The New York herald., 1922-02-27
Aided by Veterans of Foreign
Wars They Prevent
Protest.
NEGROES OPPOSE Rail
Col. Little's Plans Blocked by
Disturbers i'm Riot0us
Church Scene.

Members Of the American Legion
and Veterans OF Foreign Wars made
desperate efforts yesterday afternoon
to cause disorder at negro mass
meeting Of protest against the soldier
bonus in st. Marks Methodist Episco-
pal Church., 2s1 West Fifty-third
street. at which Col. Arthur Little OF
the Fifteenth (negro) Infantry. and
Job T.. Hedges condemned the bonus
as economically unsound.
Resolutions urging Congress to kill
the bonus were to have been passed
at the meeting. but the Interruptions
were so numerous that the time limit
for TIE use OF the church by st. Marks
| Lyceum, under whose auspices the
meeting was held arrived before they
could be introduced.
From the moment Col. Little. the
principal speaker, started TO talk until
Mr.. Hedges delivered what might be
termed a philosophical observation OF
the discussions for and against the
bonus some representative of the
legion or veterans organization was
clamoring for a chance to speak.
Warnings that the meeting was being
held in church and that hand clap
ping was not permitted had no effect
on the trouble makers, who Kissed
whenever opportunity afforded. and
their Kisses were drowned out by
cheers and applause.
Legion starts Disorder.
Harold Zulouf. formerly Stnte COM
nlitteeman for the American Legion,
was so persistent i'm his demand for an
opportunity to speak that he was al
lowed eight minutes and went beyond
his time When John z. Robinson.
managing editor of the Ne1o York AM
sterddns Nesos. a negro newspaper. who
presided. tried TO stop Zulouf. the
legionnaire pleaded for another minute
and his cohorts In the church broke
forth with demands OF LET him tallS!"
from all parts Of the church.
John X. Kiernan, State commander
OF the Veterans OF Foreign Wars. de-
livered an address. in which he as
sailed Col. Little az the tool OF the
corporate interests, and said that IL
anybody had referred in his presence
10 the veterans OF the world war as
"grafters and buns" as Col. Little
quoted book publisher as having said
10 him. he would punch his head. When
Il came Mr.. ITedRes's turn to speak he
rebuked bot1l kiernan and Zulouf for
their remarks. reminding them that
whether difference OF opinion existed
between them or not they should not
charge their opponents with being dis
loyal or unpatriotic, or they might "get
into trouble"
Ples of Col. Little.
The climax OF the attempts at die
order came with this remark from Mr..
Hedges, Twenty or more men arose IN
the back of the church and began 20
make their way out, making es much
hats. which caused Mr.. Robinson TO
leap up and say:
will those gentlemen pleaee take off
their hats? can sec they never were
In church before"
Col. Little took for his topic "Hypo&
risy." lie gave as definition the con-
cealing "of dangers 70 our national well
fare speaking the language OF high pur-
pose; seeking TO seduce the sober iudg-
ment Of patriotism In terms OF money
reward"
The church was crowded 10 the doors
with negroes. both men and women. the
few white persons standing out prorni-
nently. Saying they sought terms OF
equality. Col. Little pointed the way
for them to grasp a now leadership. "a
leadership against q danger greater
even than that which threatened the
nation through tho policies o, the
Kaiser Tie called attention to the
great amount OF talk about dissatisfac-
ton in political affairs. and said tho
people were responsible for these condi-
tions because they are too lazy. or too