The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-02-25
Block Traffic. Leap on Mo-
tor Cars and Brighten
Dinner Guests.
1000 IN PROTESTS
AT MADISON SQUARE
State Executive Pledges
Emergency Measure-PO-
lice Make Arrests.

Stirred to 4 frenzy of unreasonins
rage by orators in Madison Square, a
thousand men, women and children OF
all ages followed agitators up Fifth ave-
nue. Yesterday to find Gov Whitman.
shouting in Yiddfsh and English AS they
went:
"We want bread"
They blocked traffic at Thirty fourth
street and tried to force their way into
the Waldorf-Astoria. They defied the
police. held UP automobiles while they
ieared on running boards to assail their
occupants, screamed their slogans again
and again. raped on windows to
frighien fashionables at tea inside and,
Ii general. gave emotionalism full vent
Driven away from the Waldorf they
pushed on to the ST. Regis. where they
would have gone in the first place If
their leaders had known the Governors
habits. They swarined about that hotel
IN the same turmoil of excitement until
last the Governor consented to see O
delesation-to tell them point blank he
believed the demonstrations were in
splred and the situation not half so bad
~ represented
The march up Madison avenue--not a
parade. parade had been forbidden
besan after the meeting In the square.
Crowd Was Much In Earnest.
Three generations OF East Siders and
people OF the Brownsville. Williamsburg
and Harlem ghettos were in the femark.
r.gi.
carriages, grandmothers led young hope
fuls. long whiskered men ambied on,
eyes straight ahead. 1t was a very
earnest. but not a starved looking crowd.
The procession got into Fifth avenue
1t Thlrty-secoud street, and thence
moved along New York's smartest thor
oughfare to the Waldorfs Peacock
Alley entrance. Policemen attempted
10 shoo the protesting ones south. but
they kept on going. At the entrance to
the hotel they set up loud wall and
would have marched straight In but for
the able shoulders of porters and po-
ncemen.
Automobiles containing hotel and din
her guests were held up and almost In
the twinkling of an eye tine approaches
TO the hotel were janimed with three or
Tour thousand curious ones struck by the
contrast presented-this motley throng
In the environs of luxury.
The minute 1t became apparent there
wasn't the slightest chance to enter the
hotel strong. rosy checked young
woman, her eyes blazing, yelled, I'VE
want to see the Governor!
I'VE want bread :" shouted the Gov
ernor hunters in chorus.
Help US. our babies are starving"
1rlelied women in the mob.
PhilanthrOpist In the ThrOnG.
The woman who insisted on seeing Mr..
whitman explained that She was Mrs.
A. l.auton Of Els West 112th street She
denied she was suffering from want Of
food. but explained that her action was
based solely upon a desire to help the
suffering poor.
Mrs. Lauton insisted that the crowd
stay exactly where 1t was until all had a
ehance 10 make their appea! to the Gov
ernor Tears trickled down her cheeks
as she spoke and several excitab!e men
and women tried to kiss her hands. Sew
sral other speakers took her place In the
open air forum and urged all to stick.
Inspector Bolan. 100 police reserves
and a lot Of plain clothes men called to
The Waldorf took up positions at
NE front entrance. Not a man among
the bluecoats wanted to face the respon-
as they sometimes have to handle crowds
OF men who don't want to behave and
they pleaded loud and long with the
women to go home.
Instead the women screamed that they
wanted TO see the Governor and repeated
their cries for bread. Several men and
women raped on the windows Of the
MOTEL. causing much uneasiness among
ne hotel guests who were peerinG at the
excited mob outside.
The police stood II as long as they
could and then Inspector Bolan gave or
Ners that the street must be cleared No
Sticks were used, but tho police pushed
The crowd aside in their most efficient
manner. More than one person Insisted
on standing on his rights and the cops
made the flying wedSe.
Girl Attacks Policeman.
-Four especially obstinate ones were ar
rested, three for disorderly conduct and
one for assaulting a policeman. The
most obstreperous. according to Police
man Jordan of the East Twenty-second
street station, was Isabella Sorkin. 10
years old. Of 1877 East Tooth street. Miss
SofkIn struck the officer In the mouth
ana put the finishing touch to her at
tack by pulling his collar.
Some Of those who got into difficulties
with the police manifested their dislike
Tor wealth In general and automobiles In
particular by jumping on the running
hoirds OF ears stalled In the Jam and
telling folks in the machines exactly
what they thought OF them.
Just before the crowd got to the