Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1894 — THE GREAT CRUSADE. [ARTICLE]

THE GREAT CRUSADE.

Progress of Coxey’s Common- ■■■"■ weal Army. Setting Down Toward* the Capital— Scenes And incidents—Notes. - The Army of the Commonweal embarked on canal boats at Cumberland, Md., Tuesday at noon. The ran will be made without interruption to Williamsport, where the ragkfig canal will be forsaken and a six-mile tramp taken to Hagerstown, the next stopping place. From Hagerstown the army will continue on the route formerly laid through Frederick, Boonsborough, and on to Washington. The loading of the horses into the boat was accomplished without accident, though with enough of incident, as the big Percheron stallion and the lighter trotting horses were pushed, pulled and lifted into the hold of the vessel. The men stowed themselves away in the other boat, and the fleet moved down the canal with cheers of the crowd ringing in their jars. The army has high hopes for the remainder of the journey. The Coxey navy on the “raging canawl” reached Hancock, Md., Wednesday, and irew up,under a bridge for {he night. The men swarmed up and filled the saloons on the main street, and practically took possession of the town. Citizens absolutely refused any supplies, >nd the commissary stores were drawn upon. Crackers and cheese were the best that could be obtained from this source. It was learned that the “Great Unknown”, the veiled lady and ‘■Cheek” Childs, who had acted as the advance agent ever since leaving Massillon, had been in town, held a public meeting and raised funds with which they had decamped. Coxey at once dispatched messengers ahead denouncing the men as imposters and asking their arrest for obtaining money under false pretense* ■ , . -.. . ' .•’ ■ :

The main column of the Commonweal army on board the canal fleet arrived at Hagerstown, Md.. Thursday evening. The town was alarmed and seventy extra deputy constables had been sworn in to serve as a reception commltteee. The army lost quite a number of men at Hancock because of drunkenness, but the majority of the laggards followed the towpath and rejoined at Hagerstown. The main division of Coxey’s commonweal left the canal boats at Williamsport and marched to Hagerstown, Md.. Friday, En route another toll gate was encountered and the commander was forced to give upoß cents forthe privilege of passing under the pole. A large crowd had gathered at Hagerstown and gave the men quite a reception. Gen. Coxey left for New York for a four day’s absence on important business. He will try to arrange for excursion rates to Washington for the great demonstration May 1. NOTES. Buffalo will send a delegation to join the army of the Commonweal. They will go by freight train. I The Boston division will start for Washington from FaneuH Hall, Saturday, April 21. ’ Divisions are forming at Butte, Mont, and Spokane, Wash. They expect to join the grand round-up on the Potomac before May 1. The Coxey movement was discussed in the executive session of the Senate, Wednesday, for an hour and a half. No formal action was taken.

The Denver division is now 110 strong. They expected to have captured a freight train, Wednesday, but failed,and marched to a suburban station to try it again The men are in a suffering condition. The Butte, Mont., division departed for the east, Thursday, 500 strong. They marched east one mile and captured a freight train. The engineer had orders to run the train back to the yards in case the army captured the train and heobeyed the order. When the train reached the yard the Sheriff and a crowd of deputies took charge of the engine. The army went into camp to await developments. The Chicago officials of the Santa Fe decline to ratify the arrangement made to transport 500 industrials from Mojave, Cal., to that city)

6 The Galvin division of Trey’s industrial army reached Cochran, Ind., twenty-six miles west of Cincinnati, Thursday, and will remain in camp till Monday. “Gen.” Kelly’s division left the camp at Council Bluffs. Thursday, In bad condition. During Wednesday night 175 recruits were received from various sources. The Rock Island route will probably take up this branch of the industrials and forward the men to Chicago. President Cable, on being Informed of the forlorn condition of the men, expressed warm sympathy for them, and recognized that their continued presence along the route was dangerous. It is said Chicago's police have been instructed to prevent the entrance of Kelley’s army. Portland, Ore., has 500 industrials who are trying to raise money by subscription to get East.

Providence will send a large delegation under command of George E. Boomer, editor of a Socialist paper. The Des Moines council requested cltlezns to provide food and money for transportation to Kelley’s army. ' Hogan’s band of 590 is camped in the railroad yards at Butte, Mont. Northern Pacific officials say they will hold the State responsible for any attack on trains of the road. Commander Vinnett, of the unemployed army, has been sentenced to pay a fine of 82 or serve twenty days in jail at Colton, Col., for defrauding the Southern Pacific. THE KELLY DIVISION. Friday was an exciting day at Omaha and Council Bluffs because of the continued failure of G#n. Kelly’s division to obtain transportation to the East. Three thousand laboring men marched out of Omaha bound for the Commonweal camp at Weston, sixteen miles east of Council Bluffs. At Council Bluffs the host of sympathizers was joined by 500 more men with bands and banners. At 2 o’clock word was received that a detachment of Union Pacific shopmen were on their way across the bridge, and a Council Bluffs escort went down to meet them. They found over 1.000 men in line with flags Aying and blue ribbons, the badges of the army, on nearly every buttonhole. To the thundering of bass drums they marched up to Broadway and'over to Bayliss park. The streets of Council Bluffs by this time were black with a yelling, cheering crowd Business was almost entirely suspended. Flags were fluttering from the numberless windows and on every corner crowds were

grouped to listen to the labor ovatkmA; The advance guard of the shopmen were* armed with loaves of bread borne on tbn end of flagstafls, and the line appeared taj be endless. They joined the ranks of tha men already arrived and awaited the result of the conferencethen in progress. Sympathizing engineers and trainmen captured a Union Pacific engine and made up a freight train and ran it on the Rock Island track for Gen. Kelly, bnt he declined to accept it, saying that he would not receive stolen goods. In the meantime Gen. Kelly was in conference trying to obtain transportation for his men from the railway officials. Section men had been sent to tear up the track east of the advancing stolen train which they did. A detachment of the army was sent to interfere and at once relaid the track. Great excitement prevailed during the day but Gen. Kelly kept a cool head and serious trouble was averted and the men slept in camp at Weston, Friday night