Evening star., 1932-09-23
EVICTION DEFENDED
BY j. S. ATTORNEY
President Did Only Practical
BILE Thing in Using Troops,
Says Rover.

Vigorous defense Of President Hoo
vers action in calling out Federal
troops to evict the bonus army was
made by United States District Attor-
ney Leo A. Rover, speaking at largely
attended Republican rally last night in
the Willard Hotel.
Declaring the President merely per-
formed his constitutional duty when he
complied with the request from the Dis
trict Commissioners for troops, Mr..
Rover said Mr.. Hoover acted as any
other real American would. and that if
he had not responded to the Commis-
sioners' appeal he would not have been
worthy of being in the White House.
The United States attorney said 1t
was only upon the appeal from the
troops into the city, and that the Com
missioners in their appeal made 1t plain
the situation had gotten out OF the
hands of police authorities. He added
he did not care whether the superin-
tendent of the Washington police did
or did not tel the Commissioners that
the calling out of troops was necessary.
All Policemen Used.
Mr.. Rover added that every available
policeman was on duty in the riot area
tie day of the eviction and that, as
result. 100000 citizens of the Capital
were virtually without police protection.
IF that situation had been permitted
to continue throughout the night" Mr.
Rover said, the criminal elements-by
that I don't mean the bonus marchers,
but the usual criminal element to be
found in any large city-would no doubt
have taken advantage OF the absence
of police from other sections OF the city
and all sorts Of crime might have fol-
lowed. Criminals always are shopping
around for just such opportunities Tor
depredations."
Regarding the firing of the bonus
marchers' huts and shacks, Rover made
no attempt to settle this point other
than to say that If soldiers had burned
these huts they did so without orders.
He added that by that time every man,
woman and child in that area had had
ample opportunity to get away and
they had plenty Of time to take their
belongings with them.
Decries Political Angle.
Mr.. Rover prefaced his defense of
President Hoover with what he de-
Scribed as q chronological account Of
the bonus marcherS' encampment here
and their final evacuation. He added
that this subject should not be a po-
litical campaign issue, but inasmuch as
there had been so much miSunderStand-
ing and Misrepresentation for the pur-
pose of playing upon the emotions Of
the people, he felt called upon to pre-
sent the matter in its true light
The American people have been mis-
led and President Hoover has actually
been vilified," Mr.. Rover declared. Be
cause I am in a position to know the
truth about it all. I am glad to have
this opportunity to tell the facts and I
wish the people Of the whole country
could know the truth
More than 500 men and women.
mostly members Of the several Repub-
lican organizations in the District. at
tended the meeting. Edgar c. Snyder,
United States marshal for the District.
who presided. complimented Mr.. Rover
for his presentation of the facts
Make Drive for Votes.
The rally was opened by Samuel J.
Prescott, chairman Of the Republican
State Committee in and for the District,
VINO is directing the Republican cam
paign in this city. He told briefly OF
efforts being made by the local Repub-
lican organization to get absentee votes
of persons living temporarily in Wash
ington.
In the opinion of Charles F. Scott.
former Representative from Kansas and
now associated with the Republican
National Committee, the depression
during the latter part Of Grover Cleve-
lands second administration was worse
than the present depression. He as
serted that during every Democratic
administration this country experienced
hard times. unemployment and other
economic ills.
Scott praised Mr. Hoover and said
that Gov. Roosevelt has never pre-
sented definite plan or made clear
what he would do if he were elected to
take over the reins of the Government
in these trying times.
Miss Rita Collyer. New York speaker
and writer, pictured President Hoover
as hero in the eyes of American
women. she said the women of the
United States were for him in 1923, that
they are for him today and that they
will re-elect him in November.
Miss Collyer said President Hoover
has lived up to every pledge made by
him before becoming President and that
in the face of all the problems of this
Nation and in the face of criticism he
has stood solid like the Rock of
Gibraltar" She said he has done his
duty well and that the women Of this
country understand him.