The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-08-30
PLUTARCH TELLS OF ROME'S E.E.
 AND ITS FIGHT
Eegions Quit When the Senate Failed to Keep
 Promises
BY FOSTER EATON

BY FOSTER ;EAION
 Atlanta, (UP)-Now that the Bonus Expeditionary Forces have left the capital. it Is interesting to note that the B. F. F. invasion was by no means the first march of its kind in history.
 Plutarch's life of Coriolanus re- lates rising among the Roman legions back in the approximate time of Christ. The Romans got what they wanted, and instead of camping in Rome marched out to a nearby town and bivouaced.
 They even held up a war until they gained their point.
 As told by Plutarch, the Roman senate ''favoring the wealthier citizens, began to be at variance with the common people, who made sad complaints of the rigor- ous and inhuman usage they re- ceived from the money lenders"
 Plutarch's Story
 It appeared the loan sharks of ancient Rome were clamping down on the rank and file. Ii further appeared. according to Piutarch, that the backbone of the army, actually had won a cam paign against the Sabines upon a promise that they would treat them with more gentleness for the future"
 "But when," Plutarch wrote "after they had fought courage ously and beaten the enemy there was, nevertheless, no mod. eration of forbearance used, and nothing of that agreement, and sat without estifying the least concern to see them dragegd away like slaves and their goods seized upon as formerly, there began now to be open disorders and dangerous meetings in the city and the enemy, also aware or the popular confusion, invaded and laid waste the country"
 Called to War
 Ironically, the consuls called for "all who were of an age to bear arms" to get up there and do so. Plutarch relates the con suls found no one regards the summons" Governmental con- sternation cnsued. Talk of open rebellion was heard. The senate met, muddled arouond. did nothing constructive. Some, however, urged aid to the poor.
 The poor commonalty, there fore" says Plutarch, "perceiving there was likely to be no redress of their grievances. on sudden collected in body, and. encour- aging each other in their resolu- tion, forsook the city with one ac- cord, and scizing hill which is now called the Holy Mount, sat down by the river Anio. without committing any sort of violence or seditious outrage, but merely ex- claiming, as they went along, that they had this long time past been. in fact, expelled and excluded from the city by the cruelty of the rich"
 Spurrcd Action
 Exodus of the "commonalty' spurred the senate to action. Il sent "the most moderate and pop ular men of their own order to treat with them." the great his- torian wrote, sent, in fact one Menenius Agrippa, who saved the day with little more than good story. Agrippa, addressing the "commonalty," told them of the "mutiny' of all the members of the human body against the stom- ach, ,~''which they accused as the only idle, .uncontributing part in the whole body"
 Agrippa's story broke the exo- dus. "A reconciliation ensued. said Plutarch, "the senate acced- ing to the request of the people for the annual election of of five protectors for those in need of succor. the same that are now called the tribunes of the people"