Evening star., 1932-09-12
The Report on the B. E. F.

AAV AsSfSAs va se~~
The oficial report to the President by
the Attorney General on the occupation
of washington by the Bonus Expe-
dictionary Force and its eviction Is
given publication simultaneously with
the opening Of the American Legion
convention in Portland. There Is
reason TO believe that the coinci-
dence Is not accidental. The evic-
ticn from Washington of the bonus
marchers has produced among many
veterans an emotional reaction-many
of these veterans advocating the cause
that ostensibly brought the marchers TO
Washington-that was based more upon
the sometimes distorted spectacle OF
Federal troops armed with bayonets,
gas, sabers and tanks than upon any
cool appraisal Of the situation demand
ing use of these troops. Sentiment
among some Of the veterans at Portland
may take the form Of resolution seek
ing to condemn the administrations
tactics in handling the situation here.
But the President and the Attorney
General do not address themselves to
veterans alone. They address them
selves to American citizens, who have q
right to know the facts in order that
they may Judge for themselves the Wis
dom of the course pursued. Any one who
reads carefully the restrained statement
of fact by the Attorney General is I'M
pressed by the thorough and detailed
analysis of the problem that was pre-
sented, first by the assembly OF these
men in Washington; secondly, by the
crisis precipitated when disorder and
rioting began. Regardless of the sue
cess or failure of critical demonstration
in Portland, these facts stand for them
selves.
The people of this community as
well as the exclusively governing
Federal Government we're pretty weu
convinced Of the potential dynamite
that lay at the end Of the fuse lighted
by the arrival here Of the bonus
marchers. For two months the situa-
ton was condoned, out Of sympathy
for the distress which these men seemed
to symbolic and out Of respect Tor the
right of petition and assemblage which
Americans enjoy as a heritage. Tne
nature of the danger Uas obvious. But
the amazing revelation by the Attorney
General of the percentage OF veterans
convicted Of offenses that pretty well
represent every crime on the calendar,
and the facts upon which are based
estimates of the number OF non
veterans drawn to Washington along
with the rest, are even at this late date
and in retrospect startling things TO
consider. If the Attorney General Is
correct in his belief-and the evidence
is convincing-that the bonus army
brought into the city Of washington
the largest aggregation OF criminals
that had ever been assembled in the
city at any one time" 1t is equally
amazing that the community during
this two months Of siege escaped with
no greater damage than has been
recorded.
Those who are responsible for the
government of this city and for the
protection Of the Capital community
will note the Attorney Generals con-
clusion that:
This experience demonstrates that It
Is intolerable that organized bodies OF
men having a grievance or demand upon
the Government should be allowed TO
encamp in the city and attempt to 1--we
Of the community like soldiers billeteo
in an enemy country. Attempts by such
1roups to intimidate or coerce Congress
into granting their demands hurt rather
than help their cause, and can only emu
as this one did, in riot and dlsoroef.
The principal reason why the Fed
eral Government was given exclusive
Jurisdiction over the Capital city was 10
enable it to preserve order at the seat OF
government and to protect the Congress
and other public officials from unlaw1ui
interference while in the discharge OF
their duties. The right peaceably 70
petition Congress for redress OF aiiegeo
grievances does not include assemoiage
of disorderly thousands at the seat Oh
government for purposes OF COERCION.
The marches on washington, 1t Is
sincerely to be hoped, are thing OF
the past. One lesson should be enough.