Evening star., 1944-05-07
Fifty Years Ago

spreading out on the Capitol grounds,
furnished basis for
Coxey police complaint and
Convicted court action, and some of
the leaders were up in
Police Court for trespass. According to
The Star of May Z, 1894: "The circus
parade this morning was rival attrac-
ton to the show at the Police Court and
the result was rather small audience
when the trial of Coxey, Browne and
Jones was commenced (Browne was the
parade marshall" The lawyers for the
defense claimed no trespass, and tried
to quote portions of the Bible in proof,
This was not allowed. The verdict was
reported in The Star of next day: "At
1855 o'clock the Police Court jury = =.
returned a verdict holding all guilty on
the first count, and Browne and Coxey
on the second. but of this count Jones
was acquitted. The first count
charged them with carrying banners
across the Capitol grounds. The Sec
ond count charged them with injuring
the grass"
X
A new cultural association was Or
gantzed in Washington and the first
regular meeting
Columbia Historical held, as related
Society in The Star of
.' May 8, 1894:
"The first regular meeting of the re-
Gently organized Columbia Historical
Society was held last evening at the
home OF the president, DR.. j. M. Toner,
1445 Massachusetts, avenue" In speak
Ing OF the purposes of the society, he
said that it had obligations to the pub
lie, and should be so conducted that it
would be not only museum but also a
first-class reference library open to all.
He appealed to members and nom
members alike to bring in documents.
photographs and other memeptoes of
the past, that the collection be as COM
plete as possible. The society is still
going strong, and last month celebrated
its 50th year.
The old military problem of attack
vs.. defense had another chapter
written, as related in The
Attack vs.. Star Of May 8, 1894: "The
Defense naval proving ground at
Indian Head on the Poto-
mac on Saturday next will be the scene
of the most extraordinary contest be-
tween gun and target that has yet taken
place in this country. The occasion will
be trial for superiority between the
attacking power of the 13-inch breech-
loading rifle and the resisting strength
of the l8-inch side armor OF the 10,288-
ton battleships. 1t will be battle be-
tween the heaviest gun and the thickest
armor ever made in this country"
Naively the article demonstrated that
the outcome was bound to be triumph
of American genius. IF the gun wins
it will be triumph for American ord
nance over the most effective modern
plating, while victory for the armor
will be new triumph fer an American
process which is giving our ships
extraordinary protection"
X X
Fortunately for the Nation, the attack
and defense of the Navy were nothing
like the variety shown by
Senators VS.. those defenders of Wash
Orioles ington, the Senators of
DID, when they met an
invasion of the Baltimore Orioles.
"Washington's Worst" ran headline
in The Star of May 8, 1894. Some per-
sons witnessed Barnum & Baileys circus
yesterday afternoon, while about 1900
others journeyed to National Park to
see baseball game, but were treated
to an exhibition that rivaled the greatest
show on earth" With the all-time
stars McGraw, Wee Willie Keeler,
Brodie, Brothers, Kelley, Hughie Jen-
nings and Wilbert Robinson in the line
up for Baltimore, defeat was no dis
grace, but the score was II to O. Wash
ingtons third baseman, Sullivan, incon-
siderately deprived Pitcher Mullane of
no-hitter by getting the only hit for
Washington. while Baltimore made no
less than l8 safeties.