Evening star., 1932-11-07
World Has Little Sympathy
For British Hunger Parades

Spectacular features are observed in
the activities of British hunger march
ers and other protests in that country,
but it is maintained in American COM
mentS that recipients of the dole should
recognize that taxpayers have given to
the limit in the effort to relieve their
condition, and that they have been too
strongly influenced by Communists
and those who seek to capitalize con-
ditionS for personal reasons. 1t is
pointed out that the protests of the
marchers are based upon an unreaSn-
able objection to the requirement that
those who receive the dole shall show
that they have no other source of in
come.
The situation is summarized by the
Oakland Tribune with the statement
that "a dole can only be spread SO far"
that ''at best it is an expedient.' and
that when it is given to those who
have means and may not need it, the
ones in actual need must suffer" Tne
Charlotte Observer emphasizes the fact
that the London march was an undiS
guiSed demonstration Of Communist
inspiration and guidance, the crowd
flying red banners and singing red
songs" This fact is brought cut also
by the Rock Island Argus. and the
Charleston (W. Va Daily Mail holds
that only chaos would prevail if the
policies urged by reds became effec-
tive" The Roanoke Times warns that
the Communists are watching their
opportunity to start trouble and they
thrive at time of general misfortune -
The Port Huron Times Herald de-
scribes such demonstrations as open
to the suspicion OF being sinister move
ments."
The Lowell Evening Leader remarks
that "once the dole system was estab-
lished in Great Britain, complications
were bound to follow. and now the ten
dency of the unemployed is to revolt
against any requirement at all for as
slStance from the government" The
Leader believes that Great Britain has
a serious problem to meet the situa-
tion." recognizing the fact that "condi-
tions there are infinitely worse than
here"
THE march" in the opinion of the
Newark Evening News. lis only an
incident in continuing performance,
spectacular demonstration of human
feelings ina period of suffering and
difficulty 1t merely causes trouble, eX-
pense and added suffering" The Eve
ming News explains: THE particular
BlltSdIlCt VI IlleSS ueIIlOIlStIdJUlS ID Illc
means test employed to determine who
shall be recipients of the dole. Under
this test applicants are obliged to show
they have no other means of support.
Objection is raised against having to
show actual deStitution in order to OBJ
tain government relief. 1t is easy to
sympathize with the pride that rebels
against confeSsing such deStitution, yet
the government must protect itself
against impOStors. 1t must do this for
the benefit of all the citizens. including
those who depend upon the dole. While
it may be possible to soften the harsh
ness of this requirement, it cannot
be abolished"
1.-THE test is protection against
graft and gouging, not only for the tax
payers, but also for the utterly INDECENT,
as it conServes for the INDECENT the re-
sources available for public relief" says
the Minneapolis Journal. The Buffalo
Evening News offers the comment:
Those London riots are not helping to
relieve hunger, but are palpably an at
tempt to exploit poor people for political
ends. Demonstrations controlled by po-
lice. with casualties limited to a few
bruises, are, of course, SO far from revo-
luton that the word is not worth using
in relation to them. 1t is obvious, how
ever. that the political objective of the
organizers is to create more hunger IN
the hope thereby Of arousing more des-
perate and deadly riots. That sort OF
thing is affording the world in these
days its only glaring examples of men
whose passion for power makes them
oblivious of the suffering which they
may cause in seeking or exercising it."
X x <
while England, at terrific cost, has
kept thousands on the dole, it has won
no gratitude" asserts the Glendale
News-Press. The Lincoln State Journal