permits.
sion to hold their meeting in the Capitol
grounds and speak from the Capitol steps
The Speaker replied that while he did not
remember the exact terms of the law, he
doubted that he had any authority to grab,
the permission asked. But" he added, III
have the authority / will not grant the
permit. What reasons have you to offer, y
he said. Sin support of your request to have
the operation Of the law suspendedr'
Coxey replied that they came here to rep
resent millions Of unemployed and starving
people.
Then, what is your purpose. What dc
you intend to DOR
Coxey replied that they came In the name
of the people to demand legislation for their
relief. and then entered into a long
harangue about his being the representa-
tive Of the people.
How are you the representatives Of the
peopleT' the Speaker retorted. by what
authority do You undertake to represent
the 65,0oe,000 Of people OF this country
The peoples representatives are the 35f
Representatives elected to Congress and
Of our government"
resent the people.
Then" said the Speaker, ''your remedy
is at the ballot box. Under our system OF
government, the government itself IL the
people, subject to frequent changes when
the people Indicate at the ballot box that
they want a change. You appear to be 9
to1 TO- %
pie"
box was too slow; that the relief demanded
must be had at once.
do you expect to coerce Congress7 In
better than the old method. which is being
constantly awaited Of by the peopler
Coxey replied that written petitions were
never regarded by Congress. and that he
thought his method would compel consid.
Grafton.
do You expect to intimidate Congress
Do You think that you can brighten any
Representative into voting against his con-
yictions9
Coxey replied that he did not know, and
rambled on about the million Of starving
people who were going to have immediate
relief, saying that he believed 1t was the
duty Of the government to appropriate
money for the employment Of the unem-
pioyed. He said they could not walt for
the opportunity to elect men to Congress
representing the people" and that they
would have to have relief, even IL 1t were
secured through revolution.
Your proposition" said the Speaker,
would be- If carried out, subyersive of the
government Our institutions would be
oterthrown and there would be no stability
of government" " ~ =
Coxey then rambled of into a discussion
OF the constitutional rights Of his people To
assemble In the Capitol grounds He was
told that those grounds were set aside by
the government for a specific purpose, and
the occupancy was regulated by law. The
White House and other public buildings
were set aside In q similar way, and 1t
would certainly not be contended that they
could be encroached upon by any one al
Will. Coxey still persisted and said that his
army had a right to assemble in the White
House grounds.
The Speaker replied that he would not
grant the permission sought; that no rea-
II; that II permission were given to Ccxey
1t could not be refused to any one for any
purpose; that the proposed method Of petit
ton meant an attempt at Intimidation or
1t meant nothing; and that II the theory
OF public ownership was to be accepted as
giving any assemblage to take possession
or occupy government property 1t would
apply to the treasury and Its vaults as
well.
This morning Coxey had an interview
with the Vice President somewhat similar
in tenor and with the same result. He was
told by both that he would not be permitted
to hold a meeting In the Capitol grounds