Evening Star Newspaper, April 23, 1894, Page 7

COXEY’S LIEUTENANT, Carl Browne, the Real Genius of the “On to Washington” Crusade. HOW THE MOVEMENT ORIGINATED Browne as Sketched by One Who Has an Acquaintance With Him. WITH DENNIS KEARNEY Written for The Evening Star. In this age many men of the highest natural ability live and die unknown in the larger sense, while others not above medi- certty are lifted by accident or circum- stance into world-wide notoriety. Of the latter class J. S. Coxey is an exampie. He has really played but a minor part in or- ganizing the movement which will go into history labeled with his name. The real genius of the movement is Carl Browne, “Gen.” Coxey’s first lieutenant. The phrase “On to Washington” became very popular in Kansas and Nebraska when the great alliance uprising of 1890 oc- curred. But the populists used it in a very different sense from that now attached to it. They proposed to invade the nation’s capital via the ballot box. The present movement is not populistic. But a small reentage of its members are populists. None of the so-called armies have been or- ganized in populist strongholds. On the contrary, they have all originated in sec- tions where the populists have little follow- ing. ‘Who conceived the idea of bringing to the nation’s capital a living, tramping petition to Congress is not known. Perhaps in due time that doubtful honor may be a subject of dispute among many claimants. But that time is not yet. It is safe to say, however, that the “On to Washington” idea was po} ularized in its present form by one Buch- anan, a writer of labor articles for a syn- dicate of newspapers. At the time the ex- tra session was called last summer he wrote an article proposing the organization of an army of 100,000 unemployed men, which should march from the Pacific coast to Washington a “living petition to Congress.” The article was widely copied. So wild and visionary did the idea seem that very few of the many who read it ever dreamed that an attempt would be made to realize it. Browne Develops the Mea. But in the fertile brain of Carl Browne the vision of Buchanan took lodging along with many other visions more or less its kin. Browne saw the workings of the spirit of unrest, and his trained mind grasped the Possibilities of the situation. What were his cogitations we can only surmise, for Browne has a habit of keeping his schemes to him- self. He doubtless looked about him for men and measures which he could utilize in such a movement. In J. S. Coxey and the Good Roads Association, of which Coxey is president, Browne found both the man and the measure. He found a man of some ability, tenacious of purpose, ambitious, ad- Venturous and best of all possessing money Which he was willing to spend. The “road Carl Browne. improvement” idea was just the measure Browne needed to serve as an excuse for demanding a large issue of legal tender Paper money. It would also recommend it- self to the unemployed as a means of em- ployment for a vast army of men. Last December Browne wrote Coxey, Proposing that an army of the un- employed be organized and led to Washington to demand that $500,000,000 of legal tender notes be issued and spent in improving the highways of the country. Browne wanted to start from Chi- cago. But Coxey lived at Massillon, Ohio, and as he was to supply the wherewithal to pay for advertising and organizing, Browne | readily consented to gratify his personal ambition and local patriotism by making Massillon the starting point. The details of a plan were soon worked out. To advertise the scheme a series of | bulletins were printed and scattered broad- cast over the country. They contained just such a mixture of ideas, exhortations and | pictures as was calculated to arouse curiosi- ty and attract attention. All the time Carl Browne kept in the background and let Coxey enjoy the notoriety. But every idea, plan and picture bore the unmistakable ear- marks of Browne. A Far-Seet Agitator. Browne is a student of human nature in the rough, also of history. Outlandish and impossible as seemed his proposal when it appeared in the public press any one who will read the bulletins will see that Browne knew exactly what he was about. “The Commonweal of Christ,” the name chosen for the so-called army; its motto, “Peace on earth, good will to men, but death to in- terest-bearing bonds;” its complete organiza- tion into “communities, cantons,” &c.,each with its proper officers; the banners to be carried and the badges to be worn; the queer mixture of nationalism, theosophy and Christianity set forth as the creed of the commonweal; the strict regulations adopted to protect the army from vagabonds, and to ent its degeneration into a band of pil- fo he mystery thrown about the “Un- known,” since fallen into disgrace, all these ‘were the coinage of Browne's fertile brai and all were admirably calculated to a ¢omplish the aim of the originator. Browne is nobody’s fool. People iaughed loud and long at the absurdity of organizing an army of a hundred thousand penniless men with healthy stomachs, feeding them and keeping them in order during a thirty- five days’ march. But “bulletin No. 3” shows that such an idea never entered Browne's mind. He planned to do just what he has done. In this buljetin, issued a month before the march be; » he says: “It is not expected that any large number will march with us all the way, but that there will be, by the time we reach Wash- ington, many thousands. More may get there by rail or other conveyance. The meeting in Washington is the main ob- jective point of this program. ‘Get there,’ somehow.” ‘Another provision, sensible enough from the leader's point of view, but certainly amusing to outsiders, is the following: “To avoid all possibility of unauthorized nd unguarded utterances, there will be no speakers but Brother Coxey and myself at the meetings, at which I will exhibit my financial panorama and draw off-hand earewptiess this provision had something to @o with the revolt of the “Unknown.” He seenzs to have been an anti-monopolist on the talk question. Browne counted on something else not @own in the bills—f-ee newspaper advertis- ing and lots of it. Without it his most strenuous efforts would have been fruitless. The great daily papers, especially in the east, where the movement is most depre- cated, have made it a success, All the other armies organized and start- ed to the national capital are imitations of the original and owe their existence to Browne and Coxey. Several of them are al- ready larger than the commonweal, and are making their way from remote parts of the country by rail, as Browne suggested. How many will get here by May 1 no one can predict. Browne's History. Although dozens of enterprising pencil pushers have relentlessly pursued the com- monweal for a month, eagerly seizing on every item of news or information, scarcely a scrap of Carl Browne's interesting biog: raphy has got into print. _ = aan express his views, and raises no ob fection to having a kodak snapped on him but he doesn’t talk about himself. So far as I know, there is nothing in his past his tory that needs covering up. Either he has @ natural a to figuring as the her of his own story (a most admirable trait or ne shrewdly thinks a bit of mystery only serves to stimulate public interest in him The following items concerning Browne's career and were gleaned from various sources, but mainly from the ewrit- er’s personal ‘tance with sub- In| ssing movement a few days tleman for- merly of Boston ve it hh of the sand lots was at his zenith?’ I confessed that this was news to me, and asked for further information. ‘You remember,” con- tinued he, “after Kearney had set the whole Pacific coast afire with the anti- Chinese agitation he came across the con- tinent. The object of his trip (at least the ostensible object) was to visi mother, an old lady living at Brighton, near Bos- ton. This trip occurred, I think, in 1878. Kearney, an uneducated workingman, but a@ fiery orator and a shrewd agitator, had aroused and jtalized irre- coast. The burden of all his speech- es was summed up in the sentence, ‘The Chinese must go,’ which he hurled at his audiences like a stone from a catapult. His journey from San Francisco to Boston was an almost continuous ovation. In the Hub he spoke in Faneuil Hall to an immense audience, comprising much of the brains and culture of the city. Before the meet- ing was for several leading men of the city went out to Brighton to see the orator of the sand lots, and, if possible, to determine what manner of man he was. I ‘was a member of the delegation. On that occasion I first met Carl Browne. He was } With Kearney acting as a sort of secre! | He was a young _— fellow—I shou judge he is now about forty-five. He sat round, said nothing, and didn't look as if he knew much. “TI never met him again until two years ago, and I was astonished at the man he had developed into. He recognized me at once. I asked him what had become of Kearney, ‘Oh,’ said he, ‘Kearney is in San Francisco, but he’s not doing much, He basn't joined this reform movement. sort of thing Is too fine for him. He can’t get hold of it. He can’t grasp an issue un- less it’s coarse enough to strike the paked eye. He's been trying to get up an anti-Japanese scare, but without success.’ “I have since heard that Browne had a deal more to do with Kearney's suc- cess than appeared on the surface, that he was, to a large extent, the brains of the movement which Kearney headed just as he is of this Coxey movement. Whether this be true or not, Browne's experience in those intensely exciting times was an excellent education tor him. Any one who observes his skill in planning and carrying out the present ‘on to Washington’ crusade’ must see that he is no novice in handling men.” As a Finance Reformer. As to how Browne ocupied the time from 1878 to 1890 I have no information. When the populist movement came to the front he appears again in the arena of political agi- tation, this time as a finance reformer. He | bees. over the coast states exhibiting his panorama, and making speeches whenever ; he could get anybody to listen. In 1892 he came to Nebraska and spent several months campaigning in his peculiar way, usually drawing crowds, and leaving the impression that, whatever the worth of his doctrines, he was in dead earnest. In the fall of "92 Browne returned to the coast. When the session of the California legislature opened he began the publication of an illustrated daily paper, known as “The Cactus Plant.” Copies of this paper ought to be preserved in all the museums of the country as rare freaks. The paper contain- ed nothing but cartoons, notes and com- ments. He used no type. All the work was done with his pen. The issues were run off on flimsy paper, with some sort of copying or duplicating apparatus. In the following spring Browne drifted eastward again, and in due time turned up smiling at the world's fair, He talked to the crowds of unemployed on the lake front. He was roundly abused by the Chicago press. An effort was made to squelch him. He appeared before Mayor Harrison, who denounced him as a “bogus cowboy” and a dangerous agitator. But, as usual, all this only served Browne as free advertising and brought him the sympathy of the unem- ployed. It was in Chicago at this time that he met the now fallen Jnknown,” who Was a patent medicine vender. He invited Browne to speak in his tent, and became a convert to his financial theories. Their further connection has been given to the press by Browne since the “late unpleas- antness,” which resulted in the Unknown’s downfall, As an Artist. As an artist Carl Browne belongs to a dis- tinct school. In fact, he constitutes the en- tire school. His panorama, like that of Ar- temus Ward, is very bad from an artistic point of view, but admirably adapted to his purpose. The great humorist used to bring down the house by pointing to some object in one of his pictures, and exclaiming with the greatest apparent delight that he had at last discovered what the artist intended to represent by it. So Browne's pictures would be an insoiuble puzzle without Browne to unravel their mysteries. He is not a humorist, -either as artist or speaker. His pictures resemble nothing so much as the colored glass figures-to be seen in church windows. But Browne and his panorama are insepa- rable. He loves it as she child of nis brain. It consists of a series of pictures painted in bright unblended reds, yellows and greens, on strips of coarse canvas, about six by three feet in size. These are hung up on a horizontal wooden arm, very much as school charts are sometimes hung up. Each Picture contains a perfect maze-of scengs } and figures, in which perspective is wu: | known, and order is a stranger. | pictures he has attempted to portray the | financial history of the nation from the breaking out of the civil war down to the present time; the disappearance of gold, the crippling of the greenbacks by the excep- tion clause, the issue of interest-bearing bonds, the national bank act, ‘he destruction of the greenbacks after the war, the credit strengthening act by which the bonds were made payable in coin, the demonetization of silver, &c. All these acts of financial legis- lation Browne denounces as crimes against the public welfare. He tries to picture their effects in producing pauperism, bankruptcy, misery and crime. On the other hand, he endetivors to show the conditions which, he claims, would prevail if his own ideas of finance were enacted into law. Browne is also a cartoonist. In one of his bulletins he advertises that he will “draw cartoons a la Th. Nast.” A suit for libel by the said Th. Nast would undoubtedly lie. : As an Orator. When Browne gets up before a crowd and swings his panorama to the breeze he is happy. With a long stick he points out the various objects, explains their symbolic meaning, and launches forth his invective against the existing order of things. As a speaker he is neither humorous nor elo- quent; he is forcible. His patience and per- sistence are simply monumental. He never gets angry at a disturber. No interruption can throw him off the track of his dis- course. He never sets an audience on fite with enthusiasm or inflames the passions of a crgwd. His main idea seems to be to in- struct others. He thinks he has the true gospel of social regeneration, and he preach- es it with all the earnestness of a fanatic. In this sense, and in this only, may Brown be properly termed a crank, and it Is only fair to say that cranks of this kind some- times move the world. In the light of the facts I have related, the ateempt of the “Unknown,” alias Smith, alias Bozaris, to depose Browne and take his place seems ridiculous enough. No wonder Coxey quick- ly decided between them end gave Bozaris his walking papers. The commonweal with- out Browne would be !ike “the play of ‘Ham- let’ with Hamlet left out.” The people along the route may well be thankful that Browne was not superseded by the fiery patent- medicine vender. The reporters are wearirg down a good deal of gray matter trying to unravel Browne. One gives him up in despair with the remark: “He is a creature too inscru- table for even the guess of a hardened reporter.” Another pronounces him an ayrant coward. Another suspects him of being at least as great an anarchist as ever trod the precincts of Haymarket. They are all wrong. Browne is not a cow- ard. True, he never indulges in brawls or chastises an insulter, but this proves his shrewdness and stability of character, not cowardice. He is the very reverse of an anarchist. Instead of advocating the destruction of government, he wants more of it. His ideas are rather social- istic. : Browne is a@ fine looking man, over six feet in height. He has a powerful frame and a constitution of iron. His voice is immense. I have heard him talk three hours against a Nebraska windstorm. Al- though he wears a buckskin suit and cow- boy hat, there is nothing rough or un- couth about him. He has al! the instincts of a gentleman, and he gives them play. He ts temperate in his habits. He makes friends easily and never forgets them. In conclusion, I want to say that the approaching commonweal is in the hands of no ordinary man. He is a man of ace, but bent on revolutionizing society. Ge is an agitator who knows that any awlessness on his part or the part of his followers would react with terrible effect. Hence, if Carl Browne can maintain his trip on the elements which his efforts will concentrate in Washington May 1 no fear of general disorder need be felt. S. EDWIN THORNTON. | ‘This | THE COXEY PUZZLE Various Suggestions as to How to Treat the Qommonwealers. Different Phases of the Power of the Government and the Rights of the Visitors. The many questions arising in connection with the coming of Coxey’s “army” to Washington are being discussed with in- tesest, and many suggestions regarding different phases of the matter are sent to The Star. One correspondent of The Star writes: “In one of the letters concerning the above movement, in a recent issue of your paper, a couple of statements particularly impressed me, namely: “So far as the present movement is an attempt to bring to the notice of Congress the distress which the wealth and station of the individual members keep them from realizing, it will be difficult for the average American citizen to understand in what they are offending;’ and, again, “To treat as tramps and criminals those who exercise their rights to lly set forth their necessities, in the only way Get to them, would not only be unjust, jut in the highest degree unwise.’ “In passing, allow me to say, first, that if the ‘average American citizen’ is to be credited with so little judgment as is thus | conceded to them we are sorely in need of | @ campaign of education. To my mind, the Coxey movement, involving as it does, by direct premeditatioff, the assembly here, uninvited, of a mass of people whose char- acter, individually or collectively, it is im- possible to guarantee, who are confessedly without means of sustaining themselves, and with the uncertainties of insurrection which in its very nattre surround it, is a most unwarrantable assumption of the | privileges accorded American citizenship; | and this movement, therefore, stands in| precisely the same relation to the District | of Columbia, as an unwelcome guest to the | individual home—an intruder upon private | hospitality. Herein lies the offense, and for this reason, if for no other, it is bereft | of any direct claim for consideration at our hands, either as individuals or as a city. “Nor can I see that personal petition is the ‘only way possible to set forth their ne- cessities,’ e[ther in the case of Coxey’s con- stituents or others who have proposed to adopt his method. Their proper redress is pre-eminently at the polis. Certain it is that they are not ‘exercising their right’ in thus seeking to intrude themselves, in per- haps countless numbers, upon the sanctity and tolerance of a city, jeopardizing its peace and quiet, simply because it is the seat of the national government. And they have even less justification for asking Con- gress to provide for them while here. “While I have the most profound sym- pathy for the laboring classes in their pres- ent deplorable condition, I take the ground that we certainly should not, by any undue courtesies or extensions of hospitatities, recognize Coxey_or any of his presump- tuous followers representative either of the sentiment or will of the laboring classes, and thereby encourage similar! demonstrations, Whether Congress will condescend to dignify his improvident schemes by a pretense at their considera- tion is a matter of conjecture, and what course Coxey purposes to take after their rejection is equally in doubt. But of one thing there can be no reasonable question: That the District of Columbia is in no wise | responsible for their coming, and it will therefore be incumbent upon Congress to provide for their m: atenance while here. And, the peace an¢ quiet of the District having been threatened at the instigation of an ‘enthusiast,’ our citizens should seek protection from future similar demonstra- tions by urging upon the Commissioners the securing of the speedy passage of a law prohibiting any movement looking to the massing of people without means of sub- sistence in or around this city. A Suggestion for the President. Another writer says: “It must be quite apparent to all that the Coxey movement, and also the other disturbances which have occurred lately throughout the United States, are all due to but one cause—idle~ ness—and the old saying that ‘Idleness is the mother of crime’ is fully corroborated. A secondary cause has also been the ignor- ance of many in regard to monetary science, the popular theory being that all} that is necessary to right industrial affairs is the issue of three or four carloads of greenbacks by the general government. Now, in my opinion, the proper thing to be done, without delay, is for the chief execu- tive of, this nation to issue an address to the deluded and misled (by such men as Coxey) | working people,which address shovld appeal to their intelligence and reason and not to their passions and partisanship. It should explain to them, in a plain but logical man- ner, the fallacies of their beliefs, and tm- press upon their minds the value of patience and deliberation during such national calamities as the present one. But while I favor the use of moral influences in prefer- ence to military power, I would not over- look the maxim of ‘the Father of his Coun- try’ which reads, ‘In time of peace pre- pare for war,’ and the authorities should not be caught rapping in case of any dem- onstration hostile to law and order.” Seen No Cause for Fear. Another letter to The Star says: “It is amusing to see the timidity that has come over our District officials as to how they are to meet the so-called enemy and rout him. To think that a forlorn array of working- men, part and parcel of the bone and sinew of the count-y, taking in a pleasant trip to the nation’s capital, to petition their rep- resentatives In Congress to enact some laws to relieve the burden of distress and destitution stalking over the countzy,should inspire such fear. Their coming here is uncalled for, as they will reap nothing, but their right to come cannot be denied, as they are American citizens, Some of them were here, I know, in '61, when Lincoln made his call for troops to defend the nation’s capital. Don't be alarmed, Mr. Police. There is no harm attached to this movement. Disturbances Will not follow their entry here. I think the scare will blow over all right, provided the weather bureau gives us the right temperatu-e. Then we will try and right the matter by another bag id gy next fall, electing to Congress men that will give satisfaction to the wor«ing class. Give the boys a good reception when they arrive, and all will be well. God will smile, as He always has, on the nation’s capital.” The Right to Come. Another says: “In all the suggestions pub- lished in The Star, mest of which I have read with considerable interest, I have fail- ed to notice one very important thought in connection with the approaching visit of the Coxeyites, viz: Under our constitutional fcrm of government every American citizen is guaranteed the right to enter and locate in any part of the United States, and any attempt to prevent such entrance and loca- tion is an abridgement of such right, and therefore not only void, but would subject | the author to whatever damages might re- sult, whether an individual, a combination of individuals, a municipality or the general government, for the Supreme Court of the United States, if a test case were made, would undoubtedly affirm such liberty as every American citizen's right. The sus- pecting a man of being a tramp, or other- wise objectionable, is not proof of guilt, Would it not be well for Congress to pass a resolution or law defining and limiting the power of our Commissioners and police de- partment, as well as the executive depart- ments of the general government, in this and all similar emergencies? And if an old statute or ancient city ordinance seems to empower the government, or any part of it, to exclude any American citizen from enter- ing or remaining in our city, to so modify or repeal such statute or city ordinance as to prevent its execution. May we not ho; that both houses of Congress will give this matter immediate, practical and full con- sideration, so that other nations shall not bear witness to our incapacity, injustice and utter disregard of the interests of the mass- es of our people?” The Power of the Governmen: W. C. D. writes: “The proposed invasion of the capital by the commonweal army recalls an event in the early history of our own country, well as of others. “Not only was the Continental Congress compelled to flee from Philadelphia in 1777 by the advance of the British troops, but in 1783 Congress was threatened by the in- vasion of a body of the discharged revolu- tionary soldiers, who came to demand what they termed justice at the hands of Congress. “On the 2ist of June, 1783, Congress passed a resolution, informing the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania that ‘the authority of the United States had that day been grossly insujted by the dis- orderly and menacing conduct of a body of armed soldiers, and that, in the opinion of Congress, it was necessary that effectual steps be taken for supporting the public rely on the militia to them. And as @ result feo crye Princeton, N. J., where it met aig call of the Presi- dent on the same month. On July 28 an address was received by Con- gzess from the citizens of Philadelphia, in- viting return, and a: mday of October, and then adjourn to Annapolis, unless differ- ently decided in the meantime. 3 the 224 of August, 1783, the before ecessary to support Protect the honor and dignity of the United States in Congress,’ and expressing their desire that Congress should arrange for the permanent seat of government in that state. “Maryland, Virginia and New York had also offered places for a permanent seat of jovernment, among others An: Ma., ‘illiamsburg, Va., and Kingston, N. Y., besides other offers of public buildings and money. “It was this trouble of menacing Congress that led to the adoption in the Constitution of the clause giving to Congress ‘pxclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever over such District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may by cession of particular states and the acceptance of Congress become the seat of government of the United States.’ “And it was in accordance with this pro- yision that Congress passed the act of July 16, 1790, locating the permanent seat of government where it now is. “The cbject clearly was to have a national capital absolutely and entirely ler the control of Congress, where it could bring to bear the whole power of the national gov- ernment, if necessary, at any time to enable Congress to legislate free from intimidation or interruption by any one or from any source whatever, and to enable the execu- tive and other branches of the national government to perform their duties in peace and safety. . “There can therefore be no doubt as to the power of Congress and the executive to exclude from the District the so-called com- monweal army, or any other body of men, wherever, in their opinion, it may become necessary; nor can there be any question as to the validity of the law passed by Con- gress prohibiting the use -of the Capitol grounds and the various other acts referred to by The Star. “Whether in the present case it will be necessary to exercise these powers will de- pend upon circumstances, of which the na- tional authorities can alone judge. In my opinion a rfore absuré and ridiculous affair has never occurred in the history of our country. It is sincerely to be hoped that no trouble may result from the foolish scheme; but if there should, there is no doubt of the authority and the duty of the United States government to quell it at once with a strong hand and in such a manner that it will be a lesson for all time.’* No Food for Coxey’s Army. Another writer, Who adopts the nom de plume of “Forethought,” says: “There are two ways in which the people of Washing- ton can receive the members of Coxey’s army—one is to ignore them and the other is to feed them. The first is the normal method. Why should it be departed from? Visitors to a city are always ignored ex- cept by their acquaintances—that is, they are treated with respectful indifference, are permitted to come when they will, have anything that hotels and boarding houses can furnish for money and depart when they get ready. Why should not the vis- itors now announced be received with the same decent inattention? “For, mark it, if they are treated with at- tention; if they are ho fed and made comfortable, we shall be laying up for our- selves wrath against the day of wrath. {f we support a thousand penniless men in May we shal] have two thousand to support in June and a hundred thousand to support in May of next year. And perhaps a mill- jon a year later. Who knows? Is Wash- ington prepared to face such a future as this? For, mind you, this would result whether this army {s composed of profes- sional tramps or only of honest men out of work. Professional tramps are made as well born; perhaps more are made than born. The way to turn Washington into a great manufactory of tramps, loafers and thieves is to advertise widely that all un- employed who come here will be fed and made comfortable or set to work at a dol- lar a day. The best thing that can happen, then, both for us and our visitors, is that they shall be compelled to take care of themselves while here and pay for every- thing they get. Charity will injure them even more than it injures us, if possible. In all parts of the north today is an unlim- ited demand for unskilled workingmen at wages of ten to fifteen dollars per month and their board; and {f frucal and thrifty men can save nothing out of this their wives and children, if they have such, must and will be supported by the neighbor- hoods where they have left them, And Coxey’s followers can get where work awaits them quite easily as they made their way, without dollar in their pock- ets, from distant parts of the c6untry to its capital.’ Suggestions From the Pulpit. Several of the pastors of the city based thelr sermons yesterday on the coming of Coxey’s army. Rev. Alexander Kent of the People’s Church declared it as his opinion that the best interests of the nation de manded that Congress should give the Coxey men a respectful hearing. Rev. Thomas Chalmers Easton, while of the opin- jon that the movement would accomplish nothing, for it was not a legitimate manner of obtaining legislation, urged that the men coming to the capital are entitled to a most respectful hearing. Rev. Dr. Bartlett of the New York Avenue Church thought that the “army” should be received with the kind- ness characteris: of Washington people and allowed to wk about the city, under the aegis of the law, with the same restric- tions and limitations imposed on other citizens, “JACK THE GIANT KILLER.” 3 a A New Opera to Be Given by P ie School Children. “Jack the Giant Killer,” Mr. Harry How- ard’s new opera, to be given on the 26th and 28th instants in the hall of the Central High Szhool, comes on apace, and bids fair to realize the most extravagant hopes of its projectors. Jack himself, personated by Maser Burton Garrett, has a voice well sulted to the trying role which he fills, and is particularly happy in the solo, “You Do Not Know From Whence I Came,” in which he declares ais identity. Little Miss Marie Howe shows great versatility, being quite as telling in the dignified role of Queen as when displaying the fascinations of Jose- phine. Her voice appears to best advan- lage in the third t in the solo, “Away, Do Not Distress U But one of the chief musical features is the telling trio, sung by the Giant, Jack and the youngest princess just before the duel--"We Wish the World to Witness." The Phelps Building Musical Society Is fortunate in having secured the services of Mr. Ed. B. Fox of this city as Giant. Mr. Fox is a familiar figure in Washington musical circles, having ap- peared as Guiseppe in “The Gondollers,” as the Mikado and the Frost King. He was at one time a member of Christ Church choir, Georgetown, and before coming to Wash- ington was the baritone soloist in the St. Louis Antheon Club, led by Goldbeck, the celebrated composer. His solo, ‘“Unrequited Love,” is a chef d’oeuvre displaying well the compass, power and flexibility of his voice. sentient RAN ON THE ROCKS. Wreck of the Pacific Coast Steamer Los Angeles. The Pacific Coast Steamship Company's | steamer Los Angeles, bound north from Newport, Cal., and way ports to San Fran- cisco, ran on the rocks at Point Sur light- house, thirty miles south of Monterey, Cal., between 9 and 10 o'clock Saturday night. The steamer sank within a few minutes, and the passengers and crew took to the boats. Three boat loads reached shore at Point Sur light and the news of the disaster was brought to San Francisco by»messenger ye® terday. Two other boat loads,and raft con- taining other pasengers and members of the crew were met and rescued by the steamer Eureka last e ing. Four dead bodies have been recovered, and Capt. H. D. Leland of the Los Angeles was reported to be in a critical condition by his brother, Capt. James Leland of the Eureka. The rocks at Point Sur, which are a cluster of ugly spurs about a mile from the shore, have long been a menace to navi- gation on the southern route. In 1885 the ‘Ventura was lost on these rocks. The steamer Eureka also struck the rocks sev- eral years ago, shattering her stern and barely escaping destruction. The steamer Los Angeles struck the rocks once before, but without serious injury. —___-+ e+ ____ Building Permits. Building permits have been issued as fol- lows: M. Green, three frame dwellings corner Jefferson street and Fert Stanton avenue, Anacostia; cost $3,600. G. H.Schultz, uthority.” “To this the state authorities replied that they could do nothing, as they could not one brick stable in rear of 1751 and 1753 L street northwest, to be used for dwelling purposes; cost $1,100, Se aa IN HOTEL CORRIDORS. “The mendicant who dresses well has at the Riggs House,this morning, “but one of them caught a Tartar yesterday, in the person of my father-in-law. The old gen- tleman was strolling about the suburbs en- joying his evening walk, when he was ap- proached by a man of quite respectable ap- pearance, who accosted him and proceeded to pour forth a touching tale of woe. The stranger said he had come over from Balti- more, where he resided, on the day before and had been detained over night. taken a room at a cheap for a few moments early in the morning. Upon his return he discovered thief had entered during his brief absence and stolen all his money and a gold watch and chain. In conclusion he said that he had walking ever since 5 o’clock in the morning, and had not tasted a mouthful ing to very little avail. The man want- ed to know why, and the old gentleman replied that steady pedestrianism in the proper direction, commenced at 5 o’clock in the morning, would have landed him among his friends and family in Baltimore by the time he had commenced the conversation in progress. The seif-constituted unfortu- nate gave his expected victim a look of ut- ter disgust and slid off down the street in one very much like him, has northwestern part of the city, and it may be as well for people of susceptible sym- pathies to keep their eyes open.” and more numerous with each recurring man, in front of Willard’s last night, “and the one that opened Thursday will add an- other regiment or two to the army. In every city in America there are men who give up everything in creation when the league games begin and devote every moment of their time to base ball. They talk about it all day and dream about it all night, and when the home team is playing in other cities on the circuit they congregate where the reports of the games are received by innings and become as excited as if they babi watching a struggle on the diamond elf. “I reckon every man about town in Washington,” continued Mr. Walker, “re- members Keno Billy, who for many years | threw hazard and whirled roulette wheels |in the gambling houses here. When the to Baltimore, and he hadn't been there six months when he became interested in base ball. It drove him crazy. He could talk of nothing else. He knew the fielding and batting average of every player in the country and would argue for hours on the merits of this or that club, When he saw a@ game he grew so excited that he would frequently faint dead away, and when the club was away he would get down on Bal- timore street, across from the American oltice, and shout and scream as the returns Were posted up like a perfect maniac. He was the worst base ball crank I ever saw, but there are lots of them nearly as bad. Billy was killed by a train some years ago and his pockets were filled with Papers con- taining figures relating to base bail for sev- eral seasons previously.” A tall old man, with hair rapidly chang- jing from gray to white, sauntered into the | Arlington last night. The warm, sultry | air was evidently unpleasant to him, for | he removed his soft hat and used it as a |fan. A peculiar feature about his | attracted the attention of an observer. | Shining through his thin locks, and forming a semi-circle on the back of the scalp, was |@ bright red irregular line. He inquired at the desk for Granville Stuart, and seemed greatly disappuinted to learn that the new |minister to Paraguay and Uraguay had | departed from the hotel. His card that he | twirled nervously in his fingers bore the name of Lewis Parks, and an old gentie- | man in the lobby greeted him affectionately as “Lou.” When he went out his friend talked about him to a circle of interested loungers. “That was old Lou Parks,” he | remarked, with an inflection of admiration. | “He was one of us when we went up into |the Bitter Root country, away back in | 1853. Did you notice that red ring on his head? Well, gentlemen, the jagged edge of |@ Blackfoot’s knife made that scar, and all the skin and hair inside of it was torn from the skull by a red scoundrel’s mus- cular arm. The event occurred just about where Pocatello, Idaho, now is. Lou shoot once, or shoot again, ed with game. Then they concluded to out and find out what was the matter. About half or three-quarters of a mile away they saw a man lying in som bushes and rode up to find Lou. He w: unconscious and his head was covered with bicod pouring from a hole about as big as atin cup. It was easy to see he had | been scalped. No Indians had been seen | in the neighborhood, and the boys couldn't gO understand where they had gone, because Lou's gun and knife were still with him. They looked around for signs, and deeper jin the chapparal about twenty yards | away found the dead body of a Blackfoot Indian. He was shot in the spine, and in his clenched hand was a bunch of hair. jit was Lou's scalp. The boys loosened the nigger’s grasp and released the thing, and one of them suggested the bright idea of sticking it back on Lou's head. They washed it in water from one fellow’s leather bottle anti washed their partne: head. Then they fitted the scalp back in place and tied it on with strips of horse blanket. When Lou came to his senses he said that he was kneeling down waiting for an elk, which he thought he heard below him, to come along, when he sudden- ly felt something grab his hair from be- hind and then pull the whole top of his head off. He said that before he went off he saw something black go in front of him and pulled his rifle’s trigger as he himself fell forward on his face. For months he lingered between life and death, but finally recovered. When the blanket rip bandage was taken off some time after the attack by an army surgeon at a post four or five hundred miles away, where Lou was taken, it was found that the scalp had begun to grow on again, end after several years’ treatment it be- came as you see it now. Lou would give a cow any time to find out what that In- dian was doing out there alone and why he took the chances on scalping him alive when he had a dead cinch on getting his hair by sticking the knife in his neck first. Lou is here gs Missouri, where he is now living, but he ain’t after any Post office, you can bet.” “Lake Muskogee is now a thing of the past, and where its water once covered many square miles of territory the ploughshare will soon be turning up some of the richest soll in Minnesota.” The man who spoke so carelessly about such a remarkable metamorphosis was C. 8. Westcott of Milwaukee, who was gossip- ing in La Normandie’s smoking room. he lake was about ten or twelve miles from Milwaukee,” he continued, “and pos- sessed the remarkable peculiarity of being somewhat higher than a great deal of the surrounding country. It was formed by the collection of rain water and two or three little streams, the outlet of which had been stopped up by some beaver dams of enormous size. Its reclamation was ac- complished by means of a canal, which was dug for some distance to Lake Rochester, and the work has been under consideration for a very long time, but has only been pushed to completion in the past ew years. All througif the north- west are thousands of acres now under SAVE DOCTOR’S BILLS ene He had hotel and left it that some of food. Before he could ask for assistance pa Aimy ap informed him that he had been wi a hurry. I understand the same fellow, or his tale with much better success in the “The base ball cranks are growing more police broke up the games heré, Billy went4 | Parks and three other white men had gone | yesterday resulted in the death of one | over in that neighborhood to search for | beans or other, I forget what, and Soak asian “RS Mae Cac eet Kill | the tate interstate commerce commissioner, and after awhile wondered 2nd Dr. Jesse Naftel had a misunderstand- | | why he didn’t bring his game into camp | ing Saturday night at the theater, where | as the country just swarm- | Senator Morgan spoke. They did not know Gn 8 Acts.) intoxicating. every bottle. the GENUINE, which must have the signature of “ohans@iof on the neck label of None other is “as good.” water or in marshes which were made so by the work of the patient beavers, but I imagine that in time it will all be brought into use as magnificent farming land by just such a system as that adopted for the drainage of Muskogee.” eee OVER 80 PER CENT QUIT. President John McBride of the United Mine Workers of America said last night at Columbus: “The dispatches to the newspapers prove what I have said, that is, that §5 or 90 per | cent of all the coal miners in our organiza- tion whose interests are involved have gone | out. Then there are miners who are not and never were connected with our organ- ization who, I doubt not, have gone out. I , refer particularly to the Michigan miners. Then there are the Kanawha river miners, whose interests are not at all involved in this strike, who are reported to favor join- ing the movement.” ‘The operators seem to agree that there is about a month's supply of coal mined. | "That is probably true,” said President Mc- Bride, “and yet the supply varies with the locality. The consumers of coal along the | Ohio river are weil supplied. But the mines | } that supply this coal have rail connections | and contribute steadily to factories and the “It is estimated that there are 500,000 tons of coal on the coal docks of Lake Erie northwest trade. i" ready for shipment that was left over when | navigation ciosed last fall. That ts prob- | | ably true, too, and it looks like a big figure, | it the demand is very heavy. The fact | that all the big operators in Pennsylvania | have been trying ever since the strike was | night and day indicates that they were not satis‘ie? with the stock.” . Mr. McBride said he had received a letter from Col. W. P. Rend of Chicago, which has been spoken of in the press dispatches. It proposed arbitration. He had not an-/ swered it and would not until the strike was fairly inaugurated. He had received many such overtures for arbitration from operators in Ohio and Pennsylvania. i The resolution of the convention deciar- | ing the strike, Mr. McBride said, stated that the miners would be ready to meet the operators in arbitration any time they wished. This did not mean that the miners | would recede from the scale of wages de- mauded. They could not afford to do so. 4 TRAGEDY AT MONTGOMERY. |The Som of the Late Commissioner Brags Shot. A deplorable affair at Montgomery, Ala., | each other, but had seats close together. | Naftel claimed that Bragg was obstructing | his view of the stage and speaker. He | finally said to Bragg: ‘A gentleman will not act that way. | Bragg then gave his name and asked Naf- | tel’s in return, with the statement that the matter would be settled afterward. Yesterday Bragg went into the drug store where Naftel’s office was kept and asked Naftel aside. They went to the rear, where ;® Partition separated the store into two | parts. Those in front heard no conversa- tion, and the first they knew of the difftcul- ty came with the sound of rapid firing. | Who fired first or what was said is not known. ba Bragg was wounded fatally in the abdo- men, and died in an bour. Naftel was wounded in two or three places, but not Seriously, except where a pistel ball struck him square between the eyes on top of the bridge of the nosé. | Bragg was an attorney of decided ability | and bade fair to make a reputation. He was about twenty-seven years of age and unmarried. His remains were taken to the residence of his brother-in-law, Paul W Smith, where the funeral will ocr today. Naftel is about thirty years old. He has fecently moved to Montgomery from the country to practice medicine. His standing in medical circles is good. He has a wife and two children. ———+or West Point Cadets Appointed. Cadet appointments to the Military Acad- emy have been issued to E. L. Doufherty, New York city; A. E. Wiliams, Little River C.; R. A. Meyers, New York; ter, Aurora, Ind.: J."W. Dawson, ‘ore, Md.; C. W. Miller (alternate), Baltimore; J. W.Johnson, Sterling, Il! HL. Dunlop, Paris, Tenn.; H. W. Muller, Syra- cuse, N. Y.; H. F. Clark (alternate), Syra- They Had a Taste. of Carlsbad Sprudel Salt. All the world likes it. All the world takes tt. Goethe, Beethoven, Bismarck, kings and queens innumerable, nearly all the minds that have chang- ed the course of affairs for centuries, bave been to Carisbad for bodily aid. You cannot go—but you can have the benefit of Carisbad at home. Take the imported Waters or the Carlsbad Sprodel Salt, or both, if you want an increased action of the same. They are natural remedies which are al- ways effective in all disorders of the stomach, liver and kidneys, in constipation, gouty and rhemmatic affections, Be sure to obtain the “genuine,” which have the signature of “Eisner & Mendleson Co.,” Agents, New York, on every bottle. > SHSSSL SS National Prize at Grand % of 16,600 francs to T. LAROCHE. QUINA-LAROGHE, young man, and probably the fatal wound- | ing of another. Walter L. Bragg, son of | season,” said Albert Walker, a sporting | risxeR & MENDELSON CO., Agents, 152 and 154 Franklin st., New York. -TO EXPEL MR. POWDERLY, The Effort to Be Made by Knights of Labor. Hayes of the Knights of Labor, at Philadel- mediately for Chicago, where the general executive board of the Knights of Labor has several days. ‘The imperative nature of General Master Workman Sovereign's — was shown by the prompt departure both Secretary- ‘Treasurer Hayes and Director Martin. They took the first train in the evening for the At the Knights of Labor hi studied reticence was exhibited as to nature of the important business that caused the sudden calling of Hayes to the side of his chief and the moning of the executive board to a session in Ch:cago, but is was admitted one of Mr. Hayes’ friends that the differ- ences between the Federation and Knights and the reported defections and con- iracies ranks of are in Chicago, which fact,with General Workman ' Sovereign’s presence tn Des’ Moines, accounts for the selection of that city as the most available place for the meeting. Secretary Hayes’ friend added that it was! head determined upon to have the men work | no longer any secret that an effort would be made in the general exeeutive board to ex-/ pel from the Knights of Labor and his entire faction, there being evidence in hand that they were intriguing with the American Federation. The most positive evidence in this direc- tio. was furnished by the circulars sent out by recalcitrant Knights of Labor in New York, now affiliated with the American Federation, viciously attack! the officers and members of the Na’ Trades As- sembiy of ent Workers, one of the strongest organizations within the order of the Knights. make black white—it gives you a clean black, instead of a dirty black, that’s all. Colors are re- stored and freshened by it, and look just as they did when new. They are cleaned, but ey are never altered or changed. Safety comes first in washing. The easiest and chi Way to get things clean safely is to wash them with Pearline. » Ty inced. The stamping of W. ind price on the bottom, which Dongi customers, which helps to increase the sales on their full line of goods. They can afford to sell ata less and we believe you can save money by your footwear of the dealer advertised below. ire. Geo. (man & . Nich & Sons, 1822 Tt . Wm. Holtman, 491 Pa. ave. nm. H. Jorg, 1906 Hoo J. oO. H. Octtinger, 1806 14th nw. B. Nordlinger, 3124 M m.w. Jal -eo65t What Style Photogra: Do You Like Best? cae or ease oe Tee en ote of the fincet ‘and most artistic photographs in this city. Your negative is here tf we have ever taken your picture, and you cam “have more ‘struck off.” C1. BUR: | vansakeaae 463-405 PA. AVE. IF YOU T1AVE KIDNEY oF } I did for Z yea ‘avorite Remedy. and it will you, ‘= give to chance wo WILKINS, Afton, N.X. ph - don’