Evening star., 1932-08-04
HURLEY DEFENDS
EVICTION METHOD
No Bonus MarcherS Injured,
War Secretary SayS-HurIS
Propaganda Charge.

Declaring that the bonus marcher!
were expelled from Washington with
unparalleled humanity and kindli
ness" Secretary of War Hurley yester.
day branded as apparently deliberate
propaganda and Misrepresentation
some of the stories that are being cir
culated about the eviction.
Hurley said the bonus marcher:
stayed in Washington after Congress!
adjourned only to carry out orders o.
propagandistS and radicals"
The War Department head denied
that any of the evicted marchers were
injured by the troops or that any o.
their billets had been fired by the sol
diers.
No Marchers Injured.
mo one was injured after the coming
Of the troops and no property was
destroyed, except that which was de-
stroyed by the marchers themselves,
Hurley said.
He denied that women and children
were evacuated by the Cavalry and In
fantry called out by President Hoover
saying, on the contrary, buildings oc-
cupied by women and children were
protected and no one was permitted
to moleSt them.
Hurley asserted that more than SOC
of the veterans who remained in Wash
ington after Congress quit were re-
ceiving compensation through the Vet
erans' Administration and that those
who were not, through panhandling'
forced tribute from the citizens in the
vicinity of their camps"
Text of Statement.
Text of Secretary Hurley's statement
follows:
Owing to the apparently deliberate
propaganda and Misrepresentation that
are being circulated concerning the re-
cent so-called bonus marcherS' riots in
Washington, have deemed it my duty
to make candid statement OF the facts
to the public.
The facts are:
l. That groups Of men aggregating
IA all about $4,000 came to Washing
ton to prevail upon Congress to ap-
propriate from the Federal Treasury
approximately $2,500,00O,000 for the
payment of bonuses.
g The purpose of these marchers, as
stated by themselves, was to intimidate,
coerce and compel the Congress to make
appropriations for them. AS long as
the marchers contented themselves with
orderly assembly and proper petition
and incorporate speeches they were
unmolested.
Fund Was Refused.
3. Before adjournment the Congress
had definitely declined to appropriate
the $500 900 900 from an already de-
pleted Treasury. Before adjournment
Congress also authorized the payment
of railway fares and subsistence for the
genuine veterans who wished to go
home. Congress also authorized loans
to be made to States to care for those
in need in their home States. OF the
veterans then in Washington, more
than $500 took advantage of the pro-
vision made by Congress for their
transportation and went home.
4. Prior to the evacuation OF the
genuine veterans inspection OF the
camp enrolment showed that approx
mately one-third of those present were
not veterans; had not served in any
capacity during the World War. OF
the veterans present approximately one
fourth were already receiving compen-
sation from the Veterans Bureau.
Those who were not veterans, and
many veterans themselves, became more
and more under the influence OF the
number of so-called red, radical agi-
tators after many of the genuine vet
Grams had left. As the number re-
manning in Washington decreased the
proportion of the agitatorS was greater
than it had been in the beginning.
5. A number of the marcherS had
entered the area south OF Pennsylvania
avenue and occupied some old buildings
that were scheduled to be demolished
to give way to new buildings to be built
under the construction program author
lied by Congress. This new conStruc-
ton was designed to give employment
to the unemployed in Washington and
H,fat at,,ff x11o TaY-la
ment had all plans ready to begin the
demolition of the old buildings to make
way for the new construction the bonus
Inarchers were asked to evacuate the
area where the new construction was
to take place. This gave the radical
element of the bonus marcherS their
first opportunity to come in direct con-
1iict with the purpose OF the civil au-
thoritieS. The agitatorS took advantage
of it. They declined to move. On two
different occasions orders were issued to
the bonus marchers by the civil author
tiles to vacate the area Wlere the con-
struction was TO take place. Each time
the bonus marchers refused to vacate
and the civil authorities, with great in
dulgence and patience, withdrew or
suspended the orders to give further op-
portunitieS for the marcherS to fully
understand their purpose. After the
suspension OF each order, attempts were
made by the civil authorities to prevail
upon the bonus agitators and the radi-
Gals who accompanied them to Vacate
the premises. The marchers refused all
overtures and steadfastly declined to
vacant the premises.
Refused TO Vacate.
6. During the morning of the 28th Of
July the police again appeared and
asked the marchers TO vacate the prem
1Ses where the new buildings were to be
erected The marchers refused to va
cate. The police attempted to oust
them. The marchers then attacked the
police. Thousands of veterans and agi-
tators, who were encamped south of the
Anacostia River, marched into Wash
tngton and joined in the attack on the
police.
A definite organized attack of several
thousand men was then made upon the
SPECIAL NOTICES.