Evening star., 1932-11-27
|STATES BACK D. c.
|COLD RECEPTION TO
HUNGER MARCHERS
Virginia and Maryland to Re-
fuse Food and Shelter to
| 0ncoming Groups.
ESTIMATES OF NUMBER
EXPECTED NOW REDUCED
Seven Units Plan Entry Into Capi.
tai Next Sunday for Opening
| of Congress.

With seven groups of hunger march,
ers advancing slowly toward Washing
ton, officials of Maryland and Virginia
joined with those in the District yes
terday to give the unwelcome visitors
cold reception.
Officials of these two neighboring
States nave advised the Commissioners
that not only will the demands of the
hunger marchers for free food and
shelter be fatty rejected, but steps will
be taken if necessary to keep them
moving toward their homes after leav-
ing Washington. Neither Maryland
nor Virginia, it was said, want any Of
the hunger marchers to protect as pub
lie charges.
Attorney General Saunders Of Vir-
ginia is understood to have disclosed
his plans to the Commissioners. Mary
land officials have been in communica-
ton with the Police Department.
Virginia Strikes Blow.
Virginia also has made the first def
mite move to break up the column from
the South by arresting one of the hum
ger march leaders, who was in Rich
mond attempting to arrange for free
food and shelter for the marchers.
A. Tompkins, who represented him.
self as hunger march organizer, was
arrested in the Office of Mayor Fulmer
Bright, on order of the mayor, and
charged with vagrancy. Tompkins led
delegation Of IS men and women into
the mayors Office with resolutions de-
nouncing the mayor for refusing to
grant a permit to the marchers to hold
meetings on city property when they
stop in Richmond en- route to WASH
ington. Mayor Bright said he ordered
the arrest of Tompkin5 because he Is
"a dangerous agitator who threatens
the peace and good order Of this COM
munity."
About the same time Mayor George
Henderson Of Cumberland, Md, an
nounced the receipt Of a telegram from
the hunger march headquarters in
Washington criticizing him for refus-
ing to provide food and lodging for the
marchers from the West. The wire
also demanded that the armory in Cum
beriand be turned over to the marchers.
Due Here Next Sunday.
Cumberland ard Richmcnd are to be
the two principal oonverging points Of
the seven groups Of marchers. Balti-
more is the other. The marchers from
all points are scheduled to reach these
three cities Saturday and come into
Washington about the same time next
Sunday.
Although the Unemployed Councils
Of America, sponsors Of the march,
claim that 1900 men and women will
camp in Cumberland, police officials
are inclined to believe this figure to be
this group represent the Western con-
tingsnt, which the leaders claim would
constitute the largest of the seven.
Hunger march leaders had predicted
that when this group left Chicago it
would have a minimum of 1000 men
and women. Inspector Frank S. Burke,
chiei OF detectives, ct the direction Of
MaJ. Ernest w. Brown, superintendent
OF police, wired police officials in Chi
cago yesterday for information on the
Western column, and the reply received
last night said there were only $50 in
the group when it left for Evansville,
Ind.
Report From Montana.
Inspector Burke also received let
ter from the postmaster at Billings
Mont, under date of November %, re-
vealing that 20 marchers had passed
through there on train en- route to
Washington. These are believed to be
officials of the Unemployed Councils
from the State of Washington who
want to reach the Capital in advance
OF the slow-moving motor caravans.
These reports, coupled with the IN
formation now In possession or the
police, are said to show that the march
win not be the success claimed for 1t
by leaders of the movement.
Refusal of officials Of the States
through which the marchers have
passed to grant their demands for free
food and shelter, it was pointed out,
unquestionably has served to reduce
the number, who have been warned.
too, that Washington cannot feed and
house them.
Meet Resistance Here.
In Washington march leaders have
been making frantic efforts TO raise
funds for food and shelter, but their
campaign has been abruptly halted by
decllnation of the police department to
give them the privilege OF making
house to- house solicitation.
A committee of five from the Unem-
ployed Councils called at Maj. Browns
Office yesterday with demand that the
police adopt a hands OH" policy with
respect to the solicitors. The committee
was told that house-to-house begging
was in violation Of the law and would
not be permitted.
About the same time a delegation
representing united civic and business
organizations of Washington appealed
to Attorney General Mitchell to have
the Federal Government assume re-
sponsibility for the hunger marcherS
during their three-day visit. The dele
cation represented the Board Of Trade,
Chamber of Commerce, Merchants and
Manufacturers Association, the Real
Estate Board and the District Medical
Society-the same organizations which
issued q warning Friday night that
Washington would not provide free food
and shelter to any organized group
coming to Washington this Winter
Attorney General Mitchell, however,
declined to comment on the request of
the delegation, which pointed out that
the Metropolitan Police Department
could not maintain law and order
among a large group Of strangers
without depriying residents of the
District Of adequate police protection.