Evening star., 1932-06-19
PropOses a Plan to
Dispose of Bonus Army

To the Editor OF The star.
The assembling of the Bonus Army
in Washington is an unaccountab!e
psychological phenomenon. 1t is ike
unto and as fantastic as the Crusades
in medieval times and the mlgratlonS
of entire tribes and peoples in Europe
in the third century. Whatever IT'S
fundamental inspiration, 1t Is SyMtomatlc
of a serious social situation. and the
presence here of these 10000 men
presents to the people of Washington
a grave condition that calls for an i'm
mediate remedy. They are menace TO
their own lives and to the health OF the
people of Washington, for an epidemic
among them is inevitable sooner or later
if they are allowed to remain mere
Furthermore, the psychological impulse
that brought them here is liable to take
a dangerous turn, and may produce
situation that may make 1t necessary
to put the city under martial Law.
These men are Uncle Sans veterans,
and it is his duty, and not that OF the
people of Washington, to look after and
provide for them.
The following suggestions are offered
for the solution Of the problem: A spe-
cial act of Congress authorizing ana
directing the War Department to en-
roll these men in the Army and or
ganize them into a division. to be
known as the Emergency Division OF
the United States Army the enroll
ment to be only of those who are now
here. and for one year, subject to
muster-out or discharge at any time
within the year if, in the discretion OF
the President. the improvement in in
dustriel conditions makes it probable
they will be able to secure employment,
and any man to be discharged at any
time upon his own application if he IS
offered employment. All of the general
and field officers of this division should
be by detail from the Regular Army.
Among these men are many who were
n-commiSsioned officers in the World
War. Such men and their records
should be ascertained, and from them
the requisite number of company Off
porary commissions Is officers of this
division. The division should be ten
tatively organized Immediately and uni
formed and equipped from the surplus
stores on hand from the World War
and then marched to Camp Leonard
Wood. in Maryland, and put under can
vas until temporary buildings can be
constructed. which should be done by
the men themselves, for there are many
carpenters and mechanics among them.
The men should receive the same pay
and allowances and be subject to the
same routine, training and discipline as
the regular service. All this involves
many details that cannot be even sug-
gested in the limited space that may
be allotted this communication.
This proposal will cost much less
than the bonus at this time. or the
costs that may eventually arise from
temporizing with the situation until it
becomes acute and some untoward in
cidentS may require drastic action that
would be deplorable and unfortunate.
This plan would give these men i'm
mediate employment, preserve their
self-respect and morale and greatly
strengthen their patriotism, so much
needed by all the people in this trying
period of general Generalization.
These men, instead of being a poten-
tial menace to peace and order woulC
then be supporters of the Government
and defenders of the social order.
In view of the fact that Brig. Gen.
GlaSsford appears to have the entire
respect and confidence of these men,
and is an officer of distinction. I sug-
gest that he be made a temporary
major general and detailed to command
this division.
ALEXANDER SIDNEY LANIER.