Evening star., 1932-12-14
HOOVER "CENSURE"
PETITION REJECTED
Curtis Takes Objectionable
Paragraph From Radical
Marchers' Bonus Plea.
Continued From First Page.)

CONTINUED From F1rSt Page)
with the veterans" the Vice President
replied.
Finally Stember handed Mr.. Curti!
the petition and asked that he cut ou
paragraphs he deemed Objectionable.
IF that is your wish" said Mr.. Curtis
4 will accept your petition and strike
out paragraphs which reflect on the
President"
Whereupon the committee. consisting
of two colored men and three whites
trooped out of his office.
More than 100 of the marchers hac
walked up to Capitol Hill for the pres
entatiOn ceremonies. One delegation o1
80. which had intended splitting into
committees of Is to call upon the Vics
President and Speaker, had marched
in formation all the way from the
marchcrs' headquarters at 9O5 street
to the Capitol. Although. in the eyes
of the law, their march was interpreted
as q parade, they were not moleSted
except for a moment when one police
sergeant asked the purpose OF theii
parade" Stember and Hickerson eX-
planned their mission and the Scrgcan,
waved them on their way.
Stember Shouted Down.
Approaching the Senate wing Of the
Capitol the delegation of 80. by that
time increased somewhat was stopped
by Inspector Albert j. Headley of the
Metropolitan Police. who advised the
marcherS they must choose two squads
Of five each to call upon the Vice Presi-
dent and Speaker.
Who are your leaders," Inspector
Headley shouted to the mob.
When Stember started to make q
speech. Inspector Headley shouted him
down and demanded 10 men be chosen
Immediately or he would '.disband" the
outfit.
Stember then addressed the march.
ers. and asked If committees of five
would be acceptable He was answered
by a shout OF aye" and proceeded tt
pick the delegations. Both committee.
were escorted under heavy police guarC
to the respective offices Of the Vice
President and Speaker. where they were
granted audiences after brief delays.
Ford read the petition to Speaker
Garner. who accepted it in silence.
Strong extra details Of metropolitan
police had been thrown around the Cap
itol grounds with orders to prevent any
marchers from entering the CapitO
Building. except the 10 to be permitted
to see the Vice President and Speaker
Warns Against Conflict.
Before leaving their headquarters
the marchers were instructed by
their leader, Emanuel Levin. Com
munist head Of the Workers Ex-
Service Mems League. not to march
upon the Capitol in body In order Il
avoid clashes with police. He told then
to take as many different streets as
possible. pointing out the variow
thoroughfares over which they coulC
reach the Capitol.
Detectives had been stationed al
morning around the left wing bonu,
army headquarters with orders to re.
port Immediately to police headquarter.
any large movement Of veterans. Mai
Ernest W. Brown. police superintendent
made q personal inspection of the scene
about 10 O'Clock and said he was pre-
pared for any eventuality Inspector
Headley was placed m command Of
metropolitan police outside the Capito
Building.
with the group en- route to th'
Capitol, automobile parking was for
hidden in the broad plaza in front o.
it. but Kenneth Romney. sergeant al
arms of the House. said he was with
out any definite information on plan.
of the group.
Police estimated the strength Of thes.
veterans In the city at about 500, but
veterans officials said 700 was more
like it.
As the group approached the Capito
its broad grounds rapidly took on the
appearance of an armed camp. Sew
eral hundred policemen took up Sta
tions on the plaza fronting the eastern
entrance and at every door.
Inside. metropolitan and Capitol po-
lice strolled in every corridor. It wa,
the same at the Senate and Hous,
Once Buildings. Bluecoats literally
swarmed about both places.
Plans for the presentation of theil
petitions to the Vice President anc
Speaker had been made last night a
meeting of the veterans in the audi
torium of the Typographical Temple
423 G street. AT this meeting, Levir
addressed $50 ragged ex-se-vieemen ant
pleaded for united front" Of all for.
mer service men in the fight to obtair
bonus payment legislation.
The meeting. presided over by Harolt
Hickerson, who calls himself com.
mander' Of the bonus marche-s, osten.
sibly was under the direction OF thu
Washington Open Forum. Fred Walker
secretary Of the union. previously hae
cancelled an agreement to rent the hal
to the Communist-controlled marchers
Later. however. he countermanded tn.
cancellation and allowed the meet
ing to proceed.
Among other speakers who urged 9
united front action" were Georgs
Brady, B. E. F. registration officer: c
w. Stevens. former B. E. F. member
James Ford. who fought overseas eigh
months, and E. j. Williams of New Jer.
sey, member of the Khaki Shirts,
an organization that grew out Of the
B. E. r.
Earlier, a committee OF five called al
the Veterans Administration and dis
cussed with DR.. G. NJ. Hyland. whe
represented Veterans Administrator
Frank T. Hines, the possibility of fur
ther relief for the veterans.