The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1894-04-30
C0XEY Is THERE AT LAST
The Industrial Leader and His Troops
Campad in Washington
HIS RED HOT SPEECHES
Yesterday the People at the Ma
tionaI Capital Witnessed One
OF the Strangest Sights
OF the Century.

WASHINGTON. April 29.-Citizen j. ;.
Coxey, commander-in-chlef OF the Good
Roads army Of the commonweal, stand-
ing on "a rickety wagon in the center Of
Brightwood park, waving aloft his Alpine
hat TO one of the most cosmopolitan aud
extensive audiences ever gathered in
Washington, announced this afternoon
that tho greatest march Of the Nineteenth
century had been accomplished.
Three hundred and iiIy miserahly
dressed. woc.begone, grumbllnZ, out-at-
the-elbow ws-and-run-dowu-at-th s-a spec
linens of humanity marched into the park
led by n whee2ing apology for "A band,
pitched their tents and stretched them
selves in tho sun. Thousands from the
city turned out TO make n holiday OF il
and inspect their curious aggregation.
Thick clouds of dust ovcrhung the two
roads leading TO BT,ghtwood from the
city all day long and were plowed with
more travel than customarily. Two end
less professions swept along the road all
day with such variety of travellers AS
had never turned out in Washington since
war times.
Lining the entrance 10 the park, enter
prising colorcd citizens had established
their booths for traffic in gingerbread,
and sweetencd water passed current un-
der the guisc OF lemonade. The sem
hlance of a circus layout was further en-
forced by thmblerircers and shell men
stalking about the outskirts OF the crowd; I;
but when the people poured into the park
the suggestion of a circus day was full
blown. In the center of the half-milc race
track tapped the canvas enclosure which
encirclcd the quarters OF the common
veal army. Half dozen weather beaten
army tents stood about the canvas drawn
circle, with several canvas covered COM
missary wagons. The entire wagons were
covered with black painted daubs of
legends. A queer mixture of good roads
and finance prevailed. Nearby were
fastened two large American flags. and
emblematical banners were freely dis
played.
But the queerest sight was tho men who
had marched. They were the most unique
and inexplcable aggregation ever brought
together. Some OF them were at work ut
the tents md wagons. Others curled up
on the damp ground munching great
chunks of bread, and many strc tched
sleeping in the sun with heads pillowel
on their rolled M coats. Clad in fashion,
able spring attire OF light gray hue and ms
perfectly creased trousers rs could be
seen on Fifth avenue, with a cup OF coffee
in one hand and boiled egg In the other,
from which lie alternately took refresh.
ment and sustcnnnce, sat toNey.
"Wha: do you intend to do when the 20,
lice prevent you from holding your meet.
ing in the capitol grounds" he was
asked.
''No one will prevent us" replied Coxcy
"Does not the constitution guarantee the
right TO reaceably assemble and petition
congress-" asked he.
But there is police regulation passed
by congress which forblds persons and as
semblies on the capitol grounds and tho
police will stop your army II II attempts
To trespass."
"The constitution was written before
any police regulations" replied Coxey
"lf they come in conflict with the consti
tuition they arc void. We stand squarel,
upon the constitution; that is our plat.
form"
"How do you intend to forco you
rights"
There is but ono way. by appeal to the
courts. We will go before the hiPhes
courts in tho land If necessary. Mean
while we will wait here In Washington 4
il takes all summer. II the courts refus,
us our rights there will be u revolution.
do not advocate n revolution nor DO | de
sire It, but it will be irresistible and II vii
be the greatest revolution of history I
the American people are only thorough!
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