The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-23
WITH THE ARMY.
News Reporter Trudges Along With
Swift's IndustriaIs.
rrrom Our Correspondent. with the Army.l


DEDHAM, April 23.-The first act of the
Industrial army that left Boston yesterday,
that hopes to reach here tomorrow and
intends eventually to enter Washington,
was one Of stategy, and the general public
was badly fooled.
According to program there was public
speaking on the Common, and IL was
listened to by q crowd estimated by the
socialists themselves as containing 1900
people. Most of them attended TO see
the start of the walkers but there was no
parade. The men chosen to represent Bos-
ton at the capital stole out of the crowd
one at time and came together later
on at an appointed place outside the city.
In the meantime the outdoor oratory was
kept up and the retreat from town was
covered by fire Of raillery against exist
iEg conditions from Equity Hall.
Equity Hall Is a misnomer. There isn't
any hall by that name, but in
one section OF q dingy apartment
house at 20 Oak street, the Eqsity
Union meets and formulates plans for
universal betterment. The present move
ment was one OF these plans. Very few
knew Of this new cradle OF the latest
brand OF liberty except the mbers and
much to the surprise OF great many
unattached buns no one but members of
the Union could join the New England
Commonwealers.
The lecture yesterday was delivered by
a strange looking woman, who is appar-
entity teeming with ideas. She has a pair
of hectic flushes, sad eyes, shrill voice
and very poor teeth. Her subject was
"Signs of Crisis"
She paid tribute to the brave men who
even then were getting over the city line
on their errand for the vindication of the
rights OF the. people and also told why
there should be no interest paid on bonds.
ha "a fol hty
discussion, in the English language prin-
cipally, but the feature OF the Equity Hall
assembly was when the men who had got
left by the army, came down TO Oak
street for information as to its move
ments. They were taken in hand
by another woman who wore a
white shawl, and knitted gentlemen's
secretary who did not believe in having the
movement grow too rapidly, but rather, as
she expressed it, have "none in the army
but men as wise as serpents and harmless
as doves" OF the two dozen left-overs
all appeared harmless, but only five were
eligible on the other score and
they were examined, sworn in, provided
then hurried of to catch the gang I'm time
to draw lots for hunks at the first stop
ping place.
rhe other fifteen lost faith in the move
ment and continued their connection
with the home guard.
Providence was represented at Equity
House by Mr.. Boomer of Justice who sat
in the back entry and nodded approval.
In the meantime the army had got to-
gether at a point three miles out from
the "Signs OF Crisis" and its individual
parts enthusiastically came together
in the highway and q hundred strong or
more started in column of fours. IL was
very orderly gathering, all were impressed
with the magnitude OF the work before
them and the tread OF some Of them was
measured TO such fine point that they
dropped out OF line in the vicinity of Forest
Hills. Only 40 showed up at Hyde Park
and at this place was the first real skirm-
ism with adverse circumstances. IL was
after supper time, and they had got the
appetite produced by an eight-mile walk
and twenty four hours of previous foot
ing. Hyde Park, as a whole, did not open
itself TO the visitors and nobody asked
them in, so TO collect something the
leaders produced their principal
stock of trade and talked We
hemently about proletariats and
new salvation. The contributions to the
hat were amply sufficient for the leaders
TO buy nourishment for them
they exhorted their less fortunate follow
ers and the march was continued to Ded-
ham where a halt for the night was made.
There is q man in Dedham called Matty
who is hustler and Coxey sympath hizer.
lie had secured ITO signatures
TO petition as result OF
which the selectmen voted to
allow the army TO sleep IN lower Memorial
Hall one night. OF course the privilege
was accepted by the rank and file while
the leaders put up with the licensed
victualler in the place. IL Is all right that
the General and staff should take these
extra luxuries for II their health fails
there would be an end OF the
industrial delegation. When the
army was looked over in Memorial Hall
this morning AZ men were found under
the seats, 13 OF them being reporters I'm
disguise and one detective. They
all slept wells II anyone had suggested
IT Tor them would have thanked Dedham,
but as no one suggested it they
BANKED Dedham for not saying
anything about breakfast. As on the
night before they had TO work and this
time the talk was in the nature
OF review OF the march up
TO date and an outline OF what
was TO be done. The subject proved more
popular than proletaristism, and everyone
secured enough for a light breakfast.
Dedham was left behind early in the fore
noon. Tonight the gang will stay over
I'm Mansfield, tomorrow night in Provi-
dence and from here Il expects TO 90 TO
Fall River 10 make play for free trans
portstion by boat 10 Newport. II this