The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-07-16
ENTIRE BONUS
ARMY JOINS IN
DEATH MARCH
Cheering Thousands CIamor
at Doors of Capitol as
They Join Siege.
WATERS HELD BY POLICE
Joins His Main Forces With
n-WiIIed CrippIe's
Weary Men.


WASHINGTON, July 16.-Thou-
sands of World war veterans
marched on the United States
Capitol today in a tumultuous
bonus demonstration.
Cheering, shouting men clamored
at the doors Of congress and at
times gave indications of getting
out of control. The police at one
time held Walter w. Waters
commander of the bonus forces, to
enforce their demand that the vet
Grams clear the plaza.
The main bonus army went on
the march early today to reinforce
the death march" battalion which
surviving night of drenching
rains, doggedly continued its siege
of congress.
The entire bonus force of 14,70C
men was ordered out for the con-
centration, and an hour before that
time long line of men, some with
their families, began the movement
toward the capitol from the solder
camps where they had spent the
night.
Contingent SwellS Rapidly
The news that the main bonus
army was on the march electrified
the men who have been shutting tC
and fro at the Capitol in the strange
siege that began Tuesday.
At one time during the height Of
the nights downpour the number
of marchers dwindled to twenty-six
but as the bonus army started ur
from the lowlands along the Pc.
tomac river the Capitol contingent
had swollen to 200 men.
Following soaked flags tina
hung Imply from their standards
the death watch marcher
splashed through the puddleS tina
had formed in the plaza, kept or
the move by the police edict tha
there shall b no lettering around the
Capitol
Three hundred other veterans
resting from a night of marching
and trying to dry out their clothes
were grouped along the stone para.
pets on the street between the Cap.
itol and the library of congress. COT
fee and rolls we're passed around.
quantity of cracked wheat, cooked
into thick porridge, also was dis.
tributed.
March Quiet, Orderly
The movement from the MAR
bonus army camp on the Anacostis
mud flat was quiet and orderly
There was no attempt at a parade
There were no banners or bands
simply a long line of men anc
a few women, moving in twos anc
three. Police offered no interior
ence.
The veterans also are considering
picketing the White House as Soor
as congress goes hcme.
The maSSing of thousands of mer
at the capitol created the most
difficult situation for police since
the World war veterans laid seige
to Washington two months ago
Police Superintendent Pelham
Glassford conferred directly with
high administration officials before
formulating his policy.
Capitol authorities were demand
ing that the grounds be closed tt
the veterans. Glassford so far ha,
held to the view that the best way
to avert trouble was to keep the
men under strict supervision, bu
give them freedom of the grounds
Idea of Robertson
Today's demonstration was the
idea of crippled Roy w. Robertson
fighting leader of the California
battalion. Waters, whose regular
bonus expeditionary forces have
bsen completely overshadowed b!
the western band, quickly agreed tt
the plan.
IF the house and senate qui'
without passing a bonus payment
bill, We will be on hand, thousand;
strong, to bid them good-by, bu
not good luck" said Robertson.
A steady rain through the night
drenched the relays of weary west
ernerS who took turns in carrying
on the monotonouS marching ir
front of the Capitol building.
The weSternerS who came here
Ito show congress what a depres-
sion means" had endured days Of
hunger and days of blistering heat
They were not to be routed by a
mere rain. Up and down they
trudged in front of the building.
Their old clothes were soaked
through. Their two American flags
were sodde2 and heavy, but they
still held them proudly toward the
dripping sky.
7 T. Al