Jacob Coxey leads his band of angry unemployed on a May Day protest to Washington DC
An attempt was made today by the Coxeyites to hold their much talked of demonstration at the Capitol. The affair, however was on very small scale, only 400 persons taking part instead of the thousands who it was said would demand from Congress satisfaction for their demands; and the result was a complete failure.
The weather was beautifully fine. Headed by a noisy brass hand, the Coxeyites marched to the Capitol by way of Fourteenth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, carrying staves to which were attached white flags bearing the motto "Peace on earth, good will toward men, but death to interest on bonds."
Before starting the leader, Browne advised the men to preserve a peaceful demeanour. The leaders of the procession were mounted, while Coxey and his wife rode in a buggy. Coxey's daughter, a girl 17 years old, occupied a prominent place, being picturesquely attired as the goddess of peace and mounted on a cream white horse. Others in the procession also wore fantastic attire. A number of banners were carried, on which were inscribed mottoes attacking finance and financiers, often in revolting terms. The route was thronged with spectators, and as the procession was passing along Pennsylvania Avenue the appearance of the thoroughfare was suggestive of the arrival of the circus.
In the meantime numerous police, both mounted and on the floor, had assembled at the east part of the Capitol, where Coxey had declared his party would assemble. On reaching the street skirting the Capitol grounds to the north the procession found that the police barred the entrance. Coxey thereupon alighted from his buggy and jumped over the wall of the Capitol grounds, being followed by Browne. The police pursued them, and a number of the mob from the street made their way over the wall, the police cordon having been broken for a moment by the rush of the people. The people surged and shouted, but the police soon stemmed the rush.
In the excitement Coxey slipped the crowd and rushed up the steps to the Capitol. He was, however, seized before he could speak or read his protest. The police then again charged the mob, and a number of serious scuffles occurred, but all the people were eventually cleared off the grounds. Coxey, while being hustled away, tossed the protest which he had prepared to the reporters present, shouting "For the press!" The police used their clubs indiscriminately upon spectators and processionists, who cheered Coxey in his attempt to reach the Capitol. The procession afterwards proceeded to the camp, south of the Capitol, hundreds of poorly dressed men and women following and cheering. Browne, Jones and another leader were arrested for creating a disturbance. Browne threatened a policeman with a revolver.
Coxey declared that he will remain in Washington until others arrive. Four hundred persons have left Chicago on foot for Washington, while 500 have started from Salt Lake City.