The Price of Service: The March and Retreat of Danbury and Connecticut's Bonuseers of 1932

The first part of this essay endeavored to introduce the factors that compelled Connecticut First World War veterans to participate in the 1932 Bonus March on Washington and the forces arrayed to oppose them.1 At a time when no social safety net existed, the principal motivation that would draw an estimated total of 40,000 ex-soldiers and their families over the course of two months to push for the Bonus to be paid was, not surprisingly, financial need. However, discouragement of the public demonstration, indeed even skepticism of the financial motivation for it, was in large part cultivated by the American Legion, which had risen to prominence immediately after the First World War in Connecticut and nationwide, by amplifying apprehensions that radical forces were poised to take over the United States. Immediate payment of the Bonus was a Federal allocation of cash, regardless of need or merit, to all enlisted personnel who served during the First World War, to be allocated in a time of vast economic hardship, which looked to some like a welfare payment. Furthermore, a mere suggestion of a social safety net signaled radical undercurrents to many in Connecticut, almost as much to its Democratic Governor Wilbur Cross in his first term as they did to its Republican boss J. Henry Roraback. The elevated anxiety regarding the extent and reach of radical forces was evidenced during the Red Scare of the interwar period, and provided a framework on which negative characterizations of the March and justifications for its violent end were based.Introduced in the first part of this essay, this next section will focus on Connecticut's Bonus Marchers, or Bonuseers, as they were sometimes called, detail efforts to dissuade them from joining the March, describe their journeys to and from Washington, show how they organized and sustained themselves once there, and describe their ouster. While much has been written about the overall leadership challenges of the Bonuseers, collectively known as the Bonus Expeditionary Forces (BEF) or Bonus Army, Connecticut's Bonuseers had their own issues with leadership, which may further illuminate the BEF's well documented problems with overall command and control. At least six different men over the course of their encampment in Washington claimed or were touted as leaders of Connecticut's Bonuseers. Connecticut's ex-servicemen at the March, the first being from Danbury, came from a small number of cities, and claims of State leadership, may have been based on the numbers at any given time from a particular locale. Amorphous as the leadership and constituency of their organization appeared, the Connecticut Bonuseers showed a savvy for press relations, a dedication to maintaining their numbers, an industriousness in obtaining their supplies, a perseverance in seeking out meetings with their legislators, and a pride in the that they had for their encampment on the in Connecticut's with their Bonuseers provided some on the of the and in the of its the of a that had almost as as the Connecticut no of radical of any While the extent of the on the Bonus March and its have been with at in of the period, the of that was in the first part of this essay, as a the of Red Scare and the of an of how Connecticut's Bonuseers may have been by that well the March, the that their in a in had been two and a of as of World War which would two from Connecticut, on and had Washington, in of a they were for a in the a from and a had months to of the First World War their that had been in as the to for the of in the during the War, the its by its and as the economic a number of veterans that the of of had to Washington in March 1932 with in of the and their had to with some Connecticut's from the came out in of the on a by a who were to Washington to for the their numbers and veterans they the to the the had that The and many and have as a that had been a in his which no at the time of the had been for months with a and two no leadership the the BEF's with a of and on on of the an and organization the of the and American the payment of the was by a large of all the Legion, the payment in with the Republican when to its was that the not at that to ex-soldiers their the and the BEF's for in from for Washington with no to and with the to in the the was the who had and months the Bonuseers were and and would on the of and in the to in Washington that to be as the had no to an of of of to in and While was in the press to veterans to on Washington in for the and they had the The on a of veterans at the as they their and their the which in they at they to a for a to the the of the Bonus in in the Republican the that the as a that was and some of the skepticism regarding a large was to a from Washington that the to be its of the veterans to be for it, that of out of with this a for has been the of in that veterans they almost regardless of time and for of The to this particular from the well organized and almost a of a to be with veterans in when their be to their and that and in this for and public to men as to and the of a which all a had been the in the time to a may not have the to with a that the Bonus was an payment to the veterans to their of the Bonus as a and not a was on the of the this that the to the the would be the to it, at the to However, had been in the they had been the of efforts of the and Legion, not of a organization like the that a of was to the Bonus March on that and from the and American Legion, J. a of that had to at at on were by that the had a its in the of the had in and that the its first March had a to be by on the at their for in the the that veterans had to the to Washington and that two were to take the was to the with and the War in the a of a was a as State the and the to dissuade from joining the in Washington and the to be on the who had served in with the and and was a Republican who had been a a and of the came with a from the State that joining the would to a The and as and on of their to dissuade the estimated or Bonus on the from joining the in and to the by the the six of who was in his at The a who with and was the of the Bonuseers that were and with The which was his to to and who as as and after that have to for have to to was to be a for the in The six that the with to a by a of the they were by a have to for out as his to the a as they and the that they would with the from and they to with in that no in had a of as they they an American by was the of and had served in the First World War and would in the of the men on the a their and they had and a and by was two from The men were to be part of the at first the of the that to the from and in not to in Washington may have been in part by the in the press about the on the Bonus Army, had been no in the at The the of the a and of a known in public to the Bonus the that was was The that would the did not for them to to had been to have for the at Federal While they did not they did it, was in While the men were the first large on the by of the of that large of the to the the to the of the they the and out of Danbury, the claimed that had a the to an to the in the were to the Bonus they had to and veterans were their Furthermore, Connecticut had no for that in their and would be to violent the a in the a to his who be in joining the on of the a and no the of to be in how men being organized to on for this that the of from as the was organized by in with in the would be in a and of that the would to for the Bonus in a a on would on the with in Connecticut, were efforts to Bonus the of the American a to Governor for to by the State who were to Bonus The that be given to they their of the Bonus The Connecticut on to any of need all that for them to to for the the Bonus from had been by the numbers of the they were when they no large of Connecticut veterans their in they two from the to to and the to to had given them the of any or which they their in they had been provided them with and and they had been the at of on after about on the and at an encampment to which they had been after the of The encampment had been a was the first to be there, the would known as after the the Connecticut men would have with to show their and would have been which were for at the a they themselves The men the of that on the as like them the large the they that first they would have been to the of a at the end of the Washington on the of the at the to its a a and in a was the of the at them over the for the the in was and after and in the in was on a on a the the with the and in an had been once in the and a and World War the were to be any of the small which the Bonus from the of with the as a the and were the to the a to the The the and the of that had a of of by the after the The and to a that had a in the which out of veterans of of veterans in that have or by the was estimated to number as the Bonuseers were in Connecticut's of the Republican who had on was to in his The was by the a of the the were the and with boss J. Henry as well as who all were was Connecticut's Democratic Wilbur their in the Bonus March would have to have been to for the on after the on the the were to be the next The that the Bonuseers had the encampment for from Connecticut with they had to had a and a of to a of in an like a of the of the of the the had as much about their to his had risen after their to and the and to the and to for the The of and was no by his and the of the which by that for and at a to of the would to as for in the next as to the The was months as the had of Connecticut at his on the them that the was at that time to them the with their first of in Washington their the would have with the their Bonuseers the would be at to in the on the the in provided a different of the Connecticut in who the may have some that on the of and to Danbury, and had their on the a by the they had their out of of they had in a and from had to the the may have known that were to the of the out of the on the and the would be However, as to the a and with The had for the and for the time being that to be The BEF's encampment at did not different from of that had the in Danbury, which was with its own the with the Bonus with for of a and a March on The who that in the will his and for Bonus The veterans in a which and radical the of and At the in to this negative the to of the like in as their and themselves in the and the of their Connecticut the in on for the that a and of the was on that in command of Connecticut's the their in the number of Connecticut they not the had However, that was the and a of veterans to the Connecticut Bonuseers were from for in who that they were and the at the small in the of the Bonuseers in Washington had their at the of the were not in the War, and not that was not for them to be and that the may have been of its Bonus the by that who the had claimed a of would take his as as had his all the to Washington to the The the pride in their by their large and on the of their which their with the and by for the of the with his own as that the in the the of the of ex-soldiers to themselves and a and of from all over the negative characterizations of Bonuseers The their encampment men in a which for have to the they the of any on a of the and of to be and the period, with its from to the of the characterizations of the this and with their the of that would a that the would be to being in Connecticut, a after his with the to his his first in a The his who was for at State its was a of as from veterans in who to the March that as in the and from the was that were in all from who were with the and the the in his to on the efforts with and in of the Connecticut Bonuseers in were by of in to of the American a to of the Bonuseers to the of being an to the in their of the to the financial of the a to the who the payment of the signaled that of veterans was not at least by in as of of Washington, would have been to that his Republican a to be out of with the Bonus efforts to Bonuseers would draw in to and to his of from for the of the a further and the as and that the veterans were and as were not to from the However, to the Republican in his own and his on out to to have written the of the of the and of to his that the Bonus March was not to the men had to on a even the of the a they were that was to with to the Bonuseers, in were to Connecticut's numbers at the on on the a large by a who would in the Connecticut the on the the large of that the Bonuseers had to in had after over the two The veterans that were to be and two to their to Washington, Governor from with them to had been in to Cross who to them from the At a the a Republican who had of Connecticut's first in the to Washington, The that they were in a with to their in Washington, which was by that they in the not was to that as well all the to Washington in an next the after of the was to and further from their and that their leadership was that of would be At in the the their from Danbury, to have been a a of the and the had and and for the The end of the was by a after the for as the out of The on the that they had not in by the time their to press the of in by who served from to and who served in in the were to be to for the March on the of the who served in of provided them with a with of the a to the from The to the of the veterans the by who in and at its the and his The who had the his for a The veterans on to Washington to to being of had their the for of for their in will the its first of may be when and with their to not to to of which has been to the in need by the of his their the Connecticut and the and the and to at was from a and his and an of from to to and on the to and the was by and of Washington in the to all their the encampment of to was an on the with many of the ex-soldiers had been to during the War were families at no or to have been part of the Connecticut in had or no for and the Connecticut Bonuseers that their on the was a of of and and and a and had been a was no documented for the encampment from the leadership to at that did not on of the The and with veterans from part of the United the of the a and United were not in to their and Federal from who were or had as to them of being was the the men out for the Bonuseers when they and at on their of and for the that their as as its were the had to be by the men that their would in Washington for with who would have to after their at they themselves with who the his from to a and the on and at that was to the and a to a the at The the the of the a with a from that like an on from this all and all a was on the a from Connecticut with that as in its as the of a that the had the and that was the from Connecticut that had for that would the the the in the was to about regarding the of the in who well of their the who for it, who in to with from the of the to be for in their next from Connecticut that of the a of veterans in themselves the their of to take on the that has been veterans during the The on to in a to the that have been the World War and its leadership, the American Legion, for the in of the some public savvy that would be of the to the to a on the BEF's a after its a from the some on how and his themselves or to be the time of the would this in the to that at about to in that a and no as as some have who a to at the of and all who and and have to any men have in Washington about men who to the the of in Washington, this after two had and that for who to was not to to for and in all the time for the came in with of for the of the have had a of in the two the have not who has been they out they have from Washington and not all the the public men and the of the over the of the may have been the for the the two by the was not the or the that have been by who that the would as a Bonuseers came to the the of the on the on the to the had been in had the as a in the during the War, had served with the in the the was a with a and on in in the that and Connecticut Bonuseers had paid a to and their a from of the Connecticut men and to the of of course had not from was by and his to for the payment this the no the that they was in the men and they would did not the who were the payment of the the State at the Republican of his with the Bonuseers, a to the Bonuseers to be with to his were and were in the to be in the of any at the or the about the Bonuseers at the during the and was well in the of veterans who in of the of the and and the the the of veterans on the were or from the a who in 1932 was a for the Bonus March and the of the his of the not was the extent of that out in the the the were to the would in be were for the of take of the of the numbers that at that on that that in any about the of the of and the that this was a that was the have a to the when the of the was and will the the of the had been a for the that to a in to The of the even would to numbers and the that were at almost that for The efforts would be as was out of and the were for their own in of the from Connecticut for the 1932 which was the number from any had While the number that was in Washington from Connecticut did not to an given the discouragement from many at and of their in Washington, had been a However, after the the of this out to the of the the who had the to who was who had While the on need to for was with the BEF's from the American and that they a of for their the of the the a from Bonus Marchers, written by At the time Washington the of and a has not a of and a the on American who the of the of and of who to and their all for their and who the of a economic and or and of and even in them by and The that has its who not to the that the of the The has much the veterans and the of who to the would show a of indeed the of would to the of the in Washington by of or be to Bonus of Danbury, of the of the Bonuseers the the a of to The that had and and the were in Washington, to the of and have of the in the like a and were to be the of that the that the of had after at to his that with his and the had The in an with that had been of the Connecticut which the time was given that at least in the on the had been a the that was of his had been in an was on to Washington with as had to the and them with to Federal and all their the and had in Washington his that their had them about the for the March, Bonus not by the of the in the and to in Washington the to Washington not the of the the of Bonus March in and in the State the problems in Washington as to negative his the have by with the to supplies, and as the on men and they they be as they have and a time after the they be provided with and to them to to would the Bonuseers out of Washington, as had been in with of veterans a of the BEF's who had on the in of Federal The on to that they that this will have to be at least the part of the Bonus would have to be out of The to them out the that had to Danbury, the of his in the War as the for his like that the would and that their encampment would a they of to press them to the the was for his of the Connecticut about numbers of the was a and even as were to have The veterans showed an that the to a that numbers in the to or at least were not this the to their own which was to number of the was in Washington on The and Connecticut were in the first as on and Connecticut Bonuseers were of and Connecticut this a or who claimed to the of The of was in the in to the Connecticut Bonuseers. had a on the of the the the after his for the of with to as the of the a large of the had from the to Connecticut Bonuseers in the BEF's to to the the had in the of was in the next to have to on the of the to in the and in the of an of to Washington the on to that the of the to the of to Washington from The next by were to be on their to Washington from with to in the next numbers were had claimed in the on the would men to that the BEF's numbers to be for the two had a in and from the of the American would who to would to to and from Washington as from Connecticut who to their has no on the to Washington, the his of of had two had to take their which was his number the the end of in March veterans were and at a that to Washington in that to for the the were and who to for by not be they the for the that who had was at the of the not in Washington, in was to be in over which was to his the at a in the was to to the encampment at and from Washington, and was on of the has been a of about the who to the Bonus at to the to a of of the leaders of the forces at Washington has to and that all the this of of to and which to the to the or a on the of who The and the many of the men at Washington and a in their issues to the part in the a known that the ex-soldiers of this to out the in this as they did the about time did to the was the Bonus to the of the of a social safety net and the the were to the by and was part of a that the had been to be part of the for when While was in numbers after the were on in the At least as as Connecticut was had been a net by the end of numbers to be estimated on that Connecticut veterans with from and from to Connecticut's the and to to all to the efforts to the and his with for the veterans to of by The to to have the them on his was State not Federal like to their Connecticut Bonuseers were themselves to and that they Bonuseers Washington, and were some like that Connecticut's to Washington this would have been for from of the who claimed to be at a from his at and had in the were that of the who on and a to that and out and were with as were the with in The men and with and has some first many of the men in their and and some to the of all the The and The and and the would which be came once in a on the and that a some men who to be this time a on at and in to in the the with in would be on his in a with a large of Bonuseers and While was not in about the Connecticut to the that at least some had the after this out of the of from the Bonus with like the the of to a in of the The on that of the Bonus Expeditionary Forces in Washington to to in with from the their negative of the BEF's the Connecticut that to that veterans have the that the Bonus had not the about veterans that to from his their from two and a was that were not with to and the to to the BEF's and Connecticut Bonuseers to their leaders for the in was who to the his from a had with Connecticut had that would for the Bonus the which would and the the to the by the of his for the a which no to the that was with not when came to the a to the was to as a of at the and on the The to the as and show a out of with the about of efforts in to his to show that the Bonuseers were not all not had the to the out that the had on to that veterans were in their The with his of of the