Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-12

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paused and committee was appointed to
| wait upon DR.. Rogers. The committee con-
sisted of DR.. Wells. DR.. Owens Geo. Mark
ward, f. A. Holden, F. Hickey, NJ. c.
Darnall, It. NJ. Moran. Geo. NJ. Smith and
| r. Ford Combs. Contrary to the tnjunc-
tons of the committee not to approach the
| residence Of DIR. Rogers. the curious and
excited crowd followed the committee and
stood on and about the porch. Never since
the battle OF Bladensburg has such de-
termined crowd gathered at one place in
that village. 1t was an assembly composed
mostly or the representative men of the
two villages. DR.. Wells was the spokesman
or the committee AMI was remarkably cool
and collected under the trying circum-
stances. The door was opened by Mr.. j..
Harris Rogers. His father was asked for
and in a few moments he appeared upon
the scene.
The Request Refused.
DR.. Wells then made a brief address, in
which he requested DR.. Rogers, in behalf
of the people Of the community. to rescind
his action. and inform Gen. Coxey that he
could not tender him his place for the use
of his army. in behalf of the unprotected
women, whose husbands will be at their
offices during the day. we make this re-
! quest of you," said DR.. Wells. "You no
| doubt thoughtiessly offered your place to
Gen. Coxeys commonweal without con-
sidering the consequences. There are al
4 Ii
woods, and more will be likely to gather
| there. Coxeys men are not coming here
for a night but intend to stay here until
they can get work to do" This was in
substance the main part of Dr. Wells
speech. Some one then remarked that
there was nothing to protect the women
from being outraged II such attempts should
De made. The speech of DIR. Wells made a
deep impression upon DR.. Rogers. who
bowed his head In deep thought for some
moments before he replied. Then he said
words to the effect that he had great re-
spect for DR.. Wells, who was his family
physician. and also for the people of the
two towns. but that such am action on his
part as that of denying Gen" Coxey the
use OF his place. after having offered It to
MIN. would require consideration. This re-
quest placed him In an awkward position
He was one of Gen. Coxey's counsel. and
was proud Of the honor conferred upon
him. He sympathized with Coxey and his
men, who were driven from Washington.
and had no place to go. Coxeys men were
not bad. and would commit no depreda-
lions He CDR. Rogers had daughters, and
ne was not afraid Of their being harmed by
NO" said DR.. Wells at this point, they
are under obligat tons to you, and will
neither modest you nor your family. but
we and ours may suffer"
DR.. Wells suggested that the relations Of
counsel and client existing between him and
Soxey would insure the safety of his fam
n.y. and Dr. Rogers replied that SO soon
would have to get of his premises
Dr. Rogers then said that when Coxey
broke his faith with him. he would nrotect
himself with the strong sword Of the law.
he was then asked by a citizen Of Hyatts-
VILE how the army would be fed. and re-
pied that car loads of provisions would he
sent them He concluded his speech bv
declning to withdraw his invitation to
Coxey. have nothing more to saw"
said DR.: Wells in a firm and decided man.
ner We will take the law in our own
nands, angrily remarked Dr. Owens. As
the crowd left the residence Of Dr. Rogers
some misses were heard, which were evil
IDENTIFY intended for him. Dr. Rogers was
also appealed to by Mr.. n. c. Darnall. ex-
snerln OF the county; DR.. Owens and Mr..
AS the procession returned to Hyattsviu.
the people of both villages rushed to their
&c ors ana windows to gaze upon the crowd
and hear what it had to say.
Future Action.
A public meeting Of the citizens of Hy-
attsville and Bladensburg will be held to-
night at o'clock in Wells Hall to take
proper steps against the Coxey invasion.
The states attorney and sheriff will be
present. The commissioners Of both towns
will confer with each other at the meeting.
Never in the history of Hyattsville has such
excitement prevailed. Single tax and anti
single tax men are united against the Cox
eyites and are in for protecting their
homes.
Col. Wright Rives. U. 8. A, retired, who
lives at Riyes station. last evening tele-
graphed Gov. Brown as follows: II have
written you. Coxey will arrive at Bladens-
Durs tomorrow. Don't allow his horde to
put our property and lives in peril" Up till
late hour last evening no answer had been
received from the governor.
DIR. Rogers Comments.
DR.. ]. w. Rogers. owner of the Spa land
in Hyattsville which Is to be used as a
camping ground, in speaking to a Star re-
porter today expressed great indignation
at the conduct Of the citizens who sur
rounded his residence last evening.
"A greater outrage than was ever charged
10 Coxey's army was perpetrated on my
home at late hour last night" said DR.
Rogers About 200 men from Hyattsville
asserting the right of petition. frightened
my invalid wife and my daughters out of
their wits. The alarm bell rang in Hyatts
Vile for an Indignation meeting. Several
men, evidently my friends, came running
IN advance and almost GREATNESS, told one
or my daughters that about 200 men were
coming to my house, with threats of lynch
ing me II l would not withdraw nv permls
sion Tor Coxey to occupy the Spa woods On
came tne mob. These men. instead Of send
ing a committee Of gentlemen to my parlor.
invaded my grounds and made speeches
from the steps Of my capitol Pistols were
nre s IN the yard and some Of the crowd,
ed, Hang himl Hang him. OF this multi
tuoe assembled before my house Dr. Wells
was the nrst to speak, but did SO respect
1uiIy, denouncing the Coxeyites Others
spoke angrfly. saying their wives and
daughters were endangered by the move
ment.
1T was about this time that the pistols
were nred. as If to intimidate me, when. in
klnd but firm manner, I said: IF there
was any danger my own wife and dauphters
anu sons were more endangered than theirs
Tor my house Is more isolated and the Iadies
there are often without a protector. have
no apprehension. These poor men. however
deiuded they may be. have marched through
hundreds of villages without Committing a
single outrage, and under leader like
Coxey would be less dangerous than III dis
nanded and driven to desperation by want
moreover, told them that as one of Gen
Coxey's retained counsel In his law trouble
L knew more about these men and their
peaceable disposition than my hearers did
and stated that would neither drive them
from my door. from which no poor man was
ever yet turned away, nor from the broad
land which they have been permitted to oc-
cupy." ~
The doctor continued: 81 understand that
Maj. Moore has received an anonymous
threat OF blowing up the Capitol and the
PRESIDENTS mansion, but venture to say
as friend of the people and one Of them.
that at the first explosion more than nine
tenths or the men now out of employment
Coxey's followers among them, would spring
to arms and sweep anarchy from the face
of the earth So with this Hvatts y,ol,