The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-25
The "On-to- Washington" Movement
Viewed with Mingled Astonishment
and Amusement at the Capital.
FEW TRAMPS AT MASSILLON
More Newspaper Correspondents
Than COmmOnweal Soldiers.
Appeal for Money by Express Issued by
the Commander-Plenty of Pro-
visions Promised.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

WASHINGTON, March A-Washington
is awaiting the coming Of Coxey's army
of peace in a doubtful frame OF mind.
Washington is accustomed to greeting great
crowds and taking care OF them No doubt
Coxeys army will be taken care of when
il arrives, If that event ever becomes his
tory. The form and nature OF the recep-
ton which will be extended to the Mas
sillon!an and his followers will depend al.
together on the frame Of mind Of the ar
my when it reaches here. If IL comes to
have a good time and with ample funds
to pay for il, il will be welcomed as are
those who flock here quadrennially to wit
ness the Inauguration of a President. when
the prices of food are raised or the pUr-
tions reduced, the beer glasses are re-
duced to picnic size and mixed drinks are
tabooed. But If the army comes here with
pockets stuffed with petitions and bills
for making the world over again, WASH
ngton will pass by on the other side
Seriously, Washington does not relish the
idea of the proposed invasion. 1t is hoped
the irruption will be stayed at the Penn
sylvania border or in Maryland. IL Is re-
ported here that the peace officers or the
counties of those States throug., which the
army will take its line of march are pre-
pared to receive the army, no matter what
it's intentions may be. Here in Washing
ton Chief OF Police Moore, who is also
colonel of the Light Infantry Corps and
veteran of the war, is on the .qui vive for
peace may be inclined to make. He does
not anticipate any trouble, but he believes
that in peace one should prepare for war. war
The chief reliance Of the capital city,
however. if danger threatened from the
coming of the army of peace or a plum
dering mob would be the troops Of the reg
of cavalry at Fort Myer across the river;
some artillery and infantry at the arsenal
in the city, and the marines at the navy
yard These could be instantly reinforced
by the National Guard of the District, OF
are regulars at Fort Monroe and Fort Nc.
Henry within easy reach. and more ABOUT
New York. Virginia and Maryland nave
several regiments each of the National
Guard, and Pennsylvania and New York
a good many thousands. All these could
be concentrated here on short notice, and
could take care of the army OF peace no
matter how warlike ii might be.
The local representation OF the so-calleo
Redstone, editor of weekly paper with
the sounding name of the National Tocsin.
noise in the World. He is just now busy as
Satan in cyclone in the work of distribut-
ing about the Capitol maps and pamphlets
descriptive of the proposed march and the
object the marchers think they have in
view. Redstone appears TO be very much
in earnest and to have implicit confdence
in Coxey. He says he receives daily bull
ietins from Coxey which keep him in
formed of the progress of the movement.
are being formed in this city. They will.
he asserts, aggregate ten thousand men,
the size of Xenophon,s army, that created
so much history when the world was
younger than it now is. He disclaims that
any violence will occur or that any plum
veil 1fTIhs be VIA An 0 army of the Character OF
this much-advertised aggregation Is pretty
certain to become uncontroiiable and when
its first victims. In the meantime wash
ington waits.
VIEWS OF CONGRESSMEN.
Members of Congress are watching the
assembling of the army which is to descend
upon them with mingled astonishment and
amusement. Most of them regard the army
as an absurdity which will soon melt away.
Some few attach to it a profound signif-
canoe as an indication of a popular upris-
ing which is to shake the foundation stones
of democratic government. number OF
Congressman know Coxey personally, and
credit him with cleverness and business
ability. Representative Sibley, OF Pennsyl.
vania, and other members who ike good
horses, have known Coxey at stock meet
ings, as he has a fondness for high-bred
horses Representative Ikert, OF Ohio, with
in whose district the Coxey army is organ
izing, knew nothing of him Representa-.
tive Dalzell and other Pittsburgers say that
Coxey does fiourishing sand business at
Pittsburg. though they do not know MN
personally. Concerning the march of the
sressmen eTtlss e We're interviewed today.
Representative Bland said: 1T Is an In.
dication of unrest and uncertainty OF the
people The Coxey army has as much right
| TO come to Washington as the Lobbyists
who come in behalf OF protection and other
| own EXPENSES and commit no depreciation
| they have a perfect right TO come. But TX
| they violate law and become mob OF Pill
layers they should be suppressed.
Representative Outhwaite said: III Cox
eys followers viii VII only d think & they VIII Ses
| date Congress TO do one thing, then an.
| other 1900 to $1,000 can intimidate them
to do another thing. which leads to an
REPRESENTATIVE Hopkins, of Illinois: MY
Judgment of il is that the army Will never
materialize in washington. II Is SO per
| fectly absurd that l cannot conceive how
| any number of men can be gotten together
| for such purpose - -
| Representative Hit, of Illinois: The
wisdom of having the national capital at
| small city is shown by the Coxey move
ment. IL the capital We're at ',tS New horH Sn1
| quent Paris has been in the hands OF
| Coxeys three times"
| Representative Dalzell: "Notoriety is at
| the bottom of it, and it would have fallen
| long ago il il had not been heralded IN the
press. 1t will fall of its own weight
| Representative McGann, OF lllinoisi
There appears to be doubt as TO what the
| purpose of the movement Will be. A Chi
| cago leader in 1t says he Is coming TO in
| sist that Indians shall not be confined TO
reservations. Coxey's purpose appears TO be
| to have the government build roads and thus
| give work 10 the unemployed. IL Is notice
| able that organized labor is not Identified
| with this movement. Organized labor has
| confidence In its own ability TO ultimately
secure fair share of the wealth IL Gre
/ ates, which is all il asks, and that the gov
| ernment shall not eXtort IL from IL by ex-
| ceSsiVe taxes on the necesSarieS or HE
| Representative Wheeler: The movement
| will probably die out before the army
! reaches Washington and nothing will be ac-
| complished.'
| Representative Broderick: 81 have not
| taken the Coxey movement seriously. Men
! having intelligence and regard for the pub
/ lie good could not be induced 10 take part
! in such a considerable number TO make
I the movement formidable. In any event
nothing could be accomplished BY such an
| appeal to Congress-.
| MACAULAY'S PROPHECY.
Representative Mcguire. OF San Fran
cisco, author of the single tax bill before
Congress, and a leading congressional ex-
ponent OF Henry George. said tonight: II
do not attach any importance TO the Coxey
movement itself 1t will amount to noting.
But it is a symptom OF a growing condt