New-York tribune., 1919-04-22
Jobs Demanded
BY Fighters at
Mass Meetino
Bread Instead of Parades."
Appeal of Addresses BY
Di 8 barge Men to
Cooper Union Throng

More than 5000 persons most Of
them workingmen and civilians, filed
the auditorium at Cooper Union last
night and listened to addresses Of DIS
charged soldiers and sailors demand
ing Jobs. The meeting was held under
the auspices of the Soldiers, Sailors
and Marines Protective Association
whose Offices at 1913 East Twenty
third Street were raided and wrecked
recently by band of men in uniform
Men in uniform delivered impas-
stoned addresses describing the diff
cult economic position OF many men
discharged from the service and de-
manded bread instead of parades" >"
The American Legion. now being or
ganized by Lieutenant Colonel Theo-
uore Roosevelt. came in for good bn
OF denunciation as "a political organiza
ton" and Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt
himself was characterized as an officer
who fought "behind the lines" by Al
fred II. Levitt, sailor and secretary
of the association. The derogatory
reference to Lieutenant Colonel Roosc-
welt was cheered by the audience.
Only one woman. who said she had
a son who died in France, objected
crying;
"Roosevelt fought with all the boys
and he was wounded on the battle
heldl
She was hustled out quietly by a
nun Der Of the soldicrushers scattered
among the audience.
One of the speakers, a marine, ssir
that the organization was affiliated
with no political or other propaganda
bodies and denied the charge Of Boz
shevism brought against 1t.
"Al we want he said. us a decent
lob and a secure life. II that is Bol-
shevsm then every man wearing the
uniform OF the United States IS Bo.
shevist'
Albert Bernstein. formerly in the
medical corps. and chairman Of the
meeting. who appeared on the platform
in uniform said that the soldiers and
sailors were now determined to get
for for themselves
He drew much applause when nc
ssid
They have come back with the dc
termination to have something new,
something better. something grandcr
for themselves and their folks, and
you all know they were entitled to it,.
We see former mon walking the
streets penniless. broke Go to the
bread line and you will sec mon wait-
ing for piece Of bread to be dolled
oNf 70 tncU. We nave iOun1 no
charitable politicians, no milIonaircs,
TO help US We have realized that the
only way in which We can get anything
ror Ourselves is by organizing and
fighting it out here the same as We
did on the other side
The last remark in particular DIRE W
enthusiastic applause from the audi
cnce
"But | don't mean what you mean.
the speaker hastened to amend. II
mean to say that if it had not been for
perfect organization we could not have
broken through the enemys lines.
only by organizing ourselves can we
compel the government and the coun-
try at large to do something for us"
James Bagley, organizer for the
Pressmen's Union, blamed the present
acute economic situation" on the
workers themselves and urged the
former service men to join the labor
movement as means OF remcdying
conditions. He characterized the war
as "a war started at the bchest of
capital"
A reference by Bagley to tho re
Gently reported mutiny Of a company
/ Of American soldiers on the Archangel
front brought down tremendous ap-
probation from the audience
We say to our boys" declared Bag
ley. you have the power in your
hands to gain everything you want
How they are going to do it do not
propose to tell them. Some one big
ger than will have to do it,"