Yellowstone monitor., 1914-05-28
TOM STOUT'S LETTER
Interesting sidelights on men and things political


Washington, D. c., May q, 1914.
While enrOute to my office from
the Capitol a few months ago | OBJ
served a little bunch of men punched
up out in front of the big dome and,
upon inquiry, was informed that it
was Coxey's army. Being mildly cur
ious, | walked over and got close
view of the famous general and
his hiking followers. The army, in
cluding Mrs. Coxey and her little
daughter, figured up just eleven peo-
pie. Of the little band who started
out several weeks ago from Massil-
lon, Ohio, only six stuck to the end
but four recruits were picked up
along the weary way so that this
much heralded "army of the unem-
ployed" treked into the nations cap
itol with but one shy of dozen.
The General with his wife and a
little daughter rode through in a
very comfortable buggy to which was
attached mule of ancient vintage.
1t is a very comfortable rig and the
general looked anything but travel
stained when he arrived at the goal
of his thousand mile journey over
land. Some of his brave followers
did show some sign of rough usage
but they were in good spirits and
expressed themselves satisfied over
reaching the end of the hike. AS
they marched up through the beauti-
full CAPITOL grounds, the bugler bugled
his best, the drummer drummed for
dear. life and the color bearer waved
his flag high above his head. 1t was
truly an inspiring sight only because
it was in itself most complete re
futation Of the claims deing made by
calamity howlers and political fakirs
that the country is overrun with peO-
ple out of work. It was an object
lesson for all the croakers and down
deep nj. his heart, General" COxey,
himself, must have felt how futile
has been his latest effor; to play a
game of buncombe.
| gazed with greatest admiration
upon the footsore followers. AS
have stated, there were eight Of them
and they are all brave men and true,
deep in his heart. General COxey
for, according to reports of their
progress across the country, each
and every one Of them has been con
fronted by dread terrors in the guise
Of offers of employment by farmers
and others with whom they have
come in contact. But they remained
true to their colors and their cause
did those faithful eight. They stared
! not death, but worse, work, in the
face at hundred road sides and
never flinched. There were several
who started out who fell victims to
seductive offers of steady jobs but
these eight faltered not in the hours
of their greatest trial. They set their
faces toward the rising sun and
looked labor in the face without 2
culver.
Twenty years ago the first of this
month, Coxey led his first army OF uE
employed and unemployers into the
capitol. There were about two thous
and Of them and they were greeted
by thousands of curious spectators
as they marched through the city
! The general tried to make camp or
the grass of the capitol grounds and
got himself arrested for doing so. He
tried to make speech from the front
steps of the capitol but was not per
mitted to do so. It was different
today. No traffic was impeded as
they struggled along Pennsylvania
Avenue. no effort was made to keep
them off the grass and the authorities