American agitator, born in Pennsylvania in 1854, and commenced life at the age of thirteen, in a rolling-mill. In 1881 he became owner of a sandstone-quarry at Massillon, OH, and extended his operations in 1889 by becoming a horse-breeder, purchasing a stock-farm near Lexington, KY, afterward removing his stock to Massillon. He was formerly a Greenbacker in politics, but became a Populist, being present at the Populist convention in St. Louis in July 1896 as a delegate. He claimed to be a “Christian Theosophist.” Coxey adopted the advocacy of a scheme of the American Federation of Labor for the issue of five hundred million dollars in bonds (at the rate of twenty million dollars a month) by the Federal government, to be expended in constructing good roads, thus securing employment for those out of work. It was for the purpose of promoting this scheme that the “march to Washington” was designed. The “Commonweal Army,” as it was called, started from Massillon, March 25, 1894, with 75 men, and increased as it marched, creating great interest, and Coxey, with his lieutenant, Carl Browne, made a peaceable entry into Washington at the head of 336 men, April 29th, and on May 1st paraded the streets of the capital. Coxey’s purpose was to make a demonstration from the steps of the Capitol, which attempt was prevented, as illegal in the manner intended. He made an attempt to do so by trespassing on the grass to reach his desired goal. He was promptly arrested, fined and lodged in jail. The army melted away, though the movement was imitated in different parts of the country.
