Evening star., 1932-07-31
POLICE SAY LEVIN
F. HELPED |NC|TE RIOT
Regard Him as Main Radical
Leader-Credited With Orig
inaI "Bonus March" Idea.

The District grand jury will review
York, so-called leader Of the radical
element of the Bonus Expeditionary
Force, when it starts on its investiga-
ton of the disorders leading to the
forced evacuation from Washington Of
war veterans.
This became known yesterday from
an authoritative source as police were
centering their attention on Levin's
record as an avowed Communist agi-
tator both here, in New York and in
other metropolitan centers.
AS the investigation proceeded Levin
was behind bars in the cell room of
the fourth precinct station house. He
has been locked up since Friday.
Police Seize Audience.
His detention came after police said
they had listened to a speech by him
in an abandoned lodge hall in the
Southeast section of Washington. His
audience of 35 other Communists was
arrested. Nine are still being held with
Levin.
I'VE found him." Police Inspector o.
T. Davis said. attempting to rebuild
his forces that had been destroyed on
Thursday. Not only was he defying the
orders of the Government, but ne was
appealing for more bloodshed.
Here is what he was saying when
we stopped the meeting: we must use
force against force and we must strike
at once
1.-THE battle scene was to be in front
Of the White House and he was urging
his band of followers to leave at once
for the Executive Mansion for the pur-
pose of picking a fight with police and
the military
I'VE stepped in at this juncture and
broke up the meeting and marched
them to cells"
A police squad under the command
of Inspector Davis Immediately follow
ing Levin's detention began a whole
sale ''mop-up" of radical suspects.
A total of $50 have been deported
from Washington and 19 are being held
in three precinct station houses await
ing further investigation by immigra-
ton and other Federal agents, accord
ing to police records.
Ford Is Ordered Out.
Among those ordered out was James
w. Ford, colored candidate for Vice
President on the Communist ticket. He
came here late Thursday, police said, to
aid Levin to regather his forces after
the disorders. The police placed him
aboard New York train and cautioned
him to remain out of Washington.
The police accuse Levin as being the
prime mover in the unsuccessful at
tempts of the so-called left wing" of
the B. E F.. to picket the White House
during the last two weeks. They said it
was his orders that sent John Pace of
Detroit and his band Of 200 men to the
White House on the night Congress ad-
journed.
Every other attempt to stage dem
onstration in front of the Executive
Mansion was engineered by Levin, it
was charged.
John Pace and other so-called lead
ers Of the left wing were mere tools
in the hands Of Levin" Inspector Davis
asserted.
He was the principal actor. but al
ways behind the scene,'' the police off,
cial explained. "Ke gave the orders,
and Pace and Samuel j. Stembar of
NCH 1OIh anu OGIlGIo dCLGU.
Most Vicious Radical.
Levin is the most vicious radical
that ever came to Washington. We are
going to hold him as long as possible.
He is too dangerous a man to be allowed
to roam the streets at this time.
Il will not go so far as to say the
whole blame for the trouble Thursday
should be placed upon him." Inspector
Davis asserted, but when we are
through with our investigation we will,
no doubt, have sufficient evidence to
show that he played an important
part"
Levin arrived in Washington on
June l, and his frankness in admitting
that he was q Communist and that he
sought the leadership of the Bonus
Expeditionary Force completely sur
prised newspaper men.
His claim for leadership was based
on his assertion that the Workers Ex-
Service Mems League, an affiliate of
the Communist party, had engineered
the Nationwide movement of veterans
to Washington to demand their bonus.
He said he had been ordered by his
party to come to Washington to take
charge He brought with him Stembar
and other radicals and they formed
what they termed the National Pro-
ViSionaI Bonus March Committee.
Oregonians Arrive First.
Waters and his band of veterans from
Portland, Ore, had preceded Levin to
Washington by a few days. The
Oregonians claimed the distinction of
having started the movement and they
set Waters up as their national COM
uander.
To refute this Levin made public
orders circulated to Communist leaders
throughout the country to start the
movement. The orders were dated
April IA and followed the expulsion OF
Stembar and a committee from the
Capitol during House committee hear
ing on the Patman bonus bill.
Levin attempted to make peace with
the Oregonians. but they would not
listen to his overtures. He announced