Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-27

Hoover for immediate payment of the
bonus.
Mile by mile the size of the original
army diminished, and when the loyal
marchers stopped in Elkridge today for
noon lunch of bread and water. only
six were left, including John Alferi,
the leader, who is still clinging to the
American flag presented to him in
Philadelphia.
The bedraggled little band left Balti-
more about O'Clock this m 1rn1ng on
the final lap of the trek to Washington,
but sore joints, muscular aches and
bliStered feet impeded progress, and at
noon the men had covered only about
10 miles, with about 80 miles of con-
crete roadway stretching ahead to their
goal Despite their condition, the weary
veterans declared they would continue
their tramp to Washington, hoping to
arrive late today.
The rapidly diminishing army reached
Baltimore late last night and this morn
ing 20 men fell in line to continue to
Washington. Fourteen of them, how
ever, dropped out a few miles outside
of Baltimore and leaped on a Washing
ton-bound motor bus.
The aches, blisters ana pains, how
ever, have not dampened the enthusi-
asm of AlfeTi, who said he is determined
to finish the trip If he is forced to
march into Washington alone. Alferi
made the mistake of starting the 138-
mile tramp in a pair of new shoes and
they have served only to multiply his
bliSterS and bunionS.
Will Stick to Hike.
Alferi. however said he would be re-
paid for all his suffering. If Congress
will but authorize the cash payment
of the bonus certificates. Personally,
he declared, he would benefit to the
extent of about 81 500, and that would
go long way to Stave off his hunger.
Although most of the marchers de-
serted along the route, because of sick
ness or sore feet. Alferi said he ex-
poets many OF them to rejoin his loyal
band in Washington for the ceremonies
at the White House and the Capitol
Alferi holds no brief against the de-
serters, and admits himself that he
would never again attempt such long
jaunt.
Secretly, Alferi would like to finish the
trip in a comfortable car But I'm
the leader" he declared, land like the
captain of ship, I'll stick by my men
until the last one drops out, and then
I'll finish the trip afoot If have to use
crutches."
The five men who with Alferi COM
pose the remnants of the once strong
unemployed veterans army are H. Wenz,
Norman Netwin, Joseph Law, Howard
Seers and Terry Thorter, all Of Phila-
delphia. Seers is carrying a banner in
scribed, War Veterans-Philadelph
to Washington to Get Bonus"
Slept in County Jail.
Alferi pointed out that the trials and
tribulations of hiker. are not all that
they are cracked up to be-
Everyone has been fine to U.S." he
said, and we haven't starved to death,
even though bread has been our
principal diet. If the barbecue stands
hold out, we'll get enough to eat before
reaching Washington, but I've found
that constant diet of barbecued meat
is not good for the digestion"
Alferi said it has not been difficult to
get sleeping accommodations for his
army, but, like the food, it is not al
ways of the best and not conducive to
sound sleeping. For instance, he de-
clared, the only accommodations his
band could find in Elkton, Md, Monday
night were the vacant cells in the county
jail
1--WE didn't get any sleep at all that
night" said Alferi THE men spent
the night fighting rats. I've seen some
rats in my time, but none to compare
| with those monsters. And they mast
have been as hungry as some OF my
men"
Plans Are Uncertain.
The unemployed army went from
Philadelphia to Chester, Pa, on the
first day of it's march, AND reached
Elkton Sunday night. The men said
they spent last night in a flop house"
on Frederick avenue in Baltimore. They
said they would make their headquar-
tiers in Washington on lower Pennsyl-
vania avenue.
Alferis plans of activity in Washing
ton are not definite. He is not certain
whether he will take his followers to
the White House or the Capitol first.
And he also is uncertain about the
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