The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-04-28
COXEY'S EARNESTNESS
A Quiet Interview with the Com
monweal Army Leader.
HIS POWER WITH AN AUDIENCE.

She Minds OF Many which May Event
uaily Bring Them Under His Banner.
The Other Ind ustrial Armies.
GAITHERsBURG, Md, April 2a - The
Journey of the Coxey army yesterday,
though over good roads, was made more
than usually weary because of the success
sion Of high hills and deep valleys over
which the roadway lay. A halt was made
for ten minutes rest at Clarksburg, where
one Of the villagers approached Coxey's
phaeton.
"Are you General Coxey" asked the
Marylander.
"My name is Coxey," responded the
leader
1--WE Il, amt you going to make us lit
tie speech here2" drawled the Clarks-
burger.
why, certainly" said the leader, and
straightway he stood on the seat Of his
phaeton, and when the people had gath
cred near he declared his beliefs and pur-
poses in a talk of ten minutes. To watch
the effect on his hearers was exceedingly
interesting. On well nigh every face
when Coxey began was an expression Of
curious interest.
Whatever Mr.. Coxey is or is not, his
manner of speech is effective. There can
be no doubt of the mans earnestness He
believes what he says, and he says what
he thinks with the eye and utterance of
candor. His audience listened Then the
expression of curious interest died away
and in its place came the look men have
when observing what they see. The toll
erantly skeptical become interested, with
no attempt to conceal the fact. The man
haH inn, prf1 f1xvo of tkaiY ot-
tention. The result was a careful hearing,
and as Coxey finished there were many
sage holdings of heads and many nudg-
ings of approval. The net result is that
Coxey leaves trail of new thought in the
minds of many, who will recall and posi-
| bly, pursue 1t later as Coxey partisans.
Later in the day the correspondent, in
conversation with Coxey, referred to the
| fact that a vast mum Der who looked upon
his enterprise from long range, believed
him to be not only a crank but that he Is
literally not sane man.
"Why should an earnest man with
strong convictions be regarded as not
saneW inquired the Commonweal chief.
''Is it an evidence of insanity that man
works vigorously and spends money freely
along the lines of his convictionsP" he
added.
People find it difficult to believe that a
thoroughly balanced man has enough of
Christ in his heart to spend not only his
time and his money in the way you are
! doing with An unselfish singleness of pur-
pose" was suggested, ''and the people on
this account regard you as unbalanced on
the subjects you are pressing"
II see, l see" responded Coxey, and he
went on to explain that he got the inspir-
alton for his bonds bill in a dream which
he believes to have been of divine inspira-
| ton.
"You don't veritably believe the meas
ures you are pressing upon congress can
be passed OF progressed this session, do
| youp was asked.
| 'I'm not willing to admit thRt-no, sir,
nm not" Coxey returned vehemently.
written petitions amount to nothing.
There's the kind of petition that talks and
has power,r CoxeY added, with q sweep
ing glance down the hill up which his
men were following. There are 20, 900 900
of well nigh starving men In this country.
| Let them come to Washington and stay
there all summer II necessary. II they
must die of starvation let them die under
the eyes Of congress, where the stencil of
their decay will fill the congressional nos
trils until something Is done 70 sbate the
stencil and its cause 1t matters not to
! me if I'm deemed crank. ! know Pm
right. / don't care if I'm ruined finan-
cially in this work. l can recover"