Evening star., 1938-05-01
NORMAN THOMAS
|. SEIZED BY POLICE
OF JERSEY CITY
Put on Ferry, He Returns to
Charge kidnapping to
Prevent Speech.
PLEDGES LEGAL ACTION
AGAINST MAYOR HAGUE
Socialist Party Leader Complains
to J. Edgar Hoover and
Democratic Committee.
BY the Associated Press.

JERSEY CITY, N. j., April 30
Norman Thomas, national chairman
Of the Socialist party, returned to
Journal Square tonight, where he was
seized earlier by police as he attempted
to make speech, and charged he was
kidnapped by officials"
Il was not arrested, but kidnapped by
officials some in uniform and some
not" Mr.. Thomas said in a statement.
Il was forcibly put on a ferry boat for
New York, as were others not even
guilty of the offense of coming to
Jersey City to make speech. have
every intention of taking whatever
legal action is possible against Mayor
Frank Hague and his grand Fascist
administration"
Escorted to Hudson Tube.
Thomas left the building with his
wife and his brother, DR.. Evenn
Thomas. and police escorted them to
Hudson Tube station. Police guarded
all entrances to the station until the
Thomas group had boarded train.
Thomas charged IAN officer hit my
wife in the jaw while I was being
removed from my automobile"
Thomas. who was removed from his
automobile as he attempted to address
May Day meeting. said his only
reason for returning was ito find out
what happened to my wife and other
American citizens in Hitler-Hague
fiefdom."
His wife and brother had visited
headquarters earlier to inquire of
Police Chief Harry Walsh as to his
whereabouts.
Chief Walsh later said a report
given him by Deputy Chief John J.
Underwood, who was in charge of the
detail at Journal Square, said that
Thomas had caused disturbance by
his loud language.
Walsh said Underwood's report
read:
Thomas stepped out Of the car
and Immediately cried out in
loud language he was going to hold
meeting and that no one was going
to stop him. only by force.
Den1eQ Need IOr PefmlC.
II asked him if he had a permit
and he said, No. and don't need
any requested he leave here,
saving, Your loud talk causes dis
turbance.' He replied, I will talk
louder and I'm going to 60 through
with this meeting
II then informed him, If you do I
will have to remove you He replied,
You don't dare remove me- I turned
to the officer and told him to escort
this man out of here for his own
sake ="
Il also intended to poll the Demo-
cratic National Committee to ask
opinion of its vice chairman" Thomas
said. II think even President Roose-
welt might be interested in the way in
which his close political associate.
Mayor Frank Hague -" terrorizes an
entire city at the polls and elsewhere
as effectively as any dictator. -
Police Chief Denies knowledge.
Shortly after Thomas was re.
moved forcibly from Journal Square.
Police Chief Walsh said at headquar-
ters "he did not come here. If any,
body was arrested this is where they
would be brought. know nothing
about it,
George Slaff of New York. counsel
for the Workers Defense League, ap-
peared at headquarters to offer him.
self as counsel for Thomas and when
informed by Chief Walsh that Thomas
was not there said ''he was spirited
away to the city limits. assume"
A crowd of about 1000 persons was
in the square when Thomas drove up
in an open car with two other men.
Police pulled him from the automobile
and pushed their way through the
crowds to large police sedan.
Police Surround Car.
Thomas arrived on the scene 10
minutes later and as his car came
to a stop police quickly surrounded
it. As he attempted to speak they
opened the doors OF the car and hur-
ried him away.
Mr.. Slaff said at police headquar-
tiers at least five other men were taken
away in police cars.
Daniel j. Casey, commissioner Of
public safety, informed Thomas yester-
day in letter: "In accordance with
the laws Of our State, any attempt to
hold public meeting without having
first obtained permission from the
public authorities constitutes such act
public nuisance and will be dealt
with accordingly"
In a letter to Mayor Frank Hague,
Thomas replied II informed you of my
intention to speak at this meeting.