Evening star., 1934-01-24
POSTAL EMPLOYEES
IN HUNGER MARCH
TO ASK MORE WORK
Substitutes Promised Presi-
dent Will Give "Sympathetic
Consideration" to Plea.
PARADERS LEAVE LINE
TO MAKE APPEALS
Posters Point to Need of Increased
1ncome-Charge Many Must
Turn to Charity.


Turn to Charity.
The Capital this afternoon beheld
the strange spectacle of almost 500
hunger marchers" treading Through
the streets in the familiar gray uniform
OF Uncle Sans postmen to present pc
titions tor better working conditions to
President Roosevelt and Congress.
The demonstrators, assembled here
from all over the country to plead the
cause of $4,000 substitute postal en-
ployes, marched from an assembly point
at Bladensburg road and H street
shortly after noon today and gathered
shortly after noon and gathered at
stanton Park on Maryland avenue to
complete plans for the parade.
The formal march was organized
shortly afterward and started off behind
motor cycle escort of a dozen Traffic
Bureau officers. The postal employees
flled down Maryland avenue, turning
INTO Constitution avenue and thence on
TO Pennsylvania avenue on their way to
the White House.
On arriving at the White House about
2 pm, the marchers stood in West Ex-
ecutlve avenue while a delegation of
about Is went into the executive offices
and laid their petition before Marvin H.
Mcintyre, one of the Presidents secre-
tar1es. The secretary assured the postal
employees their petition would be brought
to the attention of Mr.. Roosevelt and
would receive sympathetic" considera-
ton.
May Have Mass Meeting.
Plans called for a continuation of the
march to the Post Office Department
Where the delegation had an appoint
ment with the First Assistant Post
master General in the absence of Post
master General Farley. Next the
nlarchers we're to go to the Department
OF Commerce and seek an interview
with Gen. Hugh S. johnson.
Representatives of the marchers are
seeking to engage large assembly hall
1or mass meeting prior to leaving
Washington tonight.
As the marchers passed the Capitol
on their way into the city represent
atlves from various local units of the
National Association of Substitute Post
Odice Employees left the line to present
their pleas to members of the House,
now considering the post Office appro-
priation bill.
The marchers carried banners in
scrlbed Balance the Diet-Then Bal
ance the Budget" Six Dollars Week
Is Starvation Wages" and Homes of
Substitutes Are Being Broken Up"
Escorted by Police.
Most of the delegates came from New
York, Philadelphia and Newark, al
though there were scattered represent
at1veS from as far west as Nevada. and
as far south as Florida. They bore pc
titlonS signed by thousands of substi-
tute postal employees in cities all over
the country authorizing them to plead
their cause in Washington.
The marchers obtained a permit from
the Police Department to stage a pa
rade and were escorted by motor cycle
officers, and small detail of detec-
tives. The demands in the petitions
ask for the appointment of substitutes
to regular positions by the filling of all
vacancies in the postal service, and res
toration of the Is per cent pay cut.
The employees also asked for larger work
opportunities for substitutes through
elimination Of administrative economies
said to curtail the service.
The mass demonstration was organ
lied by the National Association of
Substitute Post Office Employees. The
leaders here today were the following
officers OF the organization: Albert
Gottlieb of New York, national presi-
dent; Aaron A. Bechtel chairman of
the Legislative Committee, and Max
Epstein of New York, national secretary.
sThese spokesmen for the postal sub
stitutes handed out circulars to news
paper men declaring the average earn
1ngS OF substitutes range from ST to
$40 per week. and that many post Offices
furlough substitutes without pay for
months at time.
Appeals to Charity.
"Laboring under these hardships, and
faced with actual starvation" the cir
culars stated. substitutes in New York,
Baltimore. Cleveland and other cities,
have been forced to appeal to public
charities for relief"
There have been numerous cases of
eyictionS and instances of a substitute
fainting from hunger while at work.
These men were at first refused relief
because they were Federal employees
However, in a special communication
some months past, the Assistant Post
master General stated that the Federal
relief administrator had instructed
local relief agencies not to consider the
fact that one was Federal employe as
sufficient grounds for denying an appeal
for relief.
This is an open Omission by the
Government" the pamphlet charges,
that these conditions do exist and that
some of its employees must depend upon
charity for existence"
individuals Tell Stories.
The marchers expressed indignation
ployeS by the economy act and the
substitute system. Almost every man
had a personal story of poverty and
distress.
One colored substitute from New
York said he had been promised a
permanent appointment almost month
ly for the last nine years. Meanwhile,
his invalid wife gave up" the strug-
gle against poverty, evictions for non
payment Of rent and the loss of their
personal belongings MY wife died
three years ago." the postal employe
said, land since that time I have been
trying to pay the undertaken without
success
Other employees crowded around as
the New Yorker related his story to
reporters. They nodded their approval
and from dozen men in the crowd
came assurances that the New York
mans plight was typical Of thousands
Of others.