Evening star., 1932-08-05
Answers Critics of
The Bonus Marchers
To the Editor of The Star.

To the Editor OF The Star.
have read the four articles appear
ing In your columns Wednesday from
folks who seem to support the admin
istration's action a week ago in driving
the b: E F. from Washington. APP
parently all four Of these people are
either biased in their views or else they
nave been miSled by newspaper re-
ports OF the affair and the composition
and motives of the B. E. F. In the
flrst place, 1t must be pointed out that
there were two distinct groups Of these
men. The first group. comprising the
larger percentage OF the men. were all
eX-service men. They would not permit
radicals to affiliate with them. They
complied with police regulations and
conducted themselves admirably while
In Washington. There was no justin
cation on the part of the Government
to rout these fellows in the manner in
which they did. The other group, how
ever, were mostly Communists and only
had handful Of ex-service men in
their organization. They were here to
cause trouble, and it was this group
that started the fight with the police
and no one has any sympathy for the
treatment they were accorded. But
why take advantage Of the trouble
started by this group to persecute the
entire B. E F. force?
1t Is noted Tom Shanton criticizes
the action Of the department COM
mander of the American Legion In his
attack on the President. knowing Tom
Shanton, want to point out that he
Is not qualified to express the opinion
of the American Legion in the District.
The attack made by the department
commander is o. K. with the members
of the Legion in the District. 1t Is
nothing more than any other good citL-
zen would do when fellow countrymen
are treated in the shameful manner
that the bonus men were treated when
they were conducting themselves law
fully and in pursuit Of their constitu-
tional rights.
Pauline Wooster insists that the bonus
marcherS were in violation Of law. This
is a poor excuse to justify the treat
ment accorded them If they violated
! the law, why were they permitted to re
main here six or seven weeks; why did
not the police put them in jail where
law violators belong? Why wait until
after Congress had adjourned and then
gas and bayonet them out Of town? 1t
does not take an intelligent person to
see the motive behind the whole affair.
1t Is noted she pokeS a little fun at
the ex-soldier-"could there be a SOL
dier without a bonus" Might 1 ask
her if there could be Government en-
ploye without bonus, a manufacturer,
mechanic, business man or any
other civilian without bonus? De
cidedly yes. and that is why Gen. ButF.
suggested the drafting of all citizens in
time of war 1t would prevent the
''stay-at- homes" from getting bonuses
| and profiteering at the expense of the
Government and reducing the Treas
ury's balance to the deficit point. There
! would be no need Of bonus if every
one were in the service. On the other
hand. If it were necessary to pay a
bonus. every one would share equally.
Pauline Wooster apparently believes in
letting George do the dirty work, get
nothing for it and then. when the dan
ger is gone. ridicule and make fun of
him because she believes he is after
some of the ill-gotten funds she and
others hold as result OF taking advan-
tage Of governmental distress in war.
MAURICE BAILEY.