The Washington times., 1932-09-13

Cne SO-CalIe0 bonus hlOIS
I'm response to questions by
the District Commissioners, he
(Major GlaSSford) stated that
the situation was out of his
control and that the police
could not longer hold the bonus
marcherS in check. He was
asked the direct questio
whether he thought it was neces-
Sary to secure the assistance
Of Federal troops, to which he
replied in the affirmative"
Cites Commission Letter
In this connection attention
is called to a letter directed to
the Attorney General by the
president of the Board of Com
miSsionerS of the District of
Columbia, under date of August
2, a few days after the riots
occurred:
"The Honorable The Attorney
General of the United States.
Sir: In response to your let
ter Of the first instant regard
ing the inquiry into the recent
disorders in the District, we
have the honor to advse you as
follows:
About 1890 p. m, on Thurs
day, July 28th, 1882, lieut..
Ira E. Keck of the Metropolitan
Police Force, and aide to Gen
eral Crosby, reported to the
Commissioners that a most Seri-
Gus condition existed in the
area in which the Treasury De-
partment was endeavoring to
recover possession of it's prop
erty. A short time before a
riot had occurred in which the
police had been aSsailed with
bricks, clubs, iron bars, pieces
of concrete and similar articles.
Several thousand bonus march
erS were on their way from
other camps and two truck
loads had already arrived upon
the scene.
Sought Chiefs Views
Lieutenant Keck stated to
the Commissioners that in his
opinion, and in the opinion of
Inspectors Brown and Edwards,
assistant Superintendents of the
Police Department, who were
present in the troubled area,
and with whom Lieutenant
Keck had talked, the situation
was beyond the control of the
police and that bloodshed
could only be averted by the
presence Of Federal troops.
'"The Commissioners then
stated that before calling for
military aid they desired the
opinion of Major Glassford, the
Chief of Police. Lieutenant
Keck returned to the scene of
action and communicated the
wishes of the Commissioners to
Major GlaSsford who stated,
Since Waters (meaning the
commander of the bonus march
erS) has lost control of his
own men the police cannot
control the situation any long
err
Major Glassford accom-
panied Lieutenant Keck to the
office Of the Commissioners,
arriving about l p. m. The
former was asked by the Com.
misSioners if the situation was
out of his control, to which he
replied in the affirmative, and
was supported in this state
ment by a Mr.. Walker, who
was with him.
Major GlasSford further
stated in substance that the
police could no longer hold
the bonus marchers in check.
He was then asked a direct
question whether he thought
it necessary to secure the as
sistance of Federal troops, to
which he replied he did.
"The Commissioners at once
notified the Chief of Staff of
the United States Army that
undoubtedly the assistance of
troops would be necessary and
a request was made that they
stand by. Com: ssioners Reich
elderfer and Crosby then visited
the area where the seriousness
of the condition was apparent.
After they returned to the Dis
trict Building it was reported to
them by Lieutenant Keck that
rioting had broken out anew
and a bonus marcher had been
killed.
All Police on Scene
"Thereupon the Commission.
erS dispatched a communication
to the President of the United
States requesting the assistance
of Federal troops to preserve
law and order in the District
of Columbia. From this time
until the troops arrived upon the
scene of disorder the situation
steadily grew worse, with a con-
stand increase in the number Of
bonus marchers in the affected
area.
I'VE might add that, since
about l p. m. of that day, every
available man on the police
force, whether on or off duty.
had been ordered to and was
present at the scene of disorder.
leaving the remainder Of the
District without police protec-