Evening star., 1932-11-26
Abuse of a Constitutional Right.

Abuse of a Constitutional Right.
The right of the people peaceabl!
10 assemble and to petition the Gov
ernment for a redress of their grieV
ances is guaranteed by the first article
of the amendments to the Constitution
of the United States, proposed two yeas
after the adoption of that instrument
by the Constitutional Convention anc
ratified within two years thereafter BY
the States. That right has been otter
exercised, and lately has been greatly
abused. Within the past few years
fashion has developed for groups OF
people, intent upon securing special
advantages through legislation, to "as-
semble" in Washington, at the doors
of Congress and the Executive Man
sion, and persist In the voicing OF their
demands against plainly evident rea-
sons to the contrary. "Picketing" be-
came the vogue in 1913, when the ad-
vocates of woman suffrage sought by
sensational methods to coerce the
adoption of q Constitutional amend
ment extending the franchise to all
citizens regardless Of sex. From time
to time since then other special in
terests have sought by similar mass
measures to secure legislative or execu-
tive remedies for their ills and answers
to their demands. The latest Of these
movements was that Of few months
ago when several thousands Of veterans
of the Great War gathered in Washing
ton to demand immediate payment OF
the bonus due in 1s45. failing in their
attempt at coercion with lamentable
consequences. Now comes group OF
children, marshaled by recognized
agents of q movement for the sub
version Of the American Government,
to present a petition for the relief OF
"child misery" in this country. In a
few days q hunger march" on the
Capital will be manifest in the arrival
of squads Of unemployed, also organized
by the same seditious agencies, to de-
mand a dole for the relief Of imme-
diate sufferings.
There is no law to prevent the as
semblage Of these petitioners at the
Capital. Congress cannot enact such a
law, which the Constitution specifically
prohibits. The definition Of "peaceable
assembly has not been strictly drawn,
but by no conception can it be devised
in a manner to bar the meeting Of pc
titioners at the seat of Government,
even though they may come from every
State, over long distances, and though
they may be assembled and aided by
organizations which are known to be
working for the overthrow Of the pres
ent system.
The Commissioners Of the District OF
Columbia, intent upon the preservation
of the peace and security Of the Capital
community, have asked the authorities
in the States to do all that is possible
to prevent these "marchers" from pass
ing through their territories toward
Washington. From none Of them have
come responses indicative Of either de-
sire or disposition to invoke the law or
to exercise executive authority to bar
the way to Washington. Nobody seems
to know how many are on the way and
nobody, apparently, expects that they
will be stayed or discouraged or per-
suaded to return to their homes. Ger
tainly nobody expects that their petition
will be effective.
The District Commissioners have
made it plain that no means will be
provided for the care and housing and
feeding of these "marchers" If and
when they reach Washington, in what
ever numbers. Assurances have been
given by some of the leaders that the
army" will disperse as soon as the Pc
titions are presented. For that there
will be general thanksgiving, for this
community Is in no position to main
tain a hungry horde of strangers. 1t
Is even now in the course Of a deSper-
ate endeavor to supply means for the
care Of It's own unfortunates during the
coming Winter and the subsequent
months of privation.
The trainers Of the Constitution had
no concept Of the mischievous lengths
to which the privilege of peaceable as
senbly for the redress Of grievances
would be put in the after days OF easy,
safe and speedy transportation. Else
the initial article of the Bill Of Rights,
as the first group of amendments were
styled, would doubtless have been writ
ten In different terms, conflning the
right OF assembly to the States Of the
petitioners. Had that been done the
present pernicious, even dangerous
practice of marching on Washington
whenever some agitator against the ex-
listing order of government sees an op-
portunity for sensational exploitation
would have been impossible.
"Get together and get somewhere"