The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-10
ON PAVEMENT AS ON GRASS
Carl Browne, Coxeyite, Has Trouble
Wherever He Goes


Wherever He Goes.
Carl Browne. the former Coxey leader,
attempted to make a Socialist speech
Saturday night at the corner of Kan
sas avenue and Sixth street. The po-
lice had to dispense the crowd which
howled at Browne and then got mixed
up in a general row. Brown came TO
town Saturday morning and spent the
day advertising his meeting Saturday
evening. When Browne erected his
stand and fixed up the blackboard on
which he makes his pictures a. large
crowd had gathered. He addressed the
crowd with Socialistic utterance which
apparently did not please a number of
the spectators, and before he had talked
long he was interrupted with questions.
In the course Of his talk Browne
stated that he favored no particular
candidate for president. Several men
in the crowd at once suggested that he
should favor their choice, some calling
the name of Mckinley, others that of
Bryan. Browne became angry, and
talked back to the men, which was ex-
actly what they wanted. One man in
terrupted him with this:
What about the labor question?
What about the labor troubles in st.
Louis and Chicago?"
Il will reply to you in a moment"
said Browne.
The question was repeated, but
Browne continued talking. Finally he
turned to the point from which the
question had come, and said.
Now, my friend, I will answer your
questions about the labor troubles"
The man, who was in a buggy, had
driven around to the other side of the
crowd. Browne looked for him, but did
not see him.
sWhere has my labor friend gomez
he asked. 81 guess he must have been
a scab-''
This caused a laugh, and the man
became angry, and shouted at Browne,
but his remarks were lost in the noise
and laughter of the crowd.
''Why don't you support Bryan?"
'sYou ought to be for Mckinley
''Be a man and come out for some
body
These and similar remarks were
yelled at Browne, who tried to answer
and continue his speech at the same
time. One man who had an exception
ally loud voice insisted that the crowd
Don't hurrah for Bryan" said
Browne; this is not Bryan meeting;
and don't hurrah for Mckinley. for this
is not a Mckinley meeting.
caught tn eattention of the crowd long
enough to propose three cheers for Nc
Kinley.
In doing this Browne said:
1.-THE people are getting tired of these
long-haired Populist freaks
The cheers were given as soon as the
crowd learned what was expected by
Browne. The crowd then pressed closer
What is the matter with this good
town of Topeka?" yelled Browne
Cant a man talk on the streets with
out being howled down by hoodlums?
I want to know where the police are,
and why they don't quiet this crowd"
There were some followers of both
presidential candidates in the crowd
who had been drinking, and the meet
the hoodlum spirit, which they did not
hesitate to take advantage Of They in
creased the tumult and when some one
Kissed Browne turned to his blackboard
and drew picture of a serpent This
made the crowd howl all the more.
A fight was started in the center of
the crowd, a. colored boy knocking
down two white boys who are employed
in the Mail and Breeze office. A man
who works on the Rock Island railroad
got in the game by knocking down the
negro, and he was at once surrounded
by crowd of colored men, who were
unable to get hold of him as he Knocked
them right and left. His friends came
to his rescue and in a. short time a free
for all row was in motion. Those in the
crowd who did not want to fight fran
tically rushed to get out while those on
the outskirts of the crowd pushed for
ward to see the fun. officer Pavey, who
was in the crowd, got to the fighters and
separated them. He took the railroader
out of the crowd, and was obliged TO
use his club in keeping back the men
who were trying to strike him. Other
officers arrived, and after a good deal OF
work succeeded in dispensing the crowd.
1t was after II o'clock before the street
was entirely cleared.
Browne announced that he would
speak Sunday afternoon on Expan-
sion,' taking for the foundation OF his
remarks the second chapter Of Matthew
The police were on hand, but only few
people stopped to listen to Browne, and
his Sunday afternoon meeting proved
frost.