The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-09
Sharp Treatment Of an Advances
Guard Of Commonwealsrs
at Washington.
They VIII be Charged with
VnRrancy In tho Police
Court To-day.
An Army Landed In ogden aud Railroad .
WIN Garry Them Neither
East nor West.

WAsHISaTos. April 8.-The uncermonious
war In which freight car load OF unem-
ployoi from Cincinnati was taken ia
charge by the police last night is a forsoast
Of the reception that awaits Coxey's army.
To- morrow ths men will be brought In 10
ths police court upon charges Of vaRraney.
The local Law against vaRrants applies to
all men without visible means OF support,
who are destitute likely to bsesms
charges upon the city. or who have no vo-
cation or means OF gaining q livelihood. or
who solicit aims. The penalty is ninety
days in the workhOuse At hard labor. but 10
rests within the discretion of the Judge 10
accept thsir promises TO leave the city at
once. or 20 accept 800 bonds ss surety that
they will not become public charges or beg.
There is no doubt Of the applieation
Of this law to the band from Texas under
Capt. Primrose. for a search in the police
station shows the total capital OF the com
psnJ amounts to about g.. They have re-
oeivsd two fairly good mesls to-day and
have BEEN passably comfortable
Capt. Primrose, the leader OF the band.
may find himself In more serious trouble
than his followers. There 10 an old Law on
the s,atute books. vhish vas passed In
1880. and which makes II an onsass to
bring into the District Of Columbia any
destitute people who are likely 10 become
public charges. with penalty OF from s.
10 $50 fine for each offsnse. The police
authorities are now considering the advis-
ability of bringing a charge OF violating
this law against Pfim 'ose. ia which case
the fines, with the alternative OF workhoHss
imprisonment would amount 10 q VERY
heavy punishment. The same charge may
be brought against Gen. Corey. OF course
the yaarAncy act NAV not be brought into
application against his followers. and be-
sides there a'e two other laws which IL is
the avowsd and advertised purpose of the
Coxeyitos to break. One 10 an act of con-
Rrsas regulating the use Of the cHpitol
grounds which forbids any gathering there
for demonstration OF parade, the making
OF any Grafton. OF the use of threatening
language. OF the display OF any banner or
device TO attract attention. The other 10 q
local Law which forbids men to congregate
on the steps of public or private building.
II rests within the disorstion OF the vice
president and the speaker OF the house 10
suspend she eApitoi regulations Tor any
proper purpose. aud perhaps Coxey'a agents
will apply to them for permission TO carry
out their programme.
Msi. Moore, chief Of police said to- day. in
speaking Of Coxsy: These laws are on the
statute book and we have no discrsuon.
We must snforos them II CoKsY's army
arrives. unless congress giVss them pc
mission to conRreRate on the capitol steps."
The details Of the Intentions of the police
aRsinst Coxsy are kept secret No doubt
he will be met At the district limits and II
the numbers of his amy are too great for
the police 30 cope with, the local militia
will be called TO their aid. What to do
With the army when IL arrives aud is taken
into custody is "a difficult question. 1bs
station houses OF the city would not accom-
rVrFa4 "a nrh A - rrNIu rlaa
the men ami forbid them 10 enter the dis
trict Wou d be TO turn thom loose on the
suburban resilents Of Virginia and
Mary land. and this 10 subject
which gives the governors Of ad-
joining states much unsasinsse.
Ne ioT Moore has received a letter from the
ch ef Of polics OF Allegheny City, Pa, de-
scribing CoIey's men IN most uncOnpls-
mentary terms. He declares there are SOW
eral professional criminals in tLeir ranks;
that four OF i've burglaTiss were committeI
by them while in that city, and there would
have boon more depredations but for close
police survsillance during the army's stay.
Col. k0dstone, Washington representa-
tive of Corey. said concerning the men ar
rested last night: This body of men is not
called the commonweal army. as no COxey
men will come until word 10 previously sent
TO our headquarteTs, and none will come IN
disorder and without military discipline.
There will be no resistance 20 law and none
of the men will enter the city as q body un-
til the main line arrives"
Many labor leaders of this city are in.
censed al the arrest OF thefOrty-ons
unemployed. and declare the pro
ceeoInRs without lawful authority. They
say that Mayor Moore has no right 90 deal
with these men as means Of "a horrible ex-
ample" for CoIsy's army. IL 10 claimed
that when the case comes into court to-
morrow morning there will be plenty OF
fiiends of the men. including a msmbsr OF
congress- ard 10 the Law has been over
stepped Ia this arrest, the proper psople
will be mAde 20 euler for 10.