FATHER COX'S BLUE SHIRTS 1932 MEMBER BUTTON W/SMALL FLAG RIBBON.

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Source Hake's Auctions

Father Cox was a Pittsburgh priest who led a large group of unemployed men, some with families to Washington in 1932 to take part in the protests which were staged to get Congress to pay the promised bonus to (largely unemployed) WWI veterans immediately rather than in 1945 as the legislation passed in 1924 had stipulated. In July 1932, President Hoover had the US Army, under Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Major George S. Patton, destroy and drive the veterans, their wives and children from their camp on the Anacosta Flats. Cox and his followers then formed the Jobless Party and joined with William "Coin" Harvey to hold a joint presidential nominating convention in St. Louis August 17-18, 1932. However, the Protestant populists could not embrace the largely Catholic Blue Shirts. In September, Cox withdrew as the Jobless Party presidential nominee and endorsed and campaigned for Franklin Roosevelt who welcomed their support. The 7/8" button has blank back paper with pin holding worn 1.25" flag ribbon. The button has trivial surface marks showing only in reflected light. The cello displays NM. Both pieces are rare and quite historic artifacts of the Depression era and 1932 campaign.

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