Evening star., 1932-11-18
BRIDE SECRETLY
VISITS MITCHELL
IN HUNGER MOVE
Outcome of Conference on
Handling of "MarcherS"
Is Yelled.
BROWN FINDS D. c. LACKS
HOUSING FOR "ARMY"
Reichelderfer Denies Commission
ers Are Considering Use
of Armed Guards.

An attempt to learn the position Of
the Federal Government with respect to
the handling of the national hunger
marcherS' and other groups Of unem-
ployed planning to come to Washington
this Winter was made today by Cor
poration Counsel William W. Bride at
conference with Attorney General
Mitchell.
The conference was held at the De-
partment of Justice, and was brief due
to the fact that Attorney General
Mitchell was called to the White House
for cabinet meeting.
The outcome was veiled in utmost
secrecy Mr. Bride even declined to
admit he had been to the Department
of Justice.
If the department holds to the policy
it adopted during the encampment OF
the bonus army, Mr.. Bride is given
little encouragement of support from
the Federal Government At that time
the department took the position that
the promlem of handling the veterans
was one for the District government to
solve.
ID. c. Lacks Housing.
In the meantime, Maj. Ernest w.
Brown superintendent of police, an
4lOu1lSCA b44dl A1AS AGEe14 bAAACGV 44a0 SOAA
Quoted a quiet survey of housing facili-
ties and learned that there are no
buildings under control of the District
government that could be used tenn
porarily by the hunger marchers or
other unemployed groups
Mai. Brown had previously declared
that no effort would be made by the
Police Department to feed or shelter
the marchers and had the survey made
in anticipation of demands from lead
ers of the unemployed groups for ac-
commodations to show the futility OF
such a request. Announcement has
been made by the hunger march lead
ers that they could force the Commits
sioners to provide food and shelter by
mass pressure expressed through dem
onstrations."
Mai. Brown also has conferred with
officials of the various charitable mis-
Sions and learned that their housing
accommodations are taxed to capacity.
Reports that District officials are con-
sidering the use Of armed guards to pre-
vent entry into the District Of unen-
ployed armies were vefemently denied
by DR.. Luther H. Reichelderfer, preSi-
dent Of the Board of Commissioners.
1.-THE Commissioners" DR.. Reichelder-
fer said, "have no policy, tentative or
otherwise, for forcibly dealing with the
marchers."
DR.. Reichelderfer pointed out that the
Police Department is not Of sufficient
strength to stop any large groups OF
narchers at the District line, and
should such move become necessary,
it would have to be done by the Federal
Government.
Mai. Brown and Inspector Frank s.
w. Burke, chief Of detectives, are now
V,1aVc
TO prevent q demonstration at the
White House Thanksgiving day by
children to be brought to Washington
by the hunger march leaders.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Walsh,
detailed at Juvenile Court, has been in
gtructed by Mr.. Bride to make a study
Of various District statutes under which
leaders Of the hunger march might be
prosecuted for using children to ex-
plot their propaganda.
Cruelty Section Selected
Mai. Brown said he believed section
81, chapter 2, title 6, of the District
code might be used effectively. This
chapter relates to cruelty to children,
and provides as maximum punishment
a fine Of $3.50 and imprisonment for
two years, or both, for persons who
age, or who dispose Of children under
IL as mendicantS or pauperS.
Information in possession Of the
Police Department shows that the chill
dren are to be paraded in front OF the
White House carrying empty milk
bottles and wearing worn-out shoes as a
means Of indicating poverty.
Inspector Burke said he had received
replies to his recent communications
for cooperation from police depart
ments in various cities in connection
with plans of the various unemployed
groups to come to Washington from
Boston, New York Baltimore and Rich
nond, Va. Police officials in these cities
said they are doing everything possible
to discourage such pilgrimageS.
The hunger marchers are making
efforts to lease the Washington Audi
torium December and for con-
yention of the unemployed, but thus
far. 1t was learned, their request has
not been granted. Ofhcials of the Audi
tortum said they had received several
other applications for the use of the
building on those dates, and had not
decided which one to approve.