The Washington times., 1932-09-13

AOOOAACy NCaCAdA NAVSAACA
states:
"Tt is probable the Bonus
Army brought into the city Of
Washington the largest aggre-
CATION o. criminals that had
ever assembled in the city at
any one time"
According to police records
and statistics there was less
crime in the District Of Colum-
bia during either June or July
than during the month of Au.
gust after the veterans had
been evicted. The report does
not show that of the 362 ar
rests 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.
Record Of arrests is attached as
Exhibit No. /.
Press Praise Cited
The report stresses commun-
Ism, crime and SubverSive in
MuenceS. There are of record
many demonstrations of pa
triotiSm and discipline by the
great mass of the unemployed
veterans. For instance, a Wash
1ngton newspaper (Star of
June 18 comments editorially
as follows:
In the manner of their &C
ceptance Of the defeat of the
bonus bill, administered with
such decisive finality by a heavy
coalition majority of the SEN
ate yesterday, the veterans who
besieged the Capitol in a dra-
matte show of strength won q
great victory.
Their victory was one that re-
suits from good discipline, and
good discipline is only possible
among good soldiers. There was
. deep murmur that grew as it
spread through the ranks after
announcement of the vote from
the steps of the Capital. But a
moment later heads were barred
and the soldiers sang America"
within a few minutes the
straggling columns were moving
from the Capitol Grounds, back
to camp, across the river. Moth
ing quite like 1t has ever hap
pened in America. These men
wrote a new chapter on patriot
ism of which their cOuntrymen
may well be proud"
Red Claims Hit
And now to call attention to
the more important statements
IN the report which are in con.
tlict with police records:
The report says:
1. One Of the bonus camps.
that within Twelfth and Four
teenth and B and C SITS. S. w.,
was occupied principally by
Communists headed by John
IT, Pace"
Police records show there were
nine separate units billeted in
these four square blocks num-
bering. by police count, 824 indi-
VldualS on July 26. Of these
units, only one, comprising ap-
proximately $50 men, was as
sociated with the Soldiers Ex-
Service Mems League, a radical
organization. This unit was To-
Gated at 210 Thirteenth st. S. w.
2. The report says:
"There is irrefutable proof
that very large body of Com
muniStS and radicals, some ex-
service men and some not, were
in the city as part of the bonus
army, circulating among them
and working diligently to incite
them to disorder"
The facts are that Com
muniSts and their ignorant fol-
lowers were relatively few. Fol.
lowing two days Of circularized
propaganda, John T. Pace mus
tered on July 81 a group Of
not more than 210 (by police
count while in formation) for
the purpose of attempting to
picket the White House. This
was the largest group of rad
icals gathered together at any
one time.
The attempts Of the Com
muniSts and radicals to cir
culate and incite disorder in
the loyal camps we're completely
frustrated by the veterans mil
itary police, an organization
sponsored by the police depart
ment mainly for that purpose.
Troop Plea Denied
3. The report says:
"In response to questions by
the District Commissioners. he
Major GIaSSfOrd) 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 question
whether he thought it was neces-
sary to secure the assistance OF
Federal troops, to which he re-
piled in the affirmative"
The facts are as follows: At
O conference held at the Com
missioners' office within half an
hour after the brick battle, I
stated that the police could hold
the area which had been repos-
SesSed during the morning. I
stated that if further efforts to-
ward eVicting the veterans by
the police was insisted upon