Evening star., 1932-11-13
2,9lD BONUS ARMY
.MEN BACK IN D. c.,
LEADER DECLARES
| 5000 More Coming for Ses.
sion of Congress, NeWIin
Informs Police.
FARMER AND JOBLESS
| INvAStoNS ALSO LOOM
Officials, Gravely Concerned, Re-
peat Warning to Group to Bring
Own Subsistence.

Twenty-Five hundred members Of
the original bonus expeditionary force
have returned to Washington and more
than 5000 others are planning to come
back before Congress convenes in De-
cember, according to information given
police officials yesterday by John H.
Newlin, one of the B. E. F. staff officers.
Newlin held a protracted conference
with Maj. Ernest w. Brown, superin-
tendent OF police, and Inspector Frank
S. w. Burke. chief of detectives, and
outlined to them plans of the veterans
to make a new appeal to Congress for
immediate payment of the bonus. Ef-
forts to prevent another expedition to
Washington, he said, apparently have
been of no avail.
The $500 members of the bonus army
now in Washington, Newlin told police
officials, have been returning in small
groups ever since the exodus Of the
veterans from Johnstown, Pa, where
they went following their forced evacua-
tion of the Capital July %. Most Of
them, he said, are quartered in private
homes. subsisting on Government COM
pensation, and some have found en-
ployment. Approximately 80 others, he
declared, are living in tents at Camp
Bartlett in Congress Heights, where
some Of the bonus army was billeted
last Summer.
None Found at Camp.
Investigation at Camp Bartlett last
night failed to disclose any members Of
the bonus army. On the outer edge
of the camp one family was found liv-
ing in tent.)
The largest group of the remnants OF
anrnrdi1o m
Newan, is in Chicago. awaiting signal
from their leader, Al Williams, to return
to Washington. Newlin said Williams
has 5000 veterans under his command.
In addition to these, Newlin declared,
there are $50 veterans in the railroad
yards in Denver awaiting an opportu~
nifty to come East aboard freight trains.
(Reports from Denver denied that $50
bonus marchers we're in the freight
yards there. An organizer was said 20
have been in Denver, however, in an efs
fort to recruit an army Of veterans for
another march to washington.
Try to Prevent Influx.
Newlin told Maj. Brown that leaders
Of the B. E. F. have done everything IN
their power to discourage the men from
returning to washington, knowing Of
the hardships and discomfortS that will
face them this Winter. Communists
among the veterans, however. Newlin
said, obviously had convinced the men
that another mass demonstration In
Washington might get them the bonus.
Since leaders Of the B. Z. p. ap-
parently had been unsuccessful in
stopping the veterans, Newlin urged
police officials to discourage them
before they start for Washington.
Radio appeals over Nationwide net
works Of broadcasting stations are now
being considered as a means Of reach
ing the men in time.
The presence in Washington Of an
other bonus army, in addition to other
unemployed groups planning to come
to seek relief from Congress, officials
fear, would create a serious situation,
especially in view of the fact that the
District government is without suffi-
cient funds to feed or shelter all of
the city's own homeless and destitute.
Grave Concern Felt.
Police and District officials already
have shown grave concern over the
plans of 5000 so-called hunger
marchers" to converge on Washington
December 4, to be followed three days
later by an invasion of 500 relief-seek-
ing farmers. Both of these groups,
however, have planned to leave soon
after petitions are submitted to Con-
gress the farmers promising to get out
of the city within 48 hours, and the
hunger marcherS' within three days.
But the bonus army probably would
remain, as it did before, unless again
driven out by Federal troops.
The District Commissioners already
have taken steps to discourage the COM
ing of the farmers and the hunger
marchers" or any other unemployed
group, but there is a fear that the
warning may go unheeded No trouble
is anticipated, If the marchers leave in
accordance with the announced pro-
grams of their leaders, but there is
feeling that some Of them might remain
and become public charges, particu-
larly at a time when the resources of
District charities are falling far short
of meeting ever-increasing demands.
Plans Laid by Officials.
Plans already have been developed by
District officials for handling any un-
employed groups that might come. but
they do not contemplate the use OF
troops, only in the event of an emer-
gency that should get out of control Of
the police. The Commissioners have
made it clear to the march leaders that
any group of organized unemployed men
and women must be prepared to pro-
vide their own subsistence.
Published reports that the Commits
sioners probably would call out the Dis
trict militia to police" the marchers,
we're vehemently denied yesterday at
the District Building. DR.. Luther H.
Reichelderfer, president of the Board
of Commissioners, and Corporation
Counsel William w. Bride, both pointed
out that only the President has the
authority to call out the militia. These
officials also declared the Commission
ers lacked authority to declare martial
law.