The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-07-23
WATERS THUGS
CAN'T DRIVE VET
FROM CAPITOL
Beaten, Fingerprinted,
Returns to Fight
for Bonus
tBy an Ex-serviceman)

WASHINGTON, July 15-When
we commenced distributing leaflets at
9Th and Pennsylvania Ave, I hand
ed out several to men who wanted
them, or appeared that they did
When we came opposite the billets
on Pennsylvania Ave. at Sd ST.,
saw a lot of vets there and decided
they may want to see the Bonus
News. So crossed over with an
other comrade and handed out three
or four
When some vet said, "You can't
hand that out here" I said I could
hand it out, that I was within my
rights according to the Constitution.
So the M. P took US inside the bill
let and called for the commander.
My papers, leaflets, army discharge
and receipts for money we're taken.
When the commander arrived he
said, 81 guess you know me-" I
thought had seen him somewhere
and said so. He remembered me from
June 8, when I was "kangarooed" at
Anacostia. Then he asked me some
questions and when L told him that
the WES.L. was a rank and file
organization of vets who elected their
own committees He told me to shut
up--no more wisecracks.
We, the conrade and myself, we're
taken to headquarters of the B.E.F.
on 18th ST., and ushered into the
private office of the vice. commander.
He, said he was the vice commander.
The police detective, who ran the
kangaroo court at Anacostia, was
there also and recognized me. He
wanted to beat me up, but the vice
commander said, Lay off, these men
are not to be bruised, as that is what
they want"
But the police thugs pushed the
guards aside and took several punch
es at me, one on my ear, glancing
blow, causing small pain and two
thumps on my forehead, causing a
head ache. After questioning by the
vice commander, we were taken to
the War Department to have our
discharge OKed. On the way out
some one hit me again behind the
head, with big fist, probably.
Finger printed.
A newspaper reporter asked me my
name, SO told him. But when he
wrote it down, an MP said that no
reporters were allowed, and took the
reporters paper and rubbed out the
name. The War Department girls re-
ferred the NJ P. to the finger print
department on the fourth floor. We
we're finger printed and they said
our discharge was OK. But the
clerks here offered to give our finger
prints to the MP.s for their own
use. So was finger printed again,
and my prints are now with the
BEF, which I object to-
We were taken from the War De-
partment to the rear of the billets
on Pennsylvania Ave. and all the time
threatened by the M.P.s and others
in the crowd. After questioning by
the MP, we were taken in the billet
and again sent to B.EF. headquar-
tiers on 18th ST., where we we're taken
to the office of the vicecommander,
where Waters stood also. When my
receipts were torn up by an MP, he,
Waters, made no protest. Nor did the
vice commander. All the justice here
was threats of violence by those in
charge
l was then taken by automobile
out to the city limits and told to
keep going. My head ached and
was tired for smoke. So after walk
ing a mile / turned off on a side road
to rest. turned back on the side
roads and fields, and came to a school
house at dark when it began to rain
so went to sleep.
Then at seven Am. I rode in an
auto back into Washington.