The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-05-02
COXEY
Washington Police Refuse to Let the
C0mmonwealers Into the Capitol
Grounds.
Story Of the March Up Pennsylvania
Avenue and Irs Very Sudden
Termination.
Police Have an Exciting Chase After
Coxey and Browne on the Capitol
Grounds.

veal army was astir early upon Bright
wood heights, with preparations for the
great procession to the Capitol. There
was an early breakfast OF eggs, coffee
and bread; tents were struck and packed
into wagons and the whole army was
| aligned before Q o'clock. All the men
| carried slaves on which fiuttered white
Gags with the motto "Peace on earth;
good win toward men, but death to in
terest on honda"
There was much marching and
countermarching on the grounds. pranc-
ing Of stations and hauling Of the CONF
missary wagons into line. The men had
passed q cold night, most Of them sleep
ing or the ground. Before the start,
Carl Browne formed the men into q hol-
low square, and put them through q
most remarkable drill.
The slaves were handled like guns
and when Browne shouted gloria and
peace thay cheered three times, shrilivs
and waved their, sticks in the air. ,TheSs
evolutioEs were performed by the main
body OF the asTayas ranrr
Browne harangued fhsssanen In his
customary eatafakir&gatrain telling
than that they had received permission
70 march to- the capitol grounds, where
they must disband and enter a. indi-
| Yidnal citizenag
stWhether or not we will DO per-
mitted to speak, / cannot say" he
added, 'tbut You must be careful TO pre-
serve the peace. Then we viii reform
and march TO our new camp nearby,
which has been provided. This demon
stration viii be more powerful than
force, than guns, or than bombs" and
the ragged army at this cheered wildly.
| Then Browne went on: tFThe people
said that we would not march up Penn
sylvanis avenue when we reached here.
Yet the police department informed
Brother Coxey that we could march"
Meanwhile down in the city there
was nothing to indicate that the city OF
professions was eager to view the queer
est parade that had ever tramped the
asphalt of Pennsylvania avenue. 1t
takes brass buttons and bands and many
of them to stir q Washington crowd,
and Coxey's dissonant fifers and drum.
mers could not aus Y the vagrant
negro population to get down town be.
fore hand. When the army was ready
and out Of Brightwood driving park il
started for town. As the caravan
wound its way down through the mile
stretch OF woods to the city it was
The Aaost Fantastic Array Hs
ever conceived in q dream. Nine
mounted police rode on ahead, clearing
the way. Then came Carl Browne in
his buckskin suit, mounted on his big
gray Percheron stallion and waving q
small flag. Next was q creamy white,
prancing circus steed, the feature OF the
whole parade, bearing Miss Mamie
Coxey, in the role of the Goddess OF
Peace. She was a 9 lender, really hand.
some girl of n years, with long golden
hair drifting down her back. She wore
a pure white riding habit, which
streamed after her as the tall horse on
which she had been perched pranced tc
the music Of the band. Her head was
covered by q little rimless, blue cap,
and she shaded her face by q tiny para.
sol. Altogether she was q picture oi
such unusual beauty that
A Spontaneous Cheer .
greeted the unexpected appearance all
along the line. The Goddess of Peace
was followed ty Oklahoma Sam, the
cowboy. on another big stallion, then
came Roy Kirk and three other mar.
shals. Thatcher the bugler rode next
emitting frequent blasts from his cor
net, and followed by the big happinc
American flag, carried by q stalwarl
wealer. Next the commonweal arm.
band of six pieces, mostly lass drum.
and cymbals, pounding determinedly Ii
an attempt at Marching Through
Georgia"
In a light buggy decorated with flags
drawn by two black horses, sat Genera
Coxey himself, beside Mrs. Coxey, /.
rather handsome young woman in tar
colored tailor made gown, shading witt
q parasol the white robed infant
Legal Tender Coxey, aged . years
Then marching two by two, came tn
regular m of the army. Befor
each commune was q commisary wagol
drawn by two percherons, the wagol
daubed ON its white canvas cover wit
wierd a~llegorical illustrations or th
Course OF National Banks."
There was little OF actual interest i
the march up Pennsylvania avenue
When the head OF the procession reache
the east front of the capitol q soil
front OF policemen was encountered
! They stretched from curb To curb, NAL
Ing progress toward the capitol In
possible.
Coxsy's Rpse Dsan't work.
! There was nothing to do bat mo,
! down the officers or 60 ahead. Th
squad Of police ahead Of Coxeyis ca
riags went straight ahead. II was
russ TO carry the procession past Il
! Capitol Coxsy and his people shows
! their chargrin but followed ont B stree
Hurried signals were passed betwee
J Coxsy and Browne. Il was clear che
|. would not be thus led willingly ava,
Half d block up b street Browne halts
his column and dismounted. He turns
over hts horne to- 90 attendant. Then |