Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-23

Improvement idea was just the measure
Browne needed to serve as an excuse for
demanding large issue of legal tender
paper money. 1t would also recommend it
self to the unemployed as means of en-
ployment for a vast army of men.
Last December Browne wrote Coxey.
proposing that an army Of the un-
employed be organized and led to
Washington to demand that s5Oo.OOOOoo
of legal tender notes be issued and
spent IN improving the highways of the
country. Browne wanted to start from Chi
cago- But Coxey lived at Massillon, Ohio,
and as he was to supply the wherewithai to
readily consented to crafty his personal
ambition and local patriotism by making
Massillon the starting point.
The details OF plan We're soon worked
out. To advertise the scheme a series of
bulletins were printed and scattered broad
cast over the country. They contained just
such mixture of IDEAS, exhortations and
pictures as was calculated to arouse curiosi-
ty and attract attention. All the time Carl
Browne kept IN the background and let
Coxey enjoy the notoriety. But every idea,
plan and picture bore the unmistakable ear
marks OF Browne.
A Far-Seefng Agitator.
Browne is a student of human nature in
the rough. also of history. outlandish and
impossible as seemed his proposal when 1t
appeared in the public press any one who
win read the bulletins will see that Browne
knew exactly what he was about THE
Commonweal Of Christ" the name chosen
for the so-called army; its motto, Peace
on earth. good will to men, but death to in
terest-bearing bonds; its complete organiza-
ton into Communities" "cantons" &c, each
with its proper officers; the banners to be
carried and the badges to be worn; the queer
mixture Of nationalism. theosophy and
Christianity set forth as the creed Of the
commonweal: the strict regulations adopted
to protect the army from vagabonds, and to
prevent its degeneration into a band of pill
10 49, Nkr1- a. GER
known" since fallen into disgrace, all these
were the coinage OF Brownies fertile brain
and all were admirably calculated to ac-
complish the aim of the originator.
Browne is nobody's fool People laughed
loud and long at the absurdity of organizing
an army of a hundred thousand penniless
men with healthy stomachs, feeding them
and keeping them In order during a thirty
five days march. But bulletin No. 81
shows that such an idea never entered
Browne, mind. He planned to do Just what
month before the march BEAN. he saws: q
1T Is not expected that any large number
will march with US all the way, but that
there will be, by the time we reach Wash
fnzton many thousands. More may get
there by rail or other conveyance The
meeting in Washington Is the main OBJ
Jective point Of this program. Get there
somehow.
Another provision. sensible enough from
the leaders point of view, but certainly
amusing to outsiders. is the following:
ITO avoid all pOsSlDlHly OF unauthorized
and unguarded utterances. there win be no
speakers but Brother COxey and myself at
the meetings, at which 1 will exhibit my
financial panorama and draw off-hand
cartoons.
Doubtless this provision had something to
do with the revolt OF the Unknown" He
seems to have been an anu-monopolist on
the talk question
Browne counted on something else not
down in the bills-f-ee newspaper advertis-
ing and lots of it. Without it his most
strenuous efforts would have been fruitless.
The great daily papers. especially in the
east where the movement is most depre-
Gated, have made il a success.
All the other armies organized and start
ed to the national capital are limitations of
the original and owe their existence to
Browne and Coxey. Several of them are al
ready larger than the commonweal, and are
making their way from remote parts OF the
country by rail- as Browne suggested. How
many will get here by May L no one can
predict.
Brownies History.
Although dozens OF enterprising pencil
pushers have relentlessly pursued the com
rnonweal for a month, eagerly Selling on
ey ery item of news or information, scarcely
a scrap of Carl Brownies interesting biog-
raphy has got into print He is perfectly
free to express his views, and raises no Cd
lection to having kodak snapped on MIN
but he doesn't talk about himself. 50 1af
as know. there is nothing IN MS past MS
tory that needs covering up. Either he mas
a natural aversion to figuring as the mere
Of his own story "a most admirable trait
or ne shrewdIy thinks a bit of mystery only
serves to stimulate public interest IN MIN