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The Bonus March - Page 2

© Earl Rickard

On June 15, the House of Representatives passed the Bonus bill, 209-176. The Senate voted on June 17 -- a day described in one Washington paper as "the tensest day in the capital since the war." Just after sundown, Senate officials called Waters into the Capitol building. When he emerged the crowd fell silent; the humid night air dripped with apprehension. Waters climbed upon a Capitol pedestal and said, "Prepare yourselves for a disappointment, men. The Bonus has been defeated, sixty-two to eighteen." Fearing the men's reactions, Waters shouted, "Sing America and go back to your billets." Taking off their caps they sang America and, like good soldiers, returned to their pitiful shacks.

With the vote over, Glassford hoped the marchers would gradually melt away; some did, but others stayed hoping to force Congress to reconsider. The remaining vets held marches around town shouting -- "The Bonus or a job." Soon, charges of "Communist mob" began to spread. While there was a group of about 200 Communists in the BEF, the main body had ostracized them. Nevertheless, many government leaders believed the communist charge and sought the BEF's removal as a threat to the government.

One such person was the United States Army's Chief of Staff, General Douglas MacArthur. As early as June, MacArthur attempted to prove the march was communist inspired by seeking the names of Communist party members within the BEF; he found none. MacArthur's aide, Major Dwight Eisenhower, acting as liaison between the chief of staff's office and Glassford, knew the true essence of the BEF and tried to tell his superior, but MacArthur refused to listen.

On July 27, the Treasury Department decided to clear the abandoned treasury buildings. The next day, Treasury officals accompanied by Glassford and squads of D.C. police confronted the vets with the eviction notice. Rocks and bricks rained down from the building's windows. Fortunately, Glassford and some calmer BEF men prevented a riot and cleared one building. After lunch, however, a group of vets tried to reoccupy the building. During the ensuing melee, a police officer fired shots that wounded Eric Carlson and killed William Huska. Glassford arrived on the scene moments later and quelled another riot. But with one dead, one wounded, and three policemen injured, the situation had intensified.

Without speaking to Glassford, District of Columbia commissioners convinced President Hoover to call out the army. General MacArthur decided to personally command the troops. Dressed in full military uniform including jodhpurs, Sam Browne belt, and shiny cavalry boots with spurs, the United States Army's Chief of Staff arrived in the middle of the street, to the disgust of Major Eisenhower, who felt MacArthur should have stayed in his office.

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