Evening star., 1937-08-24
POLICE ON GUARD
AS JOBLESS MARCH
600 Officers Flank Raqqed
Army of $500 on Its
Protest Parade.

Flanked by 800 uniformed police
men and scores of detectives. the Job
less army Of $500 paraded from It's
West Potomac Park camp today at
noon.
Ranks moving raggedly to the tune
OF martial music provided by sound
truck. the procession headed up Seven
teenth street and out New York ave-
nue. past w. P. A. headquarters The
original line OF march was to have
terminated at the White House, after
visit to Capitol Hill, but it was be-
lieved this might be altered because
Of the presence OF 50 many policemen.
In previous demonstrations of this
kind. police have shunted the marchers
away from the Capitol and White
House
Determination to carry on the fight
in Washington for reinstatement OF
dismissed w. p A. workers until their
funds are exhausted was expressed
last night at q mass meeting in the
Belasco Theater.
The delegates heard David LASER,
Workers Alliance president, assail
"reactionaries in Congress" as wolves
OF economy" responsible for dismissal
OF half million w. P. A. workers and
defeat Of the Supreme Court bill. the
Political Reaction Threatened.
Enlivened by q 6O-piece band that
played classical and light opera tunes,
the assembly Justify cheered Lassers
announcement that I'VE will work to-
ward the building Of Farmer-Labor
party to put into ONCE men and
women who are representative Of the
mass of the American people"
Pending that" LASER said. I'VE
will seek t. defeat every member OF
Congress who has shown himself as
opposed to progressive legislation. Let
the Glasses and the Byrds across the
river and the Woodrums be warned
that their days are numbered-we're
through with them"
LASER said the march to Washing
ton has proved successful in that
Harry Hopkins, w. P. A. administra-
tor, had assured Senator Schwellen-
bach Of Washington there will be no
more lay-Offs Of w. P. A. workers dur
ing the next nine months.
Hopkins had told Alliance leaders
that he did not want workers to look
upon w. P. A. Jobs as q career"
Most Of those released from the rolls
in recent weeks were inefficient work.
ers, he said, adding that a study of
the rolls indicated that between 10 and
Is per cent regard it as q career.
Many people think the percentage
is much greater than that" Hopkins
said
Schwellenbach Unable to Attend.
Schwellenbach, co-author with Rep
resentative Allen Of Illinois Of a bill
to prevent further reductions in w.
P. A. rolls. cause restoration to the
rolls Of those unemployed unable to
find work in private industry. and to
provide for furlough status for those
finding temporary employment in pri-
vate industry, was unable to appear
at the meeting.
In q letter which was read. SchWel-
lenbach informed the alliance ne
would make every effort toward the
adoption of hi bill In the event of 8
special session OF Congress.
Representative Jerry Voorhis, DEM
ocrat. Of California told the delegates
there was urgent need Of q construct
i've works program and the means to
enforce it, which he believed should
be done through taxes
"A grave injustice Is being done. :"
Voorhis declared, when persons con-
scientiously seek work and are unable
% find it. The time has come, too,
when man who does q constructive
job Is Government employe re-
ceives the same honor and respect as
= man who works in another kind OF
employment"
LASER said q letter was being sent
to the President appealing to him
from the refusal Of Hopkins to make
possible the reinstatement Of the dis
charged w. p. A. workers.
I'VE believe the use Of your execu-
tive power" LASER quoted from the
letter. Ito reinstate w. P. A. workers
unable to find private employment
will meet with the approval Of the
overwhelming majority Of the Ameri-
can people, and would be objected TO
only by those whom you aptly termed
the Lord Aacaulays Of American life" !"