In the White House pressroom a telephone jangled disturbingly. Over the wire came a warning voice: “You guys be ready for a hot story at 2 o’clock.” Five minutes later newsmen, looking across the White House lawn, observed a strange movement out on Pennsylvania Avenue. They hurried out to find 35 very young men and women and one big Negro marching solemnly up and down under the leafless trees. Behind them flocked a curious crowd. With difficulty their youthful hands held aloft heavy placards:
DOWN WITH HOOVER
HANDS OFF HAITI
THE STIMSON NOTE TO THE SOVIET UNION WAS A WAR NOTE
THE HOOVER BUSINESS CONFERENCE IS A DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST THE WORKING MASSES.
The paraders trudged by the White House, turned around before the StateWar & Navy Building and were starting back when city and White House policemen swooped down to arrest them. The charge: Parading without a permit. Singing the “Internationale” and jeering a White House motor car, they were marched off to the police station, thoroughly pleased with their fate.
But their pleasure was short-lived. When President Hoover, who had not witnessed the demonstration, heard about it, he set a presidential precedent by ordering the paraders released, with this explanation:
“The President considers that the misguided youths calling themselves communists . . . should be released and sent to their parents. He does not believe any such discourtesy seriously injures the Republic and a night in jail is only doing them the favor of giving them a cheap martyrdom.*
¶ In Washington last week arrived nine very polite little Japanese gentlemen. Delegates to the London naval parley, they had stopped off on their way there to discuss with President Hoover, Statesman Stimson and William Richards Castle, the President’s new ambassador to their country (see col. 3) Japan’s devices, desires and designs at the coming conference. President Hoover honored them with a White House dinner, hoped to reach a preliminary agreement with them on the naval problems ahead.
¶ To see himself & friends ridiculed and make an off-the-record speech,President Hoover attended the Gridiron Club dinner (see p. 12).
¶ “Herbert Hoover” was written last week upon H. J. res. 133, thus completing the enactment of legislation to reduce 1929 income and corporation taxesby 1%.
¶ Last week two of President Hoover’s friends caused him some embarrassment. His attorney, Edwin Paul Shattuck. was being capitalized by the Cuba Sugar Lobby because of White House connections (see p. 9). His business leader Julius Howland Barnes appeared to be involved in controversy with the Federal Farm Board (see p. 10).
*Simultaneously before New York’s City Hall a demonstration of 500 communists against U. S. policy in Haiti was broken up by mounted police, 18 demonstrators arrested. The charge: No permit.
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