Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-02

vas had been stretched to form a precarious
sort OF a shelter.
AT the entrance to the grounds was dis
played rude sign to the effect that Gen
Coxey would. at o'clock. deliver an ad-
dress. When that hour was reached Coxey
mounted platform constructed in the
simplest manner and proceeded to address
the two or three hundred persons who had
congregated about him. Back of the plat
form was. hung huge banner bearing the
notices and legends of the army and its
purposes. On either side of the platform
was fiaring gas jet, and but for the slight
light afforded by them here and there a camp
fire. the whole place was wrapped In absolute
darkness.
Still Harping on His Bills.
Gen. Coxey spoke for about an hour. He
explained at the outset that he was no ora
tor. and not one who heard him last evening
thought to say otherwise. His remarks
were temperate, no attempt being made to
excite in the slightest manner the minds of
those who heard him, the speaker seemingly
having but one purpose. that of laying be-
fore his hearers the plan and object of his
descent upon Washington At times he was
applauded. but II was noticeable fact that
the applause lacked both volume and en-
thu siasm. Another thing observed was that
while very many members of the army
were In the throag about the speaker
seldom If ever, did they express their APP
prevail, IL approval they felt, for what he
said, standing mute and inglorious. hopeless
and with despair written upon their faces
Gen. Coxey told his audience that there
as but one hope for the country. and that
was to adopt his measures. Congress, he
said had but to pass the bill proposed by
him. and then would instantly follow pros
perity and an determination forever OF the
dangers which he exclaimed now threatened
the land. Washington, he cried, was a most
beautiful city, none more so in the whole
world. and If. as he had been told, he and
his men would die before his bills were
pc ssed, then he and his army could find no
better place than the national capital to
die in. The city, he remarked, had been
reached after untold suffering. but he want
ed the country to know that he and his men
would rot here before they would consent to
leave without accomplishing their object
He nor his men, who would soon be REIN
forced by hundreds of thousands proposed
to break any law, however harsh the laws
might be, but they hoped and believed that
by acquainting the people with their harsh
ness the repeal of the laws would be soon
secured.
Alluded to the Days Events.
In his crusade, he explained, there was no
politics. for both the great parties were
equally guilty of tramplng down the people
for selfish gain, and he intimated that the
same might not unreasonably be expected
in time of the populists' party. The people
| must, If they would succeed. take matters
in their own hands.
go to Congress yourselves" he exclaim-
, ed. Quit sending lawyers there. Send to
Washington people of your own class. II
you do. you can't do worse than they have
done for you. and you might do a great
deal better" This advice caught the crowd
and the most enthusiastic applause of the
evening followed 1t.
The events of the day were merely alluded
to in a most casual manner, and the gen.
eral said nothing more of them than to
merely recite them without making any
serious coment thereon. The address was
far from interesting, and after the speaker
had been speaking for thirty minutes the
crowd began to gradually thin out and
busted themselves in inspecting the camp
and its miserable occupants. Few remained
to hear the address throughout, and upon
its conclusion Gen. Coxey, after spending a
few minutes in looking about the place. left
for his comfortable quarters at his hotel,
leaving his deluded and despairing follow
ers to their miserable surroundings. The
police of the fourth precinct, in which the
camp Is situated. stated that the men had