The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-03-04
THE ARMY OF 1894
TOpeka's Old Timer Tells of
COxey's Army.
Country Was Recovering From
a Destructive Panic.
CONTINGENT VISITED Topeka
Armies of General Kelly and
Frye We're Largest.
Marshal Nicely Received $4,000
tor Arresting Them.
CONTINGENT VISITED TOPEKA
BY LLOYD sIEBER.

The country had just survived one
OF the most destructive and ruinous
panics in its history. the panic OF
1898 In fact we hadn't entirely sur
vived. We were suffering from the
after affects. The production of our
great Industrial and manufacturing
plants was nearly at a Standstil. Busl-
ness depression swept the entire coun-
try. Thousands upon thousands of
idle men were tramping the streets
of our cities in search of employ
ment. Men with children at home
searched in vain for work. Some
thing had to be done 10 relieve the
situation They were growing des-
perate.'
COxey Presents Plan.
In 1894. the country was suddenly
aroused by plan propounded by
Jacob .Slecker Coxey of MassilOn.
Ohio. CoXey was a Populist in poll
tics and a Theosophisr in religion.
He proposed that the thousands of
idle men be organized into a great
Industrial army and march to Wash
1ngton and protest to congress, in de-
mand that it enact legislation TO slim
ulate the business depression and ere
ate means by which employment
could be secured for these idle men.
Coxey was considered wealthy and
made liberal contributions 10 his
cause.
"Immediately his movement spread
like wild fire over the country, Coxey
contingents were organized in Cali
fornia. Colorado. Rhode Island and
elsewhere. A company was organized
in Topeka by Captain Artz. compris-
ing fifty men. The armies OF Cen
erals Kelly and Frye organized in San
Francisco and Los Angeles were the
largest with the exception of General
Coxey's."
The people were intense with ex-
element and waited with aWed eX-
and prophesised as to the turn OF
events The papers and current mas
zines of the day ridiculed the idea
that these large armies OF hungry and
ragged men would have any affect on
congress in their demands"
Views of the Army.
The conditions which they were
bitterly opposed to at the time and
the propositions they offered in sub
stitute are rather interesting and truly
they were correct in many of their
views. In the petitions which each
man was required to sign they at
tackled the supplantinE OF labor by
machinery: monaghan and pauper i'm
IN -grtion; excessive exploitation by
rent, profits. interest or products of
toll. They stated that the wealth of
the nation was too uncentralized
which left the masses in hopeless
restitution.
They demanded that the govern
ment furnish employment for all citi-
zenS: prohibit foreign immigration for
ten years; and refuse the right of
ownership of real estate to aliens"
''COxey COntingentS in various parts
OF the country stole trains and jour
neyed towards Washington. till they
either ditched and wrecked them or
were captured and arrested by United
States troops. But in general they
were ruly and law abiding and alb
hOred wanton destruction of property.
They We're amply furnished with
food in most places and treated with
hospitality"
But" the Old Timer paused and
re-lit his fragrant cigar. MY lad
I'll never forget the day when a con-
tingent of 400 men under General
Sanders arrived in Topeka aboard a
stolen Missouri Pacific train. under
custody of United States Marshal
Nicely. They had stolen the train at
a point in Colorado and travelled as
FAR as Scott City. where they were
captured in the railroad yard.
Army Visits Topeka.
Marshal Nicely received $4,000 in
fees for arresting them. Topeka was
all astir; excitement was at a high
pitch when the news spread over the
city with lightning rapidity that part
OF CoNeys army was in town Citi-
zens visited the railroad tracks at
Thirteenth and Quincy streets where
the stolen train was stationed They
arrived in Topeka in the afternoon of
May IL. 1894. On their arrival here
they had gone three DAYS without
food Mr.. Harrison. Topeka's mayor.
engaged in a heated alteration with
Marshal Nicely. which almost came TO
blows over the negligence of Nicely
falling to feed his prisoners The
Topeka State Journal sent them 200
loaves of bread and I 200 small cakes
Topeka citizens helped literally also
Many school children we're there at
the time OF the arrival of the train |
cheering wildly and waving flags.
They were in Topeka about two days. I
They were taken TO Leavenworth and
some served short Jail sentences in !
various Kansas county jails and paid /
fines ranging from $40 TO s5s. CEN
eral Coxey was arrested in Wash I
lnEton and sentenced to Jail. The
CoNey movement began to wane. It's
back was broken"
But it's all You could expect" /
casually remarked the Old Timer.
with knowing twinkle in his ewes.
W men You think that you can die |
tate TO your Uncle sam what he
should do. YOU have another think /
'acomin'." he added.
"Coxey's Army is favorite phrase 4
or the school youngsters OF today,
whose knowledge Of this man who 4
fought coura geously for his conv6--
tons, in effort TO solve the unemplov-
Taent problem of'that day. is mythical 1
or hearsay. or IL a number Of ragged
men are noticed. by an old timer his
mind VIII probably wander back to i
the Coxeyism period when great
numbers of ragged and hungry men
roaming the streets was q common
sight
Atchison to Have 4-Story COLLEGE.
AtChison. Kan. March A-Rsav -