Evening star., 1932-05-26
Goes to White House With
Appeal for Definite Ac-
tion at Once.
BEGGARS WHO PRETEND
TO BE VETERANS HIT
War Organizations Aid Asked in
Drive to Free City of Profess
sional Panhandlers.

Brig. Gen. Pelham D. Glassford. su-
perintendent Of police, today proposed
to the White House that Congress take
definite action Immediately on soldiers
bonus legislation in order to prevent
invasion Of the Capital by thousands
Of veterans demanding payment
Carrying his problem direct to the
White House, Gen. GlaSsford expressed
the opinion that if Congress would set
tie the bonus question, such action
would put a halt to further marches
upon Washington.
After a conference with Walter New
ton, one of Mr.. Hoover's secretaries,
Glassford told newspaper men:
Il personally do not believe there is
any intention on the part of these men
coming to Washington to cause any
disorder" said Glassford. Il cannot
help but anticipate some trouble. how
ever, If they are here any length of
time without funds and if they become
hungry. Many things result from an
empty stomach.
Would Relieve Situation.
IF Congress would either pass this
bonus legislation right away. or else
make it known that it will not be
passed at this session. the situation
would be greatly relieved There would
be no need then for these veterans to
come to the Capital to urge action.
Il went to the White House on my
own responsibility because 1 thought
that word from the White House would
be influential at the Capitol. 1 am now
going to take the matter up with Sena-
tor Watson. Republican floor leader
and I hope that something can be done
quickly"
Glassford said Newton listened very
attentively to what I had to say and
assured me he would think the matter
over"
Upon leaving the White House he
went Immediately to the Office of Sena-
TOR Watson.
Hits Fake Veterans.
unemployed veterans. but who actually
never saw service. have been made the
object of a citywide cleanup. Gen.
Glassford disclosed today.
Fearing that police campaign
against the pseudo veterans would be
interpreted as persecution" Gen.
Glassford has requested veterans or
ganizations to conduct quiet investiga-
ton of the situation. he revealed.
As result three men were arrested
in front of the Veterans Administra-
tion Building yesterday for selling
buddy poppies" without authority.
Face Vagrancy Charges.
Other "phony" veterans without Wis
ible means of support will be rounded
up and charged with vagrancy, accord
ing to Gen. Glassford.
t4F
red today with Representative Wright
Patman. Democrat, of Texas, author of
a bill for immediate payment of the
balance due on adjusted service certifi-
Gates, on plans for handling the thou
sands of veterans now reported to be
en- route here from all sections of the
country to plead for passage Of the
legislation.
An investigation into the veterans
already here. many of whom have been
holding impromptu daily meetings in
the city parks disclosed the bonus
march has been backed by the Work
ers' Ex-Service Mems League, a Com
munist organization.
Financed by Reds.
The league, financially supported by
the Communist party, has sent thou
sands of letters and pamphlets through
out the country according to the job
less veterans here. urging all unem-
ployed ex-service men to band together
and march on Washington" to demand
their bonus
Communist leaders already are un-
derstood to be here to take control of
huge demonstration" which has been
planned for either June or June r.
Leaders of the bonus marchers" an
nounced meeting of all unemployed
veterans now in the city for o'clock
tonight at Judiciary Square.
At a conference yesterday between
Gen. Glassford and representatives of
the veterans administration, ex-service
mems organizations and social welfare
societies, it was decided to wage a
vigorous campaign to discourage the
veterans from coming here.
No Funds Available.
Although the consensus of the meet
ing was that the veterans should be fed
and housed as were the jobless marchers
who came here last Winter, it was
pointed out there are no funds available
with which to buy food and the quar-
tiers used for the jobless marchers are
now filled with local needy. Also 1t was
Continued on Page 2, Column A.