Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-06-08

the farms. slavs from the coal mines.
Behind them, in tragic contrast,
marched the second well-fed, gayly uni
formed Washington drum and bugle
corps.
Then came Chicago's delegation
men from the lighthouses, from the
drab brick desert Of the stock yards
district. They represented all nation
alities and all callings. To judge from
their stories, they have faced a harder
situation than the veterans from any
ether locality.
Fit Well Into Misery.
Smaller delegations from other States
dragged YEARLY by. all fitting well into
the rank and file Of this army of mis-
cry which fate has dumped on the
hard-pressed District Of Columbia
Georgia and Florida passed by-farmers
from the cotton fields, clerks from Co.
lumbus and Miami, colored men from
the villages and slums OF the Southern
cities; They marched together now.
Racial feelings seemed to have disap-
peared in this futile budding together
Of the miserable.
Last OF all came New York City's big
delegation-men from the dregs OF
Americas greatest melting pot. This
New York delegation was under the
greatest suspicion for harboring reds"
in the ranks. There was no evidence of
1t In the parade last night. Perhaps
these New York men had felt the great
est contrast between good times and
bad and were trifie bitterer than some
OF the others. In lush days they had
made big mcney"-$25 and $50 a day.
Some had lodged their families in ex-
pensive apartments. Now they are
sleeping in the parks and under the
benches OF the Bowery missions.
Perhape the saddest episode in the
procession was that Of a little boy, 4
years old, carrying tiny flag and lead
ing dog. Presumably he was the child
OF one Of the marchers. He was SYM
bolic OF the thousands Of children back
home-little, tousled white-heads whose
distress has driven their fathers to des-
peration.
Misery's Dumping Ground.
Washington watched. sympathized
and shrugged its shoulders. The watch
ers felt infinite pity for these men
wished they could do something for
them. But the city wondered why it
should be made the dumping ground of
the Nations burden Of misery. There
was no hostility to the marchers among
the Woodworking folks upon whose
hospitality they have intruded them
selveS-rather a sense Of the futility of
it all. The Government clerks and me-
chanics Of the District of Columbia
can't stem the great tide of misery-of
which this bonus demand seems to be
one expression.
1t was, in a sense, a patriotic parade
Every company carried its flags-yel-
lowed, dropping flags. But it was not
rallying to the defense Of the flag. 1t
Of the flag.
Many Wear Decorations
There were brave men in those ranks. |
The parade was led by men who had
received decorations for extraordinary
bravery in the World War. Here is
the list Of them.
Arthur Barry, Boston, Croix de
Guerre: Mark Shahian, New York, Dis |
tinguished Service Cross and Croix de
Guerre; James E. Rogers, Miles City, |
Mont, Congressional Medal of Honor, |
Legion of Honor, Croix de Guerre and
Victor Emmanuel Medal. This man
fought with the Foreign Legion and
later with Marines. He was picked to
lead the parade over his protests
wanted to march with the bunch"
Edward j. Puchajda, Heidelberg, Pa, |
Service Cross; Russell M. /
Shepherd. Pittston, Pa, Distinguished
Service Cross; Joseph B. Alexander, |
Col. Medal of Honor for
Life Saving. This is naval decoration |.
and not to be confused with Medal of
Honor (CongressionaD; Edgar Reeves, !
Seattle: Distinguished Service Cross,
Croix de Guerre and Medaille Milltaire;
Walter ! Koch Rensselaer, N Y
Croix de Guerre; Raymond W. Tomlin-
son, Ell Centre, Calf, Distinguished
Service Cross: E. L. Reck. Portland,
Greg, Croix &c Guerre; J. E. Kilgellan,
Canton. Ohio, Croix de Guerre; Joseph
T. Angelo, Camden, Distinguished Serv-
ice Cross; William B. Laughlin. Johns
town. Pa, CroiX de Guerre; William A.
Butler, colored, 1914 Fifth street, Wash
ington, D. c., Croix de Guerre.
Too Tired to Parade.
Last of all came the automobiles
and trucks bearing the veterans who
were too tired to march, too sick or
too footsore.
Spectators commented on how sur
prisingly well these companies-with- (
out previous drilling together-marched |
Few were out of step. There was
immediate response to the sharp COM
mands Of the hastily appointed leaders |
But the steps dragged-like those of
a regiment returning from the front. |
There was no heart in them. no hope
in them. It was an almost ghostly
procession Of the defeated-there in
the gathering dusk over Americas
most historic parade ground.