Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1928-04-05
Age Does Not Daunt
Spirit of Cen Coxey
May Lead Great Unwashed" to Ma
tion's Capitol Once More; Unem-
ployment Figures Vary
BY ROBERT FULLER

the country during which he studied
unemployment conditions and an
nounced that soon he may lead an
other army to the nations capitol.
The march of Coxey's army to
the steps of the capitol in 1894 has
become history. His hair has turned
gray, he is well on in years and
heads prosperous stone quarry
business at Massillon, Ohio, but he
still animated by the spirit that sent
this song ringing through the air as
mis- troops of unemployed approach
ed Washington:
We're coming, Grover Cleveland,
five hundred thousand strong,
We're marching on to Washington
to right the nations wrong,
BY time and distance undismayed,
by hunger unabashed,
For we are Coxey's. army of the
great unwashed."
THE boys will join me on the
march," General Coxey told the
writer in an exclusive interview
They're anxious to come. Just as
we did in 1S94-each mothers son
OF them will start from his home
town and get to Washington the
best way he can.
Il will start from my own home
town, Massillon, and We'll all get
together and have big demonstra-
ton at the capitol-there will be
more of us than in 1894, because
conditions are worse.
"Of course"-and the generals
tone became grave-"I want to
avoid the march if possible. If
my bill providing for the loaning of
non-interest bearing bonds to state
governments by the federal govern
ment goes through, the march will
be unnecessary. The march would
be lot of trouble, but perhaps it
will be needed to make the people
wake up to the situation.
1.-The march may cause misunder-
standing. When we marched before,
Browne, Jones and myself were ar
rested for 'treading upon the turf or
grass and injuring the shrubbery.'
They cast us into prison for 20
days and fined us $500 each.
But we are ready, in spite of
all risks, and as soon as we hear
that the bill is not going through,
'Coxey's army will be on the road
again. | am going to print great
number of pamphlets which the boys
can sell on the road to help main
tain themselves"
General Cox has for many years
been sponsoring. the abolition of in
terest as a means for procuring ma
,tion-wide prosperity. ''The only
people in the country who are now
making money" he says, "are the
big five, or the five BIS, who are
the bankers, brokers, bondowners,
bootleggers and burglars.
THE five or six million Ameri-
cans now unemployed cannot be en-
ployed unless the communities that
would employ them have money. l
have been trying to get measure
passed that will provide that con-
gress coin money for the people at
no cost to them. Between 1919 and
1922 | was in Washington seeking
to obtain a hearing for this meas
ure, and had conferences with the
late President Harding and others.
IL think a farmer, city dweller
or anyone should be able to obtain
money at the same rate that a bank
obtains it-from one-half to one
per cent would be the rate, and it
would be service charge rather
than interest.
Conditions are such that in the
past six years two million farmers
lost their farms and over So per cent
of the farmers in Oklahoma have be-
come tenants although their land
was given to them only thirty-five
years ago.
81 have been in Iowa, Nebraska,
Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas in
Sthe last three months, and have Wis
tied manufacturers between Min
neapolis and Boston. Not over rs
per cent of the factories | saw were
running to their full capacity. | con-
slider unemployment due to the re-
striction of bank credits.
"By my bill the government would
issue money on bonds to be offered
by states, to be used to push for
ward or complete municipal con-
struction, such as roads or buildings.
This would give employment to
practically all the unemployed in the
country The states would be re-
quired to recall the bonds at the
end of twenty-five years, but would
not have to pay interest on them. y
Figures on the amount of unem-
ployment in the country vary. Some
estimate the number as high as A.
100000, and few place it as high
as does General Coxey, who thinks
there are about 100000 unem-
ployed.
whats so artistic about that old
r