Evening star., 1932-09-13

Gen Glassford's statement concern.
ing Attorney General Mitchell's report
on the bonus army follows:
II have had repeated requests from
the press to comment upon the report
Of Attorney General william D. Mitchell,
which appeared in the morning papers
would be proper or justifiable for me
to comment upon any statements cen.
i tanned In the report except thosa. which
relate to the police. ind In the re.
port . number Of assertions affecting
| the police which are In conflict with
police records or with facts known to
the Police Department.
Attorney General MitcheIl states: Tt
! is probable the bonus army brought into
the city OF Washington the largest ag-
gregation OF criminals that had ever
assembled in the city at any one time.
According to police records and Stats
| tics there was less crime in the District
of Columbia during either June CT July
than during the month OF August after
the veterans had been evicted. The re-
port does not show that OF the 1862
arrests made during the two months of
the so-called bonus invasion only IL ar
/ rests Of bonus marchers were made for
| offenses Of criminal nature. Record
Of arrests is attached as exhibit No. !.
The report stresses Communism,
crime and Subversive influences. There
are of record many demonstrations of
patriotism and discipline by the great
mass of the unemployed veterans. For
instance, Washington newspaper
(Star. of June 100 comments editorially
as follows: In the manner OF their &C.
ceptance Of the defeat Of the bonus
bill, administered with such decisive
nnality by a heavy coalition majority of
the Senate yesterday, the veterans who
beseiged the Capitol in dramatic show
of strength won a great victory. 1helr
victory was one that results from good
discipline, and good discipline Is only
possible among good soldiers. There
was a deep nurmur that grew as It
spread through the ranks after an
nouncement Of the vote from the steps
Of the Capitol But moment later
heads were barred and the soldiers sang
America" Within few minutes the
struggling columns were moving from
the Capitol Grounds; back to camp
has ever happened in America. These
men wrote new chapter on patriotism
of which their countrymen may well be
proud
Questions Statements
And now to call attention to the
more important statements in the re-
port which are in conflict with police
records
81. The report says: "One Of the
bonus camps that within Twelfth and
Fourteenth and B and c streets south
west. was occupied principally by Com
munists headed by John t. Pace
Police records show there were nine sep
arate units bilited in these four square
blocks numbering by police count 824
individuals of July rs. OF these units,
only one, comprising approximately lo0
men. was associated with the Soldiers
Ex-Service Mems League, radical or
ganlzation This unit was located at
2l0 Thirteenth street southwest.
40. The report says: There Is lr-
REPUTABLE proof that a very large body
of Communists and radicals. some ex-
service men and some not, were in the
city as part of the bonus army, ctrcu.
lating among them and working alli-
gently to incite them to disorder The
facts are that Communist and their
ignorant followers were relatively few.
Following two days of circularizeo
propaganda John T. Pace mustered on
July 81 group of not more than 2lo
(by police count while in formatlon)
for the purpose Of attempting to picket
the White House This was the Iargest
group Of radicals gathered togetner at
any one time. The attempts or the
and incite disorder in the loyal camps
were completely frustrated by the vet
erans' military police, an organization
sponsored by the Police Department
mainly for that PURPOSE.
"3. The report says: In response to
questions by the District Commissioners
he Mai. Glassford) stated that the
situation was out of his control and
that the police could not longer hold
the bonus marchers in check. He was
asked the direct question whether he
thought 1t was necessary to secure the
assistance of Federal troops, to which
he replied in the affirmative. The facts
are as follows At conference held at
the Commissioners Office within half
pn hour after the brick battle stated
that the police could hold the area
which had been reposseSsed during the
morning. stated that if further efforts
toward evicting the veterans by the
police was insisted upon that afternoon
there doubtless would be more rioting
and possible bloodshed. recommended
that should further evicting be required
that day the Federal troops should be
called upon to do it. Nothing was said
by the Commissioners at this confer
ence to indicate they hao reached a
decision to call for Federal AID
Quotes Secretary's Certificate.
"My statement above is substantiated
by certificate of my personal secre-
tary, Mr. Aldace Walker, quoted as fol-
lows:
AFTER Maj. Glassford had quelled
the first riot and had declared that the
evacuation would cease until after
lunch" 1 accompanied him from the
Pennsylvania avenue area to the Dis
trict Building. On the way up in the
police car I suggested to Maj. Glass
lord that he take one OF two courses:
either to request that an extension OF
time be given in the evacuation pro-
gram or for him to ask the Commits
sioners to call on the Federal Govern
ment for aid. He expressed strong op-
position to calling for Federal aid. Both
Commissioners asked Maj Glassford if
the police had lost control of the situ-
alton. The major replied that the situ-
alton was not out of the control of the
police. He explained fully just what
had happened, and then maintained
that the area which was roped off
could be held II he were not required
to extend this area. The Commission
ers then told the major to hold what
he had. The conference ended end
Maj. Glassford and returned to the
area on Pennsylvania avenue
1 although the subject of requesting
Federal aid was discussed at this con-
ference there was no manifestation on
, the part Of the Commissioners of call
Commissioners Lett