The Daily Worker

Veterans Demand Pace, Militant, Go on Executive Member of Ex-Servicemen's League Elected, But Reactionaries Fight Seating Waters' Henchmen in Open Fight for Control; Men Uncover Active Spy System

WASHINGTON, June 21.-Open hostility, hushed up for the past few days, flared up again today in the self-appointed "high command" of the Bonus Expeditionary Force.

With the gap in the administration leadership widening, three reactionary groups were today openly struggling for authority over the starving, ragged ex-servicemen.

One of the groups is headed by Waters, the cannery superintendent of Oregon; the others by Allman, one of the deposed commanders, and Foulkrold. No principle divides these individuals-only a desire to blunt the edges of the fighting spirit of the ex-servicemen.

Waters' pretense that he was opposed to the men leaving Washington following the defeat of the bonus bill is exposed today with announcement of the statement of Pelham D. Glassford, District of Columbia police superintendent. Glassford declares that Waters, in a discussion with him today, was in favor of the evacuation of the veterans, "providing a small nucleus" remained.

Waters at the same time tried to sow confusion among the men by hanging onto the skirts of the cap-

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VETS DEMAND MILITANT GO ON EXECUTIVE COM

W.E.S.L. Member Was Elected by Men

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capitalist politicians, first creating the impression that the formation of a third party would bring the bonus; later, under pressure of the boss politicians, he repudiated his advocacy of a third party move.

Victory for Militants.

The Workers' Ex-Servicemen's League today won a new victory when Pace, leader of the Michigan group, was elected corps commander over the seized building area now inhabited by the veterans. This automatically places him on the executive committee of the Bonus Expeditionary Force, but the "high command' is fighting to keep him from being seated, despite the demand of the veterans who elected him that he take his place in the leadership.

The fighting program of the W. E. S. L. is gaining popularity among the vets in the seized government buildings, and particularly among the ex-servicemen from Michigan, Illinois, Texas, New York, and a number of other companies under the leadership of rank and file committees.

Uncover Spy System.

The men are reporting the existence of a new spy system organized in the Anacostia flats. They charge that A. F. Apwell, New York "welfare worker," is in charge of the "Intelligence Service," consisting of 20 paid stool-pigeons who circulate among the men for the purpose of "weeding out hotheads." Despite this the rank and file is breaking through the administration strangle-hold. When a Waters man today denounced the "Reds" from the platform, a worker vet not a member of the W.E.S.L., shouted, "Let the Reds Speak."

The veterans say they are here to stay, and many continue to send for their families, ignoring the propaganda of the Washington capitalist press to "go home and obtain relief through the regular channels until absorbed into the industrial system."

Vets Released.

Two militant vets arrested in camp yesterday were later released. William Powell, organizer for the League of Struggle for Negro Rights, arrested last week when speaking to Negro war veterans at a meeting at Seventh and "P" Sts., and charged with "disorderly conduct," was freed this morning. He was defended by the International Labor Defense.

Despite the open annoyance of the judge, Powers put forward the program of the L.S.N.R. and the Workers' Ex-Servicemen's League and denounced jim-crowism.

Denounce Murder.

The vets are bitter against the wanton murder by a special detective of the Southern Railway of Louis Chiapetta, a bonus marcher on his way home. Chiapetta was shot in the abdomen as he slept in a box car at Marion, N. C. The W.E.S.L. has denounced the murder in a vigorous statement.

Try "Red Scare."

In an attempt at new police provocation, the Washington press is working up a new "red scare," splashing eight-column streamers across the front pages with the announcement of "RED DYNAMITE PLOTS," while police search a mythical maroon automobile loaded with T.N.T.

Meanwhile police are mobilized at the Capitol and other government buildings, and the atmosphere in the city is tense. Waters himself moves only with a bodyguard.