Evening star., 1933-01-01

IL ers' stamped 1892 as one Of the
most stirring and eventful years
In the recent history OF washington.
Not only did these events serve TO
attract international attention, but the
forciful evacuation of the bonus army
left an echo which still fingers to
threaten q congressional investigation
In the new year.
Serious economic conditions through
out the country brought both of these
groups to the Nations Capitalize
World War veterans to appeal to Con-
gress for immediate full payment Of
the bonus and the hunger marchers"
to demand a Federal cash dole of $50
and unemployment insurance. Com
munists were blamed for sowing the
seeds Of discomfort that inspired each
Of these marches. IN which number
If them are known TO have participated.
The vanguard Of unemployed World
War veterans began trekking into Wash
ington early in May. and by July 20,
| when Federal troops, at the direction
| the District with tear gas and bayo-
nets. the ranks Of the bonus army he'd
swollen to estimates Of more than
10000.
The futility Of the bonus march was
reflected in the failure Of the veterans
to achieve their goal, but durtnJ the
| prolonged encampment, Washington
was uneasy with thousands Of Grange
and jobless men roaming Its Gtreets,
while Federal and District officials
vainly sought some peaceful means OF
| getting them to return to their homes.
GIassford and Criticism.
Brig. Gen. Pelham D. Glassford, him
self veteran of the World War, was
at the head Of the Metropolitan Police
Department when the bonus army
came. He was sympathetic with the
veterans.
Even so, Gen. Glassford had made
efforts to stop the march on Wash
| ington. He well knew the hardships
and the priyasicls that faced these
men In city that had no funds TO
feed them, or buildings IN which TO
house them.
Appeals to the Governors Of the 4S
States to discourage the march failed,
however, and the veterans came in
| ever-increasing numbers. Gen. Glass
ford went to work to provide food and
| an action for which he was later severe
ly criticized on the theory that it en-
couraged more veterans to come.
Gen. Glassford not only personally
supervised the arrangements Tor feed
| ing and housing the men, but issued
| public appeals for food and clothing
and sponsored several benefit shows TO
raise funds for food. Through his ef-
| forts, unoccupied Government build
ings were turned over to the veterans,
and later, when the size OF the bonus
army increased, barracks were built In
Anacostia Park in back Of the Navy
| Yard and the famous Camp Marks was
born. Here the major portion OF the
bonus army dug in" for its long siege.
| But fcod supplies soon began to
| dwindle and cash donations were COM
ing in more slowly Health of1cials
complained about the sanitary con-
ditions at Camp Marks and the va
rious other places where the veterans
had established billets. And on the
morning Of June the District Com
n1issioners decided to take drastic ac-
tton to rid Washington OF the bonus
army.
Orders sx Transport
/ Orders were issued at the District
Building that June Q trucks would be
sent to the various camps TO transport
| the veterans out Of the city to points
/ SO miles away. The men, however,
| firmly declined the ultimatum- like in
Wtation to leave, and announced they
proposed to remain until Congress gave
them the bonus.
Gen. Glassford accepted the develop
ment philosophically, but washed his
hands Of all supervisory measures over
the bonus army, except the preserva-
i ton Of peace and order.
| Then the House, on June Is, gave
| the veterans a ray Of hope by passing
the s2. 400 900 bonus bill. But that re-
newed hope was dimned the following
day by the Senate Finance Committee,
which submitted an unfavorab.e report
| on the bill. Guided by that report, the
Senate, "a hours later, fatty rejected
the measure by vote Of so to 10.
The veterans had lost their fight.
Some left for home Immediately. but
the major portion of the army re-
manned TO renew the battle. Congress
itself tried to get the men out Of WASH
ington by appropriating s1oo, 900 to aid
5000 took advantage of that offer, but
the other remained.
The initial move of renewed fight for
the bonus took the form Of so-called
march Of death" In the Capitol
grounds by 1000 Of the veterans under
command of Roy w. Robertson, leader
Of the California division Of the bonus
army. For more than go hours, these
men encamped in the Capitol grounds
marching, singing, sleeplng-to impress
on members Of Congress the seriousness
Of their bonus campaign.
Ordered Out by Leader.
This march of DEATH ended June
is, almost as abruptly as 1t started
when Robertson ordered his men out
Of the Capitol grounds.
Two DAYS later, however, the radical
| left wing of the bonus army, COM
manded by John T. Pace Of Detroit, at
| tempted TO stage a demonstration In
front of the White House. Repulsed
by 400 policemen, the same group, after
three-day rest. made a second effort
| to reach the White House, and nine of
the veterans were clubbed in skirmishes
with police
That was the beginning OF the dis
orders that finally led to the eviction
Of the entire bonus army. An order
issued by the Treasury july 23 gave the
veterans two days to vacate buildings
on lower Pennsylvania avenue and
others in the vicinity Of Thirteenth
and 3 streets southwest. The Police
Department was expected to carry out
the eviction order, but Gen. Glassford
refused to act, on the ground that his
department had no legal authority.
The Commissioners supported him in
this contention, and the actual eyic-
tion was delayed until July 90, when
representatives Of the Treasury, under
police protection. proceeded to force
the men out Of the buildings on lower
Pennsylvania avenue.
Several of these buildings were COM
pletely evacuated. Three Of the vet
erans who offered forcible resistance
were carried out and placed under
arrest BY that time thousands Of vet
erans from Camp Marks and other
billets had augmented those driven
from the avenue buildings. One bel
Ngerent group rushed the police guards,
attacking them with bricks and rocks.
A number Of policemen were cut and
injured in the attack, which Gen.