Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-04
THREE ALLIANCE MEN
Speak to a Crowded Audience in Grand
Army Hall.
PETER, KYLE AND SIMPSON.
All Are Earnest and forceful Ts1kers-The
so-Czlied "sockless Statesman 10 an Eio-
quent Orator-what the Alliance Demands
The Fast Against the south and West.

rsrentiy uaimportant asseniblage to listen to
speeches. expected by many to be Of an erratic,
perhaps Of an amusing character, there devel-
oped what may prove an important political
event. Senstors-elect PETER and Kyle and
Jerry Simpson, the so-csllei sockless statesman
of Kansas. were the attractions for the curious,
who had got an impression from the various
clever srticlss that have been written about
these men that there was something curiously
uncouth about these new actors on the political
stage.
Whatever NAV have been the idea Of the au-
disnce when they assembled. they ief: the hall
with a very serious impression of the new force
that has entered into national politics
The conspicuous features of the meeting were
the speeches of PETER and Simpson, which were
truly remarkable, especially that OF Mr.. Simp-
ron, not for anything eccentric or curious, but
for eloquencc and force.
JERRY SIMPSON Is An ORATOR.
The supposed sockless and simple Simpson
proved himself to be an orator of unusual pow
ers. who not only secured the respect of his
hearers, but excited the admiration even of
those who had come only out of curiosity to
be amused He made a truly remarkable i'm
preston
Enough people to crowd the Grand Army
Hall faced the storm of rain and sleet that they
might sit for two hours and half with wet
feet and listen to speeches by the famous Farm
ers Alliance leaders. Many of the audience
were people who understood and believed in
the social and political revolution of which the
speakers are the leading opponents. but many
Others were evidently attracted BY curiosity.
The occasion was a mass meeting of the VA
tional Citizens Alliance" This alliance is an
organization whose purposes are declared in a
platform of five planks. brief but radical. The
platform declares the following principles:
l. Complete local self-governmeBt for the
people of the District of Columbia.
z. Municipal ownership of gas and electric
lighting facilities. street railways and other
similar public utilities.
3, Equal assessment of real estate at its actual
value for purposes of taxation
4. Public improvements for the general well
fare and not for the profit of individual prop
erty owners and spectators.
). The extension and perfection of the pub
lie school system.
LARGE AUDIENCE PRESENT.
The doors Of the hall were opened at O'Clock
and the hour for the proceedings to begin was
g. Nearly every seat was occupied before 100
During the time intervening before the arrival
of the officers and the speakers nearly every
one was engaged in a discussion with his or her
neighbor on questions of political economy.
These discussions. overheard hers and there
through the bail, indicated tl ~ the assemblage
was far from being composed of persons in
sympathy with the views OF tn men they b AL
come to hear, as they undo stood therl.
majority did not expect what tbsy afterward
heard.
IHEEE DISTINGUISHED MEN.
The hall was very well filed when a man of
angular build, little above medium height,
slightly stopped in the shoulders, with long
sharp nose and long beard of rich dark
brown falling down to the lower buttons of his
vest and pair of keen blue eyes. rather close
together man of mild, ministerial bearing and
placid, gentle couDtenance-appeared at the
door, where he was promptly met by the Presi-
dent and ushers and led to the stage Ali ewes
were at once turned upon the new arrival and
the whisper went through the hall:
PETER"
Behind the man who enjoys the distinction
Of having defeated Mr.. Ingalls, and captured
HIS seat in the United States Senate came a
''six-foot' blonde of athletic build resembling
somewhat Haugen, the Norwegian Representa-
tive Of Wisconsin. but OF rather more regular
and handsome features This was Senator
elect Kyle, who comes to succeed Moody as
Senator from South Dakota. He is man of
plain appearance, man Of the people whose
hands have been used to toll He does not look
TO be more than thirty-hve years old. His hair
and mustsche are not quite red. but nearly so.
His complexion is decidedly blonde and set of
very white teeth are frequently exposed by
faint smile. His large blue eyes are expressive
of little earnestness and suitability. but the
lines in his face are strong and his dress and
whole bearing indicate a simplicity and free
oOn l1Ou duectatAOn OF VANITY. he Is not Vet
burdened with senatorial dignity"
The third distinguished member of the
party was Mr.. Jerry simpson. In appearance
he Is distinctly the antipode of dude, and
he IL "a far from the sockless citizen usually
described for Simpson. He is q man of average
size, with dark hair and stubby mustache and
otherwise smooth shaven. His face is bronzed
weather beaten and strongly marked with
heavy lines. His eyes have a peculiar bright
ness and light up with an intellectual ire
har hsz tai rrr,p 10 II.
st times and smile that is Just visible at the
corners of his mouth indicate "a keen sense of
humor and at the same time a degree of self
confidence Later, when he speaking
these latter characteristics of his face became
more pronounced. always keeping his audience
on the defensive or completely capturing them.
his suit was OF q sort of gray goods of a
hand-me-iown cut, his shoes were heavy.
with square toes and laced with leather strings.
ms neckwear was plain standing collar, turned
down at the corner and ornsmented with a
black "shoe-string tie. and he might be re-
garded as decidedly unfashionable figure but
not by any means uncouth. Considerable at
tention was bestowed upon him by the audience
which did not Seem to embarrass him in the
least.
Besides these gentlemen. who are the orators
OF the occasion. Mr.. Polk of Tennessee presi-
dent Of the Farmers Alliance; Mr.. Paul Bowen
Mr.. Charles Frederick Adams and Mr. Ralph
Beaumont, who presided, were the stage.
Mr. PAUL BowEN's REMARKs.
Mr.. Paul Bowen was the first speaker He
orphaned the citizens alliance to be an
organization whose purpose was to Sc
cure Justice for the citizens. He spoke of the
strange state of affairs in the District of Column
bis, which deprived the citizens here from the
right to vote; complained of une DUAL assess
ments, stating that small properties in the Dis
trict held by men of very moderate means
were assessed at so per cent of their value
while very valuable properties were assessed al
not more than 20 per cent Of their value. He
sald also that the appropriations for the Dis
trict were not expended for the benefit of the
whole people, but largely for the benefit of
favored classes. In Congress. when the people
of the District ought TO have q DAY. he said
the Pennsylvania railroad had o day and the
District none.
sENAfoR-ELEcr PEFFER's SPEECH.
senator-elect PETER was next introduced and
was greeted with loudappIause. As he advanced
to the front of the stage he hung his left hand
IN his long silver watch chain, which he twisted
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