The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-07-29
BONUS ARMY IN FLIGHT
FROM CAPITAL AS TROOPS
FINISH SWEEP OF CAMPS
Why Troops
Necessary to Put End to
Riots, Defiance of Law,
Says Hoover.
BIZ United Press
WAsHINGToN, July 20

DU CHAtcU 4ftoS
VXTAsHINGToN, July %
VNUnited States troops were
necessary to end ''rioting and de-
fiance of civil authority" President
HooVer said in formal expiana-
ton of his order under which
cavalry, infantry and tanks moved
into the capital, and forcibly drove
the bonus army from all federal
property.
Commander-in-Ch Chief walter
Waters of the bonus eXpeditionary
force in reply declared every drop
of blood shed can be laid directly
upon the threshold of the White
House"
President Hoover expressed belief
that Communists and persons with
criminal records" melted the vet
Grams to the fatal clashes with police
preceding arrival of the troops.
Waters declared the administra-
ton was to blame because it in
sisted on forcible evacuation of
bonus camps in the city without
making provision for billets else
where.
The statements by President
Hoover and Waters were issued
Thursday night.
DRESIDENT HOOVER'S state
l. ment said:
For some days police authorities
and treasury officials have been en-
deavoring to persuade the so-called
bonus marchers to evacuate certain
buildings, which they were occupy
ing without permission.
"These buildings are on sites
where government construction is
in progress, and their demolition
was necessary in order to extend
employment in the district and to
carry forward the governments
construction program.
Thursday morning the occupants
of these buildings were notified to
evacuate, and at the request of the
police did evacuate the buildings
concerned.
Thereafter, however, several
thousand men from different camps
marched in, and attacked the police
with brickbats and otherwise iniur-
ing several policemen, one prob
ably fatally.
Il have received the attached let
ter from the commissioners of the
District of Columbia stating that
they can no longer preserve law and
order in the district.
In order to put an end to this
rlotlng and defiance of civil author
lty, / have asked the army to assist
the district authorities to restore
order.
HONGREsS made provision for
~ the return home of the So
called bonus marchers, who have for
many weeks been given every OBJ
portunity to free speech and free
petition to the congress.
Congress made provision for the
return home of the so-called bonus
marcherS, who have for many weeks
been given every opportunity to
free speech and free petition to the
congress.
Some 5000 took advantage Of
this arrangement and have returned
to their homes.
An examination of a large num-
Der of names discloses the fact that
considerable part Of those remain
ing are not veterans; MANY are
communists and persons with GRIM
inal records.
The veterans among these num-
pers are no doubt unaware of the
character of their companions. and
are being led into violence which no
government can tolerate.
I have asked the attorney-gen-
eral to investigate the whole Incl
cent, and to cooperate with the
district civil authorities in such
measures against leaders and riot
erS as may be necessary"
MR.. HOOVER, in a letter todav
Iva to the commissioners of the
District of Columbia, declared
there IS no group, no matter what
its origin, that can be allowed either
70 violate the laws of this city or
TO lntimidate the government"
The President, in his sharuIv
Worded letter, a defense Of his cali
ing out troops to evict the bonus
army, said bluntedly that "the civil
government of Washington must
function uninterrupted"
Inc chief executive again de-
clared that "subversive Influences
mad gained control of the B. e F.
forces. He declared they apparent
~ thought they could intimidate
the civil authorities and instructed