JOHN H. BARTLETT

Veterans of WWI had been authorized a bonus by Congress, and had been issued certificates, but Congress had not appropriated the money to redeem the certificates. Veterans of World War I formed a “Bonus Army,” some twenty thousand unemployed veterans and a like number of family members arrived in Washington DC with their hurting families and sett up a shantytown across the river from Capitol Hill. They demanded of Congress their bonus pay. Instead President Hoover castigated them and authorized the U. S. Army to disperse the veterans. General Douglas MacArthur commanded the troops and in one of the great disgraces of the United States, he used excessive force, MacArthur attacked women and children with infantry, cavalry and tanks. Governor Bartlett was in Washington at the time and became an eye witness in an era where there was no television.

Veterans of WWI had been authorized a bonus by Congress, and had been issued certificates, but Congress had not appropriated the money to redeem the certificates. Veterans of World War I formed a “Bonus Army,” some twenty thousand unemployed veterans and a like number of family members arrived in Washington DC with their hurting families and sett up a shantytown across the river from Capitol Hill. They demanded of Congress their bonus pay. Instead President Hoover castigated them and authorized the U. S. Army to disperse the veterans. General Douglas MacArthur commanded the troops and in one of the great disgraces of the United States, he used excessive force, MacArthur attacked women and children with infantry, cavalry and tanks. Governor Bartlett was in Washington at the time and became an eye witness in an era where there was no television.