Word: robertson
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...Capitol plaza was No Man's Land last week. Some 700 ragged, hungry veterans arrived from the Pacific Coast to join the Bonus Expeditionary Force, to besiege Congress for immediate cashing of their adjusted service certificates. At their head was a thin, leathery roofer from Los Angeles named Roy Robertson. He wore a blue overseas cap, whipcord breeches. Behind his head was a steel brace from which a strap was fastened under his chin. While serving in the Navy he had fallen from a hammock, permanently injured his spine. His disability in no way diminished his capacity to stage...
...Robertson believed that the B. E. F., commanded by Walter Waters, onetime Oregon cannery superintendent, had blundered badly when it encamped at Anacostia, four miles from the Capitol. His strategy was close and continuous picketing to keep the Bonus issue squarely under Congressional noses. The first night in Washington his wayworn band flopped down on the plaza lawn, slept on newspapers after police confiscated their bedding. Next morning they trooped to the House Office Building to wash & shave. Soon thereafter Commander Robertson started them on a slow, shuffling march around the plaza that was to last four days, three nights...
...charge of the plaza are Vice Presi dent Curtis and Speaker Garner. On the statute books is a law prohibiting demonstrations there. To Roy Robertson's picketers went the police order: "Keep out of the plaza, stay off the grass, keep moving." Leader Robertson obeyed. Back & forth behind a soiled U. S. flag filed his men on the far side of the black expanse of asphalt. Food was served them afoot, including 1,000 sandwiches contributed by Mrs. Evalyn Walsh McLean. Up & down his thin column paced Robertson, exhorting his men in a voice croaky with fatigue. Shoes came...
...Robertson, worn to a frazzle from sleeplessness, keeled over three times on the street. To him General Glassford said: "You certainly have got guts. Give yourself a break...
...right," croaked Robertson...