The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-06-04
Fear Riots If Tattered
Legion in Capital
Goes Unfed.
POUR INTO WASHINGTON
Leaders DiSCIaim All Idea
of Violence; Military
Discipline Kept.


WASHINGTON, June A.
With a tattered army of I'M
derfed war veterans camping
in its midst, the national cap
ital today faced an unprece-
denied situation which gave
fears that riots and disorders
might result from exhaustion
of the veterans slender food
supply.
Wave on wave Of ragged, desti-
tute men have poured into Wash
ington during the past fortnight in
the forlorn hope of a federal bonus.
The bonus appears more remote
than ever. but still they come-on
foot. by freight train or in the car
of some friendly motorist.
About 1900 veterans are here now,
camped in empty stores and ware
houses, or in the open fields. They
are a destitute lot. a tter-demalion
regiment stripped of the bright fur
nishings of war with which they
we're accoutred a decade and a half
ago.
Eight thousand more are reported
on their way.
Disclaim Violence Plans
Leaders of the veterans disclaim
all idea of violence. They have
adopted four rules of discipline:
l. Stay until the bonus is granted.
2. No radical talk.
3. No panhandling.
4. No liquor.
An effort has been made to or
ganize the men into military units.
Each man must register, showing
an honorable discharge or a bonus
certificate in order to qualify.
Identification tags must be shown
at each meal.
Attempting to spread out the
small sums available for food, the
leaders have set a schedule of cof-
fee and bread for breakfast, with
meat stew in the afternoon. There
is no monday meal. 1t has been
estimated that cents will feed a
veteran for day on this meager
style
Veterans Appear in Earnest
Most of the men encountered as
they crowd about the soup kitchens
or walk through the halls of the
capitol in their bonus lobbying are
quiet, well-behaved, apparently dead
in earnest. All Of them have been
out of work for months. One was
asked what the men would do when
the food ran out.
Wen eat" he said.
IF they won't feed me-" another
said, "I'll go out on the streets and
beg. Then they'll lock me up and
have to feed me-"
j. A. Bingham, an officer in the
A. z. F., and a stickler for disci-
pline in the bonus army, is leading
the effort to keep Communists out
of the veterans ranks.
"Kick Out the Reds
Wen kick them out as fast as
we find them" he said. I'VE kicked
one out this morning"
Police superintendent Glassford
and Police Commissioner Crosby
have conferred with War Secretary
Hurley on the situation. It was un-
derstood that precautions were
taken for any eventuality which
might arise. but their nature was
not disclosed.
Glassford has been responsible
for housing the veterans and raising
the money with which they have
been fed.
In fact, there has been some criti-
cism of him for this, the argument
being advanced that he ought to
have prevented their remaining in
town.
Cabinet Discusses Situation.
Glassford also co-operated with
the veterans for a benefit perform
ance which netted them $500.
I propose to continue TO furni1h
food and shelter as long as I have
funds or can obtain them" Glass
ford said.
It was reported that the situation
was discussed at Fridays cabinet
although there was no in
dication that President Hoover had
altered his opposition to bonus leg
islation