Evening star., 1934-03-25
JOB CONTINUANCE
DEMANDED BY 500
c. v. A. PARADERS.
Strike ReprisaIs Threatened
In White House Call Led
by Thomas.
PRESIDENT TOO BUSY
FOR PERSONAL TALK
Administrator Hopkins Hears
Charge Workers Will Not En-
dure Desperate Conditions Longer.

Parading In protest against discon-
tinuance of the civil works program,
nearly 500 men and women headed by
Norman Thomas, Socialist leader,
yesterday registered with the White
House and Federal Relief AdminiStra-
tor Harry L. Hopkins threats of strike
repriSals far greater than those now
being faced by the President unless
work and living wages are provided for
millions Of unemployed.
Hopkins gave their leaders an
hours sympathetic audience and, de-
clining an invitation to join them in
carrying a protest to the White
House, made request of Marvin H.
Mcintyre, one of the Presidents sec
retarieS, that Mr.. Roosevelt listen to
the views of the committee. He was
advised, however, that this was i'm
possible because the President was de-
voting all his time to negotiations for
peace in the automobile industry.
Outside Hopkins headquarters on
New York avenue, the remainder of
the unemployed army, carrying ban
nerS demanding work rather than
charity, cheered spokesmen and were
ordered to move on. They crossed the
street and stood beneath the windows
of Secretary of the Interior Ickes and
were moved on again to the vicinity
OF the Washington Auditorium.
AT Hopkins suggestion, the COM
mlttee left for the White House to
place their grievances before Secretary
Mcintyre, but before they departed
Thomas told the Federal relief ad-
minlstrator that in discontinuing civil
works you are going back to the old
game of seeing how few crusts can
keep the people from starving or
rising"
Leaders Seek Interview.
The marchers, led by Thomas and
David LASER of New York, chairman
of the Joint Committee of Unem-
ployed and c. w. A. Workers, took
their banners to the area south of the
White House, while their leaders went
inside to endeavor to arrange an in
terview with the President. Outside
the Executive Mansion, the marchers
grew impatient with waiting Scores
of them departed in taxicabs and
about 200 left afoot. The rest of the
crowd was kept moving by the police.
There was nothing in the way of dis
orders.
AS they ha Uniformed Hopkins a
half hour before, the committee told
the Presidents secretary the destitu-
ton following rehabilitation of the
people employed in the Civil Works
Administration will not be endured
by them and will result in strikes.
As Thomas interjected a remark
about the desperate condition of the
unemployed as he had found them on
his travels about the country. Secre-
tary Mcintyre inquired politely:
Who are you?"
The white-haired Socialist, who was
q presidential candidate in 1882, re-
piled:
Il am Norman Thomas
The White House secretary flushed
In embarrassment and smiled: I'm
sorry. Of course, should have known
you"
Mr.. Thomas explained that he was
not an official representative Of the
marchers, but was heartily in sympa-
thy with them and knew the stories
told of conditions verging on starva-
ton were not exaggerated and existed
everywhere He requested five min
utes with the President, but Secretary
Mcintyre felt impelled to decline. He
said he would lay their views before
the President.
Woman's Charge Disputed.
A sharp exchange of words between
Mcintyre and one of the woman
workers. Miss Miriam Silvas of New
York, followed when the latter pro-
tested that nothing was being done
to improve unemployment and that
money was being given instead to
private industry and the banks"
THAT talk is foolish Mcintyre
protested, when the Government has
already given work to 100000 un-
employed and is bending every energy
to relieve conditions"
Appearing before Relief Admins
traitor Hopkins, the committee repre-
sented workers and unemployed from
New York, Philadelphia, Camden,
Reading. Pa, and Baltimore. Their
chief spokesman. LASER, outlined
their demands, which included a S.
600 900 900 relief program, minimum
wage of $40 week, unemployment
insurance, extension of civil works to
include all unemployed and a large
public works of a specially necessary
character, especially Federal housing
for workers.
LASER said the unemployed have
despaired of better times and cannot
and will not endure" their present
desperate" situation any longer.
We've laid this program on your
desk" he told Mr.. Hopkins, inviting
him to 60 with them to the White
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