Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-06-13
Getting a Problem in Hand.

Inc gathering OF the bonus clans in
Washington is a sociological phenome-
non Of surprising national interest and
even importance What the end of it
will be nobody knows.
But there is almost as much interest
IN the attempts now being made to
solve the very real and pressing prob
lem of taking care OF the marchers.
The aspects of this perplexing question
are generally understood The munich
pal government has neither the facilities
nor the money to furnish anything but
general supervision. The Federal Gov
eminent really responsible. fears to
take any definite step that could be
interpreted as offering attractions to
draw other pilgrims. There has resulted
a curious and unparalleled sort of I'M
Official cooperation between govern
mental and private agencies. Police pa
trolls haul firewood for cooking the food
donated by merchants from far distant
points and sent here by the truckload.
Police patrols transport the sick from
their main camp to Marine Corps
clinic and the seriously i'll are sent to
Gallinger Alarmed over the menace
to health from outrageous conditions In
the camp, Washington physicians and
dentists have volunteered their profess
sional services. A field hospital, financed
by private subscription, is proposed and
in addition three hospitals are to be
established at Fort Hunt and Fort
Washington by the Marine Corps and
by the Veterans Bureau. Rolling kitch-
ems have been loaned to Gen. Glass
ford not to the veterans-by Fort
Myer and by the National Guard. Two
hundred tents are to be loaned to
Gen. Glassford by Gen. Stephan of the
National Guard, purely personal
transaction. Jurisdiction Of the Ana
costa camp has been generously trans
ferred from the park police to the mu-
nicipal police.
Through the common-sense efforts OF
Gen. Glassford, on whose broad shoul-
ders the main burden of responsibility
has fallen, good many of the things
are being done gradually that might
have been done in the first place, had
his advice been followed, and 1t is to
be hoped that they will have been
done in time.
With the situation temporarily In
hand. however, the next phase will be
watchful waiting for the results OF
final disposition-for this session OF
Congress-of the bonus issue. During
this interlude a definite program for
action later on should be formulated.
The veterans have been drawn here
by a curious exhibition of the spirit
commonly associated with mobs-and
sheep. They may disperse as quickly
as they gathered. Increased numbers
and more food may lead them, on the
other hand, to consider staying here
indefinitely. But it is absurd to be-
lieve that they will not respond to
reasonable appeal to their common
sense. backed by an offer of transpor-
tation facilities to take them home
again.
When the bonus issue is settled the
bonus proponents in Congress should
make it their business to explain to
these men the futnity of longer con-
tinuing their demonstration. They
should be told that political theories
and their advocates rise and fall in
America, that administrations come
and 90, but that the changes are
brought about by the voters at the
polls and not by expeditionary forces
gathered for the purpose of intimdat-
ing or coercing the Federal Govern
ment If they believe in the bonus
the proper place to work for it is at
the polls, not in Washington, where
there are no polls.
No bonus advocate In Congress
should be willing to leave Washington
until those men from his State. en-
ticed here by promise Of the bonus,
are willing to leave with him.