Evening star., 1932-06-10
Leadership lacking.

1t Is to be hoped, OF course, that the
telegram broadcast to the Governors Of
the States by the Commissioners will
have some effect in turning back the
tide OF the bonus marchers. But the
essential need of this community now,
and OF its hapless visitors, is 4 leader
ship that will take hold Of situation
rapidly drifting from bad to worse,
make real effort to disperse the vet
Grams who are here and send them back
home
1t is an obvious need. dictated by
common sense, and it is unnecessary to
explain to any intelligent person the
reasons for bringing to an immediate
end this pitiful and inherently danger
Gus congregation Of improperly fed and
iradequately housed men-women. even,
and children.
The men are here because they have
been told by members of Congress,
Vhose office alone entities them to speak
With authority that the Federal Gov
ernment owes them a certain amount
Of money which should be paid now.
Their informants IN Congress know,
however, that the bonus does not repre-
sent an obligated debt payable on de-
mand that the proposal to pay it now
Is outrageous from the standpoint OF
ability to pay, and that immediate pay
m.nt is q practical lmpossibility with
out resort to moral counterfeiting OF
the national credit.
The proponents Of the bonus in Con-
eress know these things but the vet
erans do not. Those deluded men, en-
ticed by promises of cash. are nov being
infamed by irresponsible speeches and
senseless demagoguery and for the time
being are morally supported by an
Understandable, If sentimental. sympa-
thy for themselves and not their cause
that will last only until the sympa-
thizers become bored.
They should be told now that the
bonus will not be paid. For that is the
case. They should be told that. having
exercised their Constitutional right OF
petition and having conducted them
selves in a manner that reflects credit
upon their self-impoSed discipline and
patriotism. they should 60 home. 1t Is
MOI unreasonable to believe that the
Government could supply the transpor-
tation for those lacking 1t. 1t Is an
emergency and the situation requires
extraordinary treatment.
Who should supply this leadership?
B.. whom should they be told these
things?
BY the proponents in Congress Of the
bonus paying measure. They are the
ones who brought them here. Upon
them rests the responsibility for the
unhappy consequences that, 1t is plain
to see. may follow. They are the only
ones who, appropriately, could inform
the veterans OF the facts.
Their action now would be the cour-
aeeous and the intelligent course to fol-
low The House expects to vote on the
bonus by Tuesday. But, even should the
House pass the measure as q deplorably
irresponsible gesture, the Senate must
act later. And should the Senate con-
ceivably pass the bonus, such action
would have been taken in the knowledge
that presidential veto will follow And
Il is generally known that there is not
enough strength to overcome the veto.
But are these men to be allowed to
Increase in numbers, to be permitted to
endanger their own health and the
health of the community in a manner
that threatens national disgrace? Are
they to be permitted to live under the
squalid conditions Of . camp that is q
reproach to modern civilization, while
the Congress leisurely moves to call the
bonus BLUM? Is Congress merely trust
Ing to luck that nothing will happen?
Gen. Dawes is entitled to feel some
qualification in contemplating the de-
termination with which the marchers
are trying Ito get together and get
somewhere"