The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-07-20
BONUS ARMY'S
WHITE HOUSE
MARCH HALTED
Police Block Two Attempts
of Left Wing Forces
to Picket Mansion.
LEADERS UNDER ARREST
Inspector SEXES Chief of
Insurgents by Throat,
Stops Parade.
LEADERS UNDER ARREST


WASHINGTON. July 20.-Police
repulsed two attempts of an insur-
gent group of 200 members of the
bonus army to picket the White
House today.
They dispersed the demonstrators
after arresting two of the leaders
and leaving the executive mansion
the center of heavily guarded
area, from which veterans and the
public alike were excluded.
John Pace of Detroit, leader of
the cleft wing" forces, and Beck
with E. johnson of Big Rapids,
Mich, we're arrested. They were
held in Jail, unable to furnish $125
bond.
First of the clashes occurred
when the veterans, defying police
warning, approached the White
House along the street which sep
arates it from the treasury.
The arrests were made little
later, when Pace and Johnson at
tempted to lead their men through
police lines after a flanking move
ment which brought the veterans
into a position at the rear of the
White House.
ThrOng Sees Advance
Hundreds of Washingtonians
gathered to witness the unprece-
dented scenes as the White House,
with President Hoover working as
usual in his office, became virtually
an armed fortress, defended by hun
dreds of white-shirted police, whose
weapons and tear-gas bombs were
displayed openly at their hips.
Meanwhile, the main force of the
bonus army was listening to an adj
dress by Smedley D. Butler, former
marine general, who exhorted the
men to stick by your guns until
we let 120,O0O,O0O people know
what's going on here"
The insurgent contingent, after
the thanking movement had failed,
was escorted by police back to it's
camp, half mile from the White
House. A police guard was thrown
about the camp to prevent veter-
ans from again leaving it.
When the insurgents were safely
established in their quarters, the
police lifted the guard about the
White House and permitted ordi-
nary traffic again to flow through
the area.
Inspector Stops Insurgents
Walter Flicker, one of PAGES lieu
tenants, was taken into custody by
police in the second clash, but his
name did not appear on the police
blotter. He was held after he had
yelled to the crowd, while police
were arresting Pace:
Hold that line! Don't let them
take him! Hold that line!"
Elderly police inspector Albert j.
Headley stopped the first approach
of the veterans almost single
handed, while police superintendent
Pelham GlasSford. Shirt-sleeved and
busy, was directing the maneuvers
from a position in front of the
White House. Headley was stationed
in front of the treasury building.
PAGES men, with their 35-year-
leader at their head, surged up Fiji
tenth street Headley, a striking
figure with dropping white mus
tache and a pince-nez, walked up
to him.
"You can't go through here" said
Headley.
Seizes Leader by Throat
Hasn't everybody right to walk
on public property?" replied Pace,
belligerently.
you can't go through here"
Headley responded, firmly. Stand
back"
The veterans behind Pace set up
a chorus of protests.
Pace took a step forward. Head
ley seized him, one hand at his
coat and the other at PAGES throat.
With a great heave, the police of
ficer sent Pace Keeling back among
his men. 1t was a tense moment as
police reinforcement hurried up.
Pace offered no resistance, how
ever and started the thanking move
ment as veterans and passers-by
Unfortunately, were herded away
from the spot.
Other police attachments swung
quickly into the maneuver and in
few moments an area one-half mile
square, with the White House in
the center, had been cleared of
traffic and pedestrians.