Evening star., 1932-07-16
CAPPER DEFENDS
GLASSFORD ACTION.
Commends D. c. Police Chief
for Averting Trouble
With Veterans.

Gen. Glassford's tactics In handling
war veterans engaging In the march
of death" on the Capitol Grounds was
defended today by Chairman Capper
of the Senate District Committee, who
declared the police chief has earned
full confidence"
Coming to Gen. Glassford's defense
after Vice President Curtis and Speaker
Garner had repudiated his action In
permitting the veterans to continue
their march, Senator Capper declared:
IN his handling of the difficult situ-
alton created by the presence of the
war veterans in the city, Gen. Glass
ford has earned full confidence. 1t
would have been most unfortunate
thing had serious disorder resulted from
the presence of the bonus army; un-
fortunate both for the city and the
country.
Glad Violence Averted.
1T seems to me that in handling the
matter in way to avert such a mis-
fortune Gen. Glassford has demon
strated a high ability and earned the
confidence of the entire city.
Order has been maintained. Gen
Glassford has at his disposal all the
necessary authority and force to main
tain the law. and will not hesitate to re-
sort to them should occasion demand
That he has been able to avoid resorts
to extreme measures must be a subject
for general commendation.
Senator Brookhart Of Iowa a war vet
eran himself. also commended Gen
Glassford. and said:
He has displayed eminent good sense
in a most dangerous situation.
1T would have been tragedy. indeed
had violence been used on these vet
Grams, whose good temper, good conduct
and sobriety have been conspicuous
The attacks on the police chief were
an outgrowth Of q faux pas Of calling
for the Marines night before last The
Capitol Police Board. composed Of Sen
ate Sergeant at Arms David S. Barry
House Sergeant at Arms Kenneth Rom
ney and David Lynn. architect of the
Capitol. issued a statement yesterday
charging Gen. Glassford wholly with
out authority suspended the law and
permitted the bonus marchers to re-
main on the Capitol grounds day and
night"
Glassford Answers.
The statement added that the Police
Board favored carrying out the law To
the letter and that the Vice President
and Speaker supported the board in this
desire. Gen. Glassford, quick to respond
lashed back at the board and declared
in formal statement:
With so many members of the Capt.
tol Building staff apparently authorized
to give orders and interpret the regula-
tions. 1t obviously was necessary for
some one man to assume authority.
"A situation has been created on the
Capitol grounds such that intolerance or
blunder would quickly affect the situa-
ton in the entire District. where the
responsibility for law and order has
been placed squarely upon nv shoulders
For this reason 1t became neccs .ary
in this emergency to take from the
group known as the Capitol Police
Board the responsibility for maintain
ing Law and order in the Capitol
grounds, and for enforcing such regu-
lations pertaining to these grounds as
would be possible without inviting vio-
lerce.
The Vice President told me In per-
son that he did not desire violence"
The police boards statement attack
ing Glassford failed TO explain who
called out the Marines. and this re-
r7ained as much mystery today as
ever.