Evening star., 1932-10-26
Premier Agrees to Restudy
Issue as "JobIesS Army"
Nears London.
POLICE TAKE SPECIAL
PRECAUTIONS FOR VISIT
Marchers to Get Care of Relief
Agencies, but Authorities W:-2
Against Any Disorders.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, October 26-Reconsidera-
ton of some phases of the national
governments dole system came as a
promise from Prime Minister Ramsay
Macdonald today as 1000 members of
a nationally recruited hunger army"
moved within asstone's throw of Lon
don.
1t Is the means test" in the dole, or
unemployment benefits administration,
which has brought much Of the rising
tide of discomfort that has eliminated
recently in protest riots and now the
march on London.
The prime minister spoke during de-
bate yesterday on a motion of censure
against the governments dole policy in
troduced in the House Of Commons by
the Labor opposition. The motion was
defeated, 462 to SIS.
Holds Test Necessary.
Mr.. Macdonald defended the gov
ernment's policy and declared the
means test, which is given to determine
normally. cannot be abolished.
But some questions. the premier said,
would be reconsidered These might in
clude the items of pensions and savings.
which under the present arrangements
must be spent before an unemployed
person is eligible to receive benefits.
The dozen or more groups Of unem-
ployed rlarchers who have been trudg-
ing-and riding when possible-along
muddy roads reached outlying suburbs
last night, and were moving closer in
today toward Hyde Park, their goal.
Additions to the army" in London
suburbs are expected to swell the ranks
considerably for the final trek Thurs
day morning into the heart of the city.
AS far as could be ascertained. no
provisions have been made by leaders
Of the march for food and accommoda-
tions. This would indicate this vital
need would become a public response
bility on existing agencies.
Deputation Rejected.
Last night the London County
Council promised to deal with the sit
uation' provided accommodations were
not otherwise provided. The council
at the same time rejected proposal to
receive a deputation of the marchers.
Ishbel Macdonald daughter of the
Prime Minister. who is a councillor,
voted with the rejectors.
Although there was no hint OF dis
order in the wind, the London police
continued to make elaborate prepara-
tions against trouble. A warning was
issued against acts likely to lead to a
breach of the peace.
The columns of marchers rested last
Hatfield, Deptford and Greenwich. One
of the contingents was composed of
women ranging in age from Is to g..
When the marchers converge today
at Hyde Park, London's unemployed
plan a great demonstration of welcome.
A nationwide demonstration in their
behalf has been organized by the Ma
tional Unemployed Workers Movement,
which government spokesman in Par
lament has branded as a Communist
organization. Many of the marchers
were reported wearing red rosettes and
the charge was made in several Lon
don newspapers that the march was
fostered by funds from Moscow.
Headed March in 1880.
The leader of the march is w. A. L.
Harrington, who led a similar hunger
While the marchers from Scotland,
Wales and many parts of England were
plodding along muddy roads. George
Lansbury, newly elected head of the
Labor party, moved the vote of CEN
sure in the House of Commons against
the national government. He charged
the government had failed to deal ef-
fectively with the economic situation and
attacked it for imposing the means test
on unemployed receiving the dole.
Among demands of the marchers will
be abolition of this test, which limits
unemployed insurance benefits.
The means test becomes operative
when an unemployed man or woman
has drawn insurance benefit for 26
weeks. Then the recipient goes of
the national dole and is required to
apply for transitional benefit" which
is distributed by local Public Assistance
Committees These committees inquire
into applicants means of subsistence
and may stop or reduce their allow
anceS.