Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-12-06
CURTIS THREATENS TO GUST GROUP
OF MARCHERS, CHARGING INSULT

unemployed insurance and other bene-
fits. The signs calling for unemployed
insurance by far outnumbered all
others, various of which read;
Free Gas and Electricity for the IN
employed" Recognition for Soviet
Freedom" Smash Deportation Of For
eign Born Seamen," stop Evictions of
Unemployed Tenants"
Thanked on all sides by policemen and
! firemen in patrol wagons, automobiles.
motor cycles and on foot, the hunger
marchers tramped toward the Capitol
singing the "Internationale," the Red
war song Of Russia, and shouting for
unemployment insurance and other re-
| lief measures.
Throngs on Sidewalks Silent
Throngs lined the sidewalks all along
the line of march, but all the cheering
was done by the marchers themselves.
For an hour the police lined New York
avenue waiting for the parade to start.
When the marchers finally moved away,
carrying banners emblazoned with their
demands upon Congress, patrolmen fell
in beside them, keeping them in line.
The police gas squad moved ahead in
patrols and automobiles. They were
followed by Inspector Ogden T. Davis
and Capts. Hugh Grove and Richard
H. Mansfield riding in motor cycle side
cars. The marchers were led by Herbert
Benjamin and Ann Burlak.
Motor cycle policemen moved back
and forth along the long line Of march
ers, keeping traffic out of the way and
| preventing the spectators from surging
into the streets. If there was any
enthusiasm in the crowds that thronged
the sidewalks it was kept secret Along
| the entire route only one woman was
seen to applaud and there were no
cheers.
En- route they tramped along peace
fully enough, apparently taking delight
in singing their songs and chanting
their demands Now and then one or
| two of them attempted to fall out of
| line to greet some friend on the side
walk, but officers Immediately ordered
them back. In each instance they
obeyed without murmur.
Benjamin Voices Objection.
As the procession moved along New
York avenue between North Capitol and
First streets northwest, Benjamin fell
out of line to object to the gas from
the eXhausts of the motor cycles in the
| lead. He accused the police of de-
| liberately trying ito smoke us out" The
motor cycles moved farther ahead, how
ever, and he dropped back into the
! line Of march.
Strict orders were passed along to the
patrolmen from their immediate SUI
| periors directing them to treat the
| marchers courteously and to refrain
from force unless it was necessary for
the preservation Of order. The marchers
also were ordered by their leaders to
| pay close attention to police regulations
/ and to avoid mourning disciplinary ac-
ton on the part of local authorities.
Some of the groups marched along
| giving yells at the direction of cheer
leader The yells expressed their vari-
Gus demands to be made upon Congress.
Before the march started leaders called
the names Of delegates in each group
who had been elected to present these
demands to Congress.
One Of the yells as the parade swung
along was BLACK and white; unite and
fight-black and white; unite and
fight!"
Boos Turn Into Cheers.
Boos and Kisses at the police turned
to shouts of enthusiasm as word spread
through the throng Of shivering. would
be demonstrators last night that police
would lift the iron hand which had
held steadfast since they arrived late
| Sunday.
Except for few, who were allowed
to struggle into the Capital during the
day, and several hundred who were sent
to billets in private residences and two
large buildings, the marchers have been
\ held within the ring of heavily armed
police.
Levinson, one of the leaders. said
| Is is intended that all the march
| ers, with the exception of the western
| column, will be on their way out of
Washington by night. The western
column is scheduled to leave tomorrow
morning.
Herbert Benjamin, another leader,
said that in sanctioning the parade,
Supt. Brown had warned that fully
armed police will be at the Capitol
during the stop to prevent any en- masSe
movement toward the building.
II this Is the situation, Benjamin
added, 1T will be our policy to avoid
clash by remaining in the street while
the two delegations go into the Cap
itol"
Just before the announcement of the
parade was made at the camp, an ugly
temper ran through the marchers.
Nearly 200 had left the trucks and gone
to domiciles downtown as colder
weather descended upon the city
| Later permission was given for some
800 men to 60 to large buildings and
| private homes which had been opened
to receive the visitors.
After more than hundred had de-
| parted and trucks and taxicabS were
standing by to take others, it was
found that half dozen of the vehicles
were disabled by slashed tires.
Police Vandalism Charged.
| Charging police vandalism, the
sternly guarded deadline. The officers
denied the accusation and charged the
marchers, in return, with cutting the
tires to excite sympathy.
| Long after dark, as this group of
demonstrators indicated they would be
| gone within So hours, new caravan
began its entrance into the city.
It was the first delegation of the
Farmers National Relief movement
which is to hold a convention here this
week. Sixty were in the group, repre-
! senting eight Western States.
They had their own provisions and
bedding and were permitted by police to
find their own lodgings.
The demonstrators held their first
parade last night within the small
arear In which the authorities have
confined them since they arrived. Their
audience consisted of some $50 blue
coats, reserves having been called when
the demonstrators began to mass In
group.
The parade in the pavement stretch
where they are held, began to the tune
Of the "Internationale. AS the group
advanced toward a roped police line,
the sirens of the reserves screamed
through the city, bringing reinforce
ments.
At the head of the column were Will
liam Reynolds of Detroit, Mich, and
Benjamin, sponsors of the march, a
young woman and a colored man.
The police gas squad fingered nausea