Evening star., 1932-07-29
OFFICIALS EXPLAIN
CALL FOR TROOPS
Letters Reveal Reasons for
Sudden Action in Use
of Federal Force.

Calling out of troops yesterday to
evct members of the B. E. F. from
Federal property came after the follow
ing official statements issued by Presi-
dent Hoover. Attorney General Mitchell
and the Board of District Commits
siOnerS.
The Presidents statement follows:
For some days police authorities and
Treasury officials have been endeavor-
ing to persuade the so-called bonus
marcherS to evacuate certain buildings
which they were occupying without per-
mission. These buildings are on sites
where Government construction is in
progress and their demolition was nee
essary in order to aid employment in
the District and carry forward the Gov
ernment's construction program.
This morning the occupants of
/ these buildings were notified to evacu-
ate and at the request of the police did
evacuate the buildings concerned.
Thereafter, however, several thou
sand men from different camps marched
| in and attacked the police with brick
| bats and otherwise injuring several
| policemen. one probably fatally. I have
received the attached letter from the
! Commissioners of the District of Co.
! lumbia stating that they can no longer
preserve law and order in the District
Asks Army Assistance.
"In order to put an end to this riot
! ing and defiance of civil authority.
! have asked the Army to assist the Dis
! triCt authorities to restore order.
Congress made provisions for the re-
turn home of the so-called bonus
marchers who have for many weeks
been given every opportunity of free
assembly. free speech and free petition
to the Congress. Some 5000 took ad-
vantage of this arrangement and have
| returned to their homes. An eXamina-
tion of large number of names dis
| closes the fact that a considerable Hart
| of those remaining are not veterans.
Many are Communists and persons with
criminal records.
Unaware of Character.
THE veterans among these numbers
are no doubt unaware Of the character
of their companions and are being led
into violence which no government can
| tolerate.
"I have asked the Attorney General
| to investigate the whole incident and
| to cooperate with the civil authorities
rioters as may be necessary"
The letter of appeal from the Board
of Commissioners to the President. as
made public at the White House, fol-
lows:
The President:
The Commissioners of the District of
Columbia regret to inform you that
during the past few hours circumstances
of a serious character have arisen IN
the District which have been the cause
Of unlawful acts of large numbers of
so-called bonus marchers,' who have
been in Washington for some time past.
This morning officials of the Treas
ury Department, seeking to clear certain
areas within the Government triangle,
| in which there were numbers of these
bonus marchers, met with resistance.
| They called upon the Metropolitan
Police Force fer assistance and a serious
riot occurred Several members of the
| Metropolitan Police were injured. one
| reported seriously. The total number of
bonus marchers greatly outnumbered
police. The situation is made mc1e diff
| fcult by the fact that this area contains
| thousands of brickbats and these were
| used by the rioters in their attack upon
the police
In view of the above, it is the opin-
ion Of the major and superintendent of
police, in which the Commissioners con-
cur, that it will be impossible for the
Police Department to maintain law and
order except by the free use of fire
arms which will make the situation a
dangerous one; it is believed. however,
| that the presence OF Federal troops in
some number will obviate the serious
ness of the situation and result in far
| less violence and bloodshed.
The Commissioners of the District of
Columbia, therefore, request that they
be given the assistance of Federal troops
in maintaining law and order in the
District of Columbia
Very sincerely yours.
IL. H. REICHELDERFER,
president of the Board of Com
! missioners, District Of Columbia. -
Attorney General Mitchells state
| ment regarding the legality of eviction
OF the veterans follows:
The Department of Justice Is en-
gagged in co-ordinating the work of
District and Federal officials. The de-
! partment is directing its attention not
| only to the summary eviction of tres
passers on Government property but
to the enforcement Of all criminal laws
and ordinances of the District, many
violations of which by members of the
bonus army are occurring.
During the time that Congress was
IN session and the members of the
bonus army were justifying their
| presence on the ground that they de-
sired to petition Congress for redress
OF alleged grievances, there was a
natural disposition to show extreme
consideration to these men. That time
has gone by. Congress has adjourned
and there is no longer any excuse or
justification for the asSemblage in
Washington of these men. They are
trespaSSers on Government property
much of which Is Immediately needed
for erection of public improvements.
Many of them are violating the laws
OF the District by holding unlawful as
semblies in the street, obStructing traf-
f1c, disorderly conduct, begging and
other acts. Their refusal to leave Gov
eminent property and resisting removal
is an offense against the law. pun
| iShable by fine and imprisonment.
1T is high time this conduct should
end. There is no reason why these
men should not obey the laws Of the
District just as every resident of the
District Is expected to do. In removing
them from Government property en-
t1rely lawful methods are available.
Under the law it is not necessary to
resort to the court for ejectment de-
crees. Methods are legally prescribed
for the summary removal and the
necessary steps will be taken accord
ingly.
I'm addition to the steps looking
toward their eviction because of their
trespassing on Government property,
steps are being taken to coordinate
the work Of arrest and prosecution for
any and all violations of the law.
Arrest will be made for all viola
tons and arrangements have been
made for cooperation between the dis
trict attorneys Office and prosecuting
attorneys in the Office of the corpora
ton counsel to expedite these cases.
present them to the courts and to
urge substantial sentences and to ar
range proper prison accommodation in