Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-28
Bonus March Reaches Large
Proportions, With Plenty
of Funds on Hand.
THRONG OF APPLICANTS
ALL OVER U. S. REPORTED
Speed on Cash Pledged 900
Checks Mailed-Priority for
Needy Asked by President.

BY train and by hitch-hiking, driv-
ing their own automobiles and hobbling
on clutches, there came today to Wash
1ngton a picturesque croSs-section OF
Americas doughboy patriots OF 1918 in
a jubilant march on that citadel of
governmental benevolence, the Veterans
Bureau
Some were well dressed, some were
shabby, some retained semblance OF
military bearing. and some were broken
in body, but all were in good humor
over the lure of their common objective
"a Federal loan on their bonus certi-
fcates.
There was no fright dress" to the
heterogeneous army which fell in" to-
day at the Veterans Bureau, in response
to a mobilization signal given by Con-
gress late yesterday in its enactment
of the loan legislation.
Form In Long Lines.
There was, however a degree Of order,
as the veterans formed tnems Ives into
long lines leading to the portals through
which they must pass TO obtain their
money.
The wheels of action started as a
matter of fact yesterday aft rnoon,
shortly after the Senate by an over
whelming vote passed the legislation
over the Presidents veto. But thu big
march on the Veterans Bureau assumed
huge proportions this morning as two
long lines formed at two different doors
of the bureau.
PI.nty of money was on hand. accord
ing to officials, TO meet the demands for
the present.
Not only at the central Office and
regional Office of the bureau here, but
throughout the country today, tn.
soldiers of the Nation were reported in
throngs to be asking for all they could
borrow.
II was widely varied throng that
besieged the two doors OF the Veterans
Bureau here Men mailing from all
parts Of the country, were present to
borrow on their bonus.
Hitch-Hikef From Coast.
One of the most spectacular cases
was that OF Jack Tasey. veteran, who
from Los Angeles. Calf He sat out
all night. he said. waiting TO get his
money today. After listening to his
story, Veterans Bureau officials ar
ranged for the homeless veteran to
have a room tonight at the Soldiers
and Sailors Home, he will be given his
loan and thus be enabled TO ride back
home TO California.
A picturesque figure in the lineup
was Running Wolf Of Mescelearo, n.
Mex, an American Indian He APP
peared IN full reEalia, with a horsehair
helmet and beaded shirt. Over this
colorful shirt, however. he wore an
American overcoat Uncle Sam to-k
care OF me-" he said, in perfect Ameri-
can English without trace Of accent.
Coffee and sandwiches we're given
free TO the veterans on the / street
side Of the building near the regional
ONCE. at 1910 / street. by the District
OF Columbia Chapter of the American
Red Cross. Among the Red Gross wom-
en- presiding over the coffee cups early
this morning were Mrs. Harry c.
Barnes. Mrs. Margaret Robbins. Mrs
Ralph Bee. Miss Edna May and Miss
Katherine Donnellan.
Separation Discarded.
Although an effort was made at first
10 separate the veterans into two diff
ferent groups at the Vermont avenue
and I street entrances TO the bureau
according 70 the nature Of their ap-
plications, this separation soon broke
down and questions were being an
swered at both places alike.
AS a matter OF fact. however, the
main entrance to the bureau on YER
mont avenue near II street was taking
care principally of those veterans who
had previously made a loan and whose
certificates were on file in the central
ONCE. This Office was also helping vet
Grams to fill out their notes Of april
cation.
The two lines ebbed and flowed. but
the one at the regional Office appeared
20 pc the longer Iwexterded westward
on | street and sf5lnd the corner on
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