Evening star., 1932-10-13
HOOVER RECEIVES
/. B. E.F. DELEGATION
CenSure Resolution Asking
Relief Is Presented
to Gen. Hines.

President Hoover today received in his
Bonus Expeditionary Force, which
brought to the White House a petition
censuring him for the means used in
evicting the bonus marchers from the
District in July, and demanding cloth
ing bedding and daily ration Of Is
cents. They did not present the petition
to the President personally.
The petition, according to Hoke
Smith. recently elected national field
commander of the B. E. F. and Wal
ter H. Newton. one of the President S
secretaries, was presented by Comdr.
Smith to Brig. Gen. Hines, admins
traitor of Veterans Affairs, who hap
pened to be in President Hoover's office
at the time 1t is understood that the
delegation was advised that all matters
relating to veterans requests were first
referred to the veterans administrator
and that If legislation were required it
was then matter for Congress and
not the White House.
Hines to Receive Group.
According to Secretary Newton. Gen.
Hines accepted this petition and assured
the delegation that he would be glad TO
receive them in his Office at the Vet
erans' Administration later and discuss
with them the matters contained in the
petition.
Comdr Smith. after his audience
with the President, said that the latter
received him and his associates cordially
and thanked them for coming He
added that he and his associates pledged
their loyalty to the Constitution and
pledged themselves to defend the flag
Further than that Comor. Smith
would not discuss the presidential
audience.
Secretary Newton told newspaper
men later that Mr. Hoover had in
formed the delegation he disagreed with
sCme of their objectives and was glad
they had decided not Ito repeat the
scenes that occurred in Washington
during the last Spring and Summer
Statement Dictated.
Newton dictated the following state
ment:
'Comdr. Smith stated to the Presi-
dent that they wished to pay their re-
spects, tender their support and pledge
their loyalty to the President and the
Constitution of the United States.
The President expressed his pleasure
at that statement and told them that
they would recognize that he disagreed
in point of view with some of their
objectives and that he had to consider
$4,000, 900 families in the United states
in these times of distress as well as
members of special groups.
He said he was glad that they had
determined to present their proposals to
the Congress through appropriate COM
mittees rather than to repeat the
scenes that occurred in Washington
during the last Spring and Summer.
Pleased by Course Taken.
'The President said that he was
pleased that they had not presented
him with a petition which had been
reported in the press as it contained
statements offensive to the dignity OF
the Office of the presidency and that he
was glad they had decided not to pre-
sent it at the White House.
He said that every group in the
United States was free to present its
views on every public question and they
no doubt would be given every facility
for the expression of their wishes to
the Congress.
The petition addressed to the Pres
ident was purported to contain some
ideas as to what should be done in the
way of veterans legislation.
Gen. Hines was there and Comdr
Smith presented the envelope contain
ing the paper to him. Hines said he
would be glad to consider some Of their
suggestions"
Smith Confers With Newton.
Before being ushered into the Pres
ident's private office Comdr Smith was
in conference with Secretary Newton
in the latter's Office for more than an
hour and a half following which Mr.
Newton presented the B. E. F. COM
mander and his associates personally to
the President while Gen. Hines stood
close beside the latter.
The B. E. F. petition which was
CONTINUED on Page 4, Column g.