The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-08-01
BONUS ARMY
MOSTLY REDS
CRY DISPUTED
Official Records Throw
Doubt on Hoover Charge
Men Are Communists.
BY RAY TUCKER
Times stan Writer

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-Oficial
cor1muniques of thee Battle Of
Pennsylvania avenue obtained from
war department files we're held to-
day to challenge President Hoover's
charge that the bonus marchers
consisted chiefly Of criminals and
Communists.
They also seemed TO cast doubt
on the assertion Of Major General
Douglas H. Macarthur, chief of
staff, that instruction" threatened
the government unless the veterans
were elected by fire and sword.
= Telephone reports from officers
on the advancing battle front to the
war department contained the fol-
lowing statements
Their attitude is one of razzing
Don't think they will go away I'M
til little force is used. Not very
desperate.
AS the infantry crossed the side
walk, the men (veterans) passed in
side the buildings, and then, as the
infantry entered, came out again.
Apparently no resistance so far.
AT 7:25 the camp at Thirteenth
and G streets had been cleared and
without resistance"
Spies to Tell Stories
Secret service operatives and de-
partment of justice agents are ex-
pected to furnish the principal evil
dence against alleged Communists
at the grand jury investigation or
dered by Attorney-G General William
Mitchell.
For weeks they have been spying
on the various camps, although the
veterans themselves had exiled the
so-called radical group headed by
John Pace to a block three miles
from the main encampment on
Anacostia flats.
Even the California contingent,
which conducted the death march"
in the closing hours of congress,
had been forced to live away from
the main body of evicted bonuseers.
Brigadier- General Pelham d.
Glassford, police commissioner,
maintained to the end that COM
paratively few Communists were
present in the camp, and that the
veterans we're taking care OF them.
Glassford, who may lose mis- job
because Of his humane treatment of
the men, apparently is taking no
part in the administrations inves-
tigation.
GIaSsfOrd Is Ignored
He was ignored when local
authorities asked for troops, and IN
subsequent punitive steps.
Police rumors show that only a
handful of the 10000 are being held
as alleged Communists.
Nineteen are being held pending
immigration authorities inquiry into
their right to be in the country.
Thirty-six alleged radicals are un-
der arrest, and fifteen others have
been detained, though no charges
have been lodged against them.
About 120 first seized as so-called
Communists have been released.
In mis- charge to the grand jury
Justice oscar Luhring is quoted by
the American Civil Liberties Union
as expressing the hope that "the
grand jury would find that the mob
which attacked the police was COM
posed mainly of Communists and
other disorderly elements and not
of former soldiers"
Political Consequences Feared
The union has demanded a hear
ing for the men held, asserting that
the effort to capitalize the Commu-
mist charge recalled past red
scares" which have faded into thin
air when put to the test of honest
investigation"
A total of 1863 of the 10000 bonus
marchers were jailed from May 20
to July 81, but police records show
that 210 were arrests for drunken
ness, 88 for investigation, and the
remainder for minor charges.
The political consequences of
President Hoover's drastic use of
federal troops to GUST the hungry,
homeless bonus seekers from their
makeshift camps today is disturbing
Republican politicians.
They fear the rapidly accumulat-
ing protests will cost Hoover many
votes next November.
Dispensing of the former soldiers
with federal cavalry and infantry.
supported by tanks, tear gas and
flames, comes at a time when Re
publican campaign managers were
preparing to persuade jobless work
ers that Mr.. Hoovers policies will
sgain result in the filling of their
dinner pals.
Echoes Reach White House
Echoes Of these protests reaching
the White House through indignant
kilograms and in interviews in news
papers are placing the administra-
ton on the defensive.
1t is seeking to justify its action
by claiming that the measure was
necessary for the preservation of
government and also that Commu-
nists, bent upon trouble making
dominated the bonus army.
Mr.. Hoover and Attorney-G
Mitchell hope to obtain official ius-
tification through the grand Jury
investigation.