The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-02-12
TiIiman and Coxey.
They Meet in Washington
and Swap Experiences.
W ashington Post, Saturday.

each other in the lobby of the senate
yesterday afternoon. For the next
ten minutes one couldn't hear any
thing but the sound of the ma
chInery. At the expiration Of that
time the entente cordiale had been
spilled all over the floor and the
statesmen were saying politely sar
castle things to one another
1t all started out with Tillman's
recent speech. The senator is proud
of that speech, and proposes to have
about two million copies of it print
ed. If the postoAice authorities do
not prohibit its passage through the
mails for statutory reasons, Uncle
Sam will have to carry it free under
the Tillman frank.
The senator told all of this to the
leader of the commonweal army, and
was predicting several surprising
things which would result from the
farmers perusal of The Speech.
Il don't know" said Coxey, with
faraway look in his eyes. after |
spoke before the finance committee |
printed and circulated over half
million copies of my speech, Cause
and Cure Ii cost me an awful lot
of money"
"The people are going to buy MY
Speech" responded Mr.. Tillman.
care they ?" inquired Mr.. Coxey.
eff you had tried to sell things
around this country half as hard as |
have, you'd change your mind about
that"
"No, I wouldn't" answered Mr..
Tillman, stou,ly, as he nudged the
door of the chamber open with his
foot. do you see that desk IN
there F? See that pile of letters !?
Well, that's from people who COM
mended my speech. That's just one
mail
"Yes, | know replied the unim-
pressed general "That's just the
sort of mail I used to get when l
was in Jail The chief thing l
noticed about it was That it didn't get
me out I got some thousands of let
ters, but there are 70,000,000 people
in this land I"
Every one of whom read my
Speech inserted Mr.. Tillman.
"Here's a good specimen of their
comment"
Mr.. Tilman fshed out letter and
handed it to Mr.. Coxey. THAT is
from Indianapolis. Read it," he
said.
"Well, this seems to be about the
hottest roast I ever read," comment
ed Coxey after reading a few lines,
"and it's from Philadelphia" j"
Mr. Tillman looked grieyed. 81
guess gave you the wrong letter.
he said. Il get few Of those, but
they don't hurt me" ="
3Well. they hurt me whole lot, ;"
! said Mr.. Coxey, rnefuIiy, "aud Pm
only just getting over it. Now you
take that editorial. What sort Of an
idea are the readers Of that paper
going to set Of you They are
going to get the same idea Of you
that they had of me, and you can't
get away from it, 1t seems to ne
our speech is going to drive away
1t very people we want TO attract .
Apparently the I'VE" hurt the
senator, for he stiffened perceptibly.
"There is very little unfavorable
comment" he suggested.
"You didn't see the Pittsburg and
Philadelphia papers | guess" sug-
gested Mr.. Coxey.
You can't trust newspapers an
swered the senator. "Look how
they had the people scared about you
and your army. Nobody cared a
cent when they saw you
Coxey rallied gamely and detly
countered with his celebrated nom
interest bond plan.
"The trouble about your speech is
that it doesn't suggest any remedy, :"
said Mr.. Coxey. "Now I have a
remedy that will wipe out this evil
you talk about, and bring wealth,
peace, and prosperity to the nation.
l would wipe out all Interest,""
"You can't abolish interest,"" said
Mr.. Tillman, positively.
"And you can't pass the silver
BILL" retorted Mr.. Coxey. "It re
ouires the law in both cases. Why,
the government has abolished in
terest as far as furnishing money to
the national banker is concerned.
All the money the national banks get
from the government they get with
out interest. Now, why should not
the government furnish money direct
to all the people without interest by
co,t;nor fho iHIo onJ unamn1ovod non