The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-09-13
GIassford Denies Mitchell State
ment That He Asked For
Help From Army
IN CONFLICT WITH RECORD
Washington Police Chief As
serts He Said Police Could
Control District

Washington, Sept. l3.-(R)-Just
who first advised using troops in the
bonus army disturbance OF July %,
was in dispute Tuesday, with Dis
trict of Columbia commissioners
joining the justice department in
designating the police and the police
chief issuing a public denial.
The dispute began with a state
ment by Brigadier General Pelham
d. Glassford. discussing assertions in
Attorney General Mitchell's report
to President Hoover on the bonus
marchers. The police head said some
of these we're "in conflict with po-
lice records or with facts known to
the police department"
Included was denial that Glass
ford had replied In the affirmative"
when asked the direct question
whether he thought 1t was necessary
to secure the assistance OF federal
troops" Instead, Glassford said:
Il stated that the police could hold
the area which had been repossessed
during the morning. I stated that
If further efforts toward evicting
the veterans by the police was insist
ed upon that afternoon, there doubt
less would be more rioting and pos
sible bloodsheed.
II recommended that, should fur
tter evicting be required that day
the federal troops should be called
upon to do it,
Publish Copy of Letter
Soon after Glassford issued his
statement. the justice department
made public the copy of letter re-
ceived from the board Of commits
sioners Aug. 2. It stated Glassford
had conferred with the commission
ers soon after the first clash with
veterans and said:
1.-THE former tGlassford, was ask
ed by the commissioners If the situa-
ton was out of his control. to which
he replied in the affirmative -.
Major Glassford further stated in
substance that the police could no
longer hold the bonus marchers in
check.
He was then asked a direct ques-
ton whether he thought 1t neces-
sary to secure the assistance of fed
eral troops, to which he replied he
did.
The justice department added:
mo doubt the commissioners will
confirm the accuracy Of the state
ments contained in this letter. They
are also confirmed by written state
ments in the possession Of the de-
partment, made few days after the
riots by responsible police officials
who we're acting with Major Glass
ford during the course of the riots
on July 49,
Commissioners Reply
Monday the commissioners issued
a reply to Glassford. It said:
1.-The commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia assert positively
that Major Glassford stated to them
the situation in the affected area
was beyond the control of the po-
lice: that in response to direct
question as to whether the presence
of troops was necessary Major Glass
ford stated positively that the pres
ence of troops was necessary"
Glassford's statement also took
authorities to task for not advising
him when the troops were called.
1.-THE information came to me first
from a newspaper reporter. -. I
was in command at the scene Of a
difficult situation which was vitality
affected by the call for federal
troops. I hav, never been informed
why the commissioners did not no.
tify ME instantly when the troops
were called.
He continued In part:
Attorney General Mitchell states:
1T Is probable the bonus army
brought into the city of Washington
the largest aggregation Of criminals
that had ever assembled in the city
at one time. According to police
records and statistics there was less
crime In the District Of Columbia
during either June or July than dur
ing the month Of August after the
veterans had been evicted.
IL Marchers Arrested
THE report does not show that
OF the 362 arrests made during the
two months Of the so-called bonus
invasion only IL arrests of bonus
marchers were made for offenses Of
a criminal nature.
1.-THE report stresses Communism,
crime and subversive influences.
There are of record many demon
STATIONS Of patriotism and discip-
line by the great mass of the unem-
ployed veterans. -. The facts are
that Communists and their ignorant
followers were relatively few.
1T is not necessary to defend in
this statement the policies followed
unswervingly by the police depart
ment in preserving law and order for
a period Of two months-policies of
humanity and Of respect for the
rights Of citt-e under the laws and
the constitution. -.
1T Is . matter Of qualification to
the police department that as long a.
1t remained unhampered In the APP
plication OF the policies adopted no
disorders Of any consequence &C.
Cured, except by the radicals Of q
small group whose efforts were easily
thvarted BY police action and police
strategy"