The Sunday Star (October 20, 1946)
Veterans seize New York Senate Chamber
Vow they will stay until Dewey calls session on housing
ALBANY, New York, Oct. 19 (AP) – Seventy-five World War II veterans who staged a sit-down seizure of the New York State Senate Chamber at 2 p.m. today remained adamantly in the room late tonight. They vowed anew not to leave until Gov. Thomas E. Dewey promised to call a special session of the legislature to deal with the housing shortage.
The seizure was an offshoot of a demonstration during a “March on Albany” which included about 900 veterans protesting the housing shortage along with more than 2,000 members of two CIO unions, headed by Michael Quill, New York City councilman and president of the 610 transport workers, who were demanding cost of living salary increases.
Mr. Quill did not participate in the Senate chamber seizure. He had suggested in a recent speech, however, that American veterans, like those in London, might seize boarded-up mansions in New York. He said they might be less ready to move out than were the Londoners.
As the veterans continued their sit-down, administration officials conferred in the executive offices of the capitol, one floor below the ornate Senate chamber. Attempts to persuade the veterans to leave proved futile.
Met with Dewey’s counsel
A committee of six met with Charles D. Breitel, the governor’s counsel. William Rubens of New York City, a member of the delegation, reported to the assembled veterans that Mr. Breitel explained it was impossible for Gov. Dewey to see them or give them any promise of a special legislative session.
The veterans received this report with renewed expressions of determination to remain in the Senate until they had obtained the desired action.
The veterans failed also to heed the request of Maj. George M. Searle, deputy superintendent of state police, that they depart.
One veteran in a speech on the Senate floor said, “Let’s not only stick to our guns but stick to our seats.” He added, “I am sure we can count on the backing and good will of the CIO.”
One woman in group
A spokesman said a majority of the veterans were members of the greater New York CIO Council. He said the veterans were members of several servicemen’s organizations, including the American Legion and the American Veterans’ Committee.
The only woman among the sit-downers, Miss June Lostar of Brooklyn, a former WAC, left the Senate Chamber about 11 p.m. after making a speech.
Earlier in the evening two veterans went out to get coffee and sandwiches. Capitol guards prevented their return.
However, through a ruse the sit-downers obtained about 40 sandwiches.
Organize ‘Veterans’ Senate’
After organizing into a “Veterans’ Senate,” the group adopted a program that asked lor an immediate cash appropriation of $400,000,000 from the state surplus and special legislative action to permit a referendum vote in the November 5 election on a proposal to float a $400,000,000 bond issue for loans to cities for low-cost housing construction.
A heavy detail of state police and Capitol guards isolated the Senate chamber area from the rest of the Capitol.
A close associate of Gov. Dewey indicated no attempt would be made to forcibly eject the veterans.
Gov. Dewey himself stayed at the executive mansion, four blocks away, during the day, nursing a sore throat, but spoke at a Republican rally at nearby Troy that night.
Telegram sent Dewey
The veterans’ group staging the “sit-down” sent Gov. Dewey the following telegram:
“One hundred veterans now in Senate Chamber demand that a special session of the Legislature be immediately convened and that laws providing for the construction of decent homes for hundreds of thousands of New York veterans regardless of race, color and creed, be passed. We urgently request your immediate appearance before this Veterans Senate of the State of New York. We want you to redeem your promises to the veterans made during the war on our behalf.”
They also sent wires to members of the Legislature and to candidates for statewide offices in the forthcoming election, demanding action.
Carrying banners and placards, the veterans marched through Albany streets chanting: “No more promises, we want homes.”
They demonstrated on the steps of the Capitol as did the two other groups participating in the “March on Albany.” The other groups were the CIO Teachers’ Union, New York City, Local 555, represented by more than 1,500, and the CIO United Public Workers, represented by more than 500.