The daily worker., 1932-12-06

ment were arranged against the un-
armed Hunger Marchers as q fitting
reminder Of real nature of capitalist
democracy, the right of petition, etc.
The column Of Hunger Marchers
drove right up to the nnuzzles Of the
guns.
"Wiu Open Fire On You"
I'VE want to go through to the
city, yelled those in the lead.
"If you try, these men Will open
fire on you!" screamed back Super
intendent Brown.
Another parley followed, and, sur
rounded by the armed forces of the
capitalist government, the marchers
decided to camp there for the night
Police patrols hundreds strong,
with machine guns and gas, were
posted on the crest overlooking the
camp and along all the roads (tech-
nically they are streets" but infre-
quented, nearly empty streets lead
ing from the camp.
Airplanes droned overhead, ready
to shower bombs and machine gun
fire. Huge crowds of Washington
workers were turned back at the rope
barriers There was no drinking
water, no toilet facilities, no shelter,
no food. Workers International Re-
lief trucks loaded with food came
out, and were at first turned back.
Afterwards some were allowed in.
The marchers made a meal and pre-
pared to spend the night in trucks,
or wrapped in blankets on the
ground.
Won't Go Home.
The police taunted them, tried to
persuade them to go home. 1t only
reused the militancy and determina-
tion of the marchers.
The night closed down with most
of them singing The International,
waiting for the mass protest of the
millions of workers, employed and
unemployed throughout the country
to break down the barriers to act
ually win them their right to go as
the delegates of the unemployed, and
put their demands before congress.
Western Columns Arrive
Meanwhile the western delegates
1900 strong from all the states clear
to the Pacific coast, we're met at
Winchester so miles from Washing
ton by Virginia police, barring all
direct progress toward the capital
city and turning the column off on
side road.
On this road they were met at
Buffalo Lick Spring by state troop
ers flourishing shot guns, and halted.
After taking advantage of the stop
page to buy 600 gallons Of gasoline
at wholesale prices, the column was
re-routed by the police, and arrived
hours later at Washington.
At the limits of the District OF
Columbia, they we're met by another
mobilization Of police, on motorcycles,
and led through the city, close to the
capitol building, and into the camp
by the railroad yards, with the north
eastern marchers.
Southern Columns Come
Columns and 8, from all the
Southeastern states down to Florida
and Louisiana, several hundred
strong, Negro and white, some OF
whom had literally fought their way
through Birmingham and Chattan-
ooga police attacks, came in from
the South, practically unnoticed by
the police and found their way TO
the camp with the others.
Finally Herbert Benjamin, secretary
of the National Committee OF the
Unemployed Councils argued his way
into the camp, and a meeting of all
delegation captains was held. Ben
Jam1n reported on stores of food
assembled in Washington, also that
lodging and meeting hall would be
available today for 800 of the march,
ers. Two hundred and fifty homes,
capable OF housing hundreds of the
marchers, had been placed at the
disposal OF the delegates by Washing
ton citizens entirely out OF sympathy
with the attitude of the federal gov
ernment.
Influenza
The police at first refused TO allow
any marchers TO go to these homes,
Many OF the marchers, particularly
women, were still i'll from the gassing
given them by the pohce OF Winning
ton. Fourteen cases of influenza de-
Veloped in the camp. Many had
coias, from the STRAIN OF the march
ana exposure in the Washington
camp.
Finally the police allowed part of
the women delegates and those who
were i'll TO go through the lines to
Washington homes ready to welcome
them.
Department of justice photograph
ers circled around, under armed pro-
lection OF the police, and took pic
lures here and there.
The spirit Of the marchers remain
ed as high as ever this morning.
Farmers and Veterans
There are over 5000 National Hun.
ger Marchers in the camp. With
them are several hundred delegate,
to the National Farm Relief Confer
ence and bonus marchers, who came
into Washington with the Hunger
Marchers, and are held prisoner with
them. ..-s.i