A New Way to Lobby

Walter Water set off from Portland Oregon in May 1932 on a 3,000 mile journey to Washington D.C. Soon joined by thousand s of other World War I veterans they sought to claim the bonus the Army was set to pay them, though not until 1945. The promise was too distant fro men unemployed under the worst economic conditions the country had faced and thus what came to be know as the Bonus Army paraded, lobbied and waited for Congress to deliberate on their demands. They waited for over two months camping in Washington.

In Washington, the new Chief of Polic, himself a World war I veteran, showed an initial willingness to help the veterans and was supported by President Hoover. In fact Glassford became the secretary treasurer for the growing group of men now camped in hacks and tent in Anacostia Flats just south of the capitol. Quickly being dubbed "Hooverville," them makeshift outpost became a subject of growing concern amongst authorities and Glassford himself feared the marchers might erupt in violence and began exploring ways to suppress any violence.

On June 17 the Senate failed 62-18 to enact a change in the date for payment of the bonus. Instead of leaving the Bonus Marchers decided to dig in for an extended stay. After several weeks of jockeying between the encamped marchers and local and federal authorities, and spurred by reports of communist infiltrators among the Bonus Army, the decision was made to forcibly evacuate the camps. Three of what were to be America's greatest World War II miltiary commanders were involved in the clearing of the camps. Under the command of General McArthur the 3rd Cavalry Regiment led by Georeg S. Patton many of the shanties were burned to the ground. Dwight Eisenhower was an assistant to McArthur.