The Washington times., 1932-06-20
By ELSIE ROBINSON

Forces in the CapitGlD
By ELSIE ROBINSON
This is no time for loose
talk. Whether you do or do
not sympathize with the bonus
expeditionary force, you
should know the truth. For
this is not spot news-it is
history.
Here are facts. The B. E. F.
is not dismayed by the failure
of the bonus bill. 1t was ex-
pected. Moreover, President
Hoover had publicly an
nounced that he would veto
the bill, even if both houses
passed it.
All this was foreseen by the
marchers before they left home.
For two years poverty had closed
around them in a Tightening
circle. Farms ruined. Jobs gone.
Mortgages foreclosed. Banks
wrecked. City funds exhausted.
Administration promises unful-
filled. Relief programs ignored.
At last there lay but one way
out-the road to Washington.
Surprise Is Due
Why did these men come here?
Why are they not turning back?
That is why.
You cannot grasp the signifi-
canoe of this expedition unless
you realize the desperation that
lay behind it and that now
forces it to hold firm. Washing
ton still does not realize. Wash
ington stil laughs, Jeers, wakes
expecting to see evacuated tleids.
Washington is probably due Tor
q painful surprise.
The B. E. F. took the road an
ticipating every hardship and hu:
initiation. They possibly did not
expect the President to ignore
them-refuse to meet their dele
gates-forbid them to march past
the White House-publicly an
nounce his hostility to their
movements. Such repudiation by
the man who once claimed to be
their friend and who rose to
power through that frienG~hip,
may have surprised and emblt-
tered them, but it has not shaken
them.
NO TURNING BACK
THEY ARE NOT TURNING
BACK. NO STRUGGLE WHICH
MAY LIE AHEAD CAN POSS1.
BLY, BE WORSE THAN THE
DESOLATION THEY LEFT BE
HIND. THEY SEE NO HOPE
SAVE HERE.
That, is the united attitude of
the B. E. F.-regard it as YOU
may. Over $4,000 are now regis
tered. New squads, more funds
and food pour in hourly. The
country is rallying behind them.
Now. having failed to obtain
bonus or jobs by one method,
they are organizing for anotner.
There is something else to re-
member-THEY KNOW HOW TO
ORGANIZE. This is not march
of Morons. There is no hysteria,
no mob menace. These men are
solid citizens. intelligent, re-
liable and conservative rep
resenting established industrial
and agricultural interests they
possess great political power and
know how to use it.
The Republican party has
spoken. The B. E. F. has heard
and will remember. Yesterday
they sent Harold B. Foulkrod, the
chairman of their legislative com
mittee to Chicago to contact
Democratic leaders. Today, the
following message goes out to
every body of ex-service men IN
America and will be read by
every man and woman OF voting
age.
THEY'LL REMEMBER
"EX- RVICE MEN AND
FRIENDS, ATTENTION!
"a very strong effort was
made at Chicago to induce
the secretary of the Republican
party and the resolution COM
mittee to introduce a plank in
the convention calling for i'm
mediate payment of the ad-
justed service certificates. The
suggestion was laughed down
and was filed in the waste
basket. No mention of the BO-
nus ExpeditiOnary Force or their
plea for relief was permitted
on the convention platform.
Think it over, vets. Remember
November"
(SignedD w. w. WATERS,
Commander in Chief.
There is no fear in the B. E.
r. camps-no uncertainty. law
lessnesS or disorder. AS grimly
as they waited in the trenches
Of France in 1917. they wait on
the wastes of Washington.
In Chicago, the Republican
and Democratic conventions meet
but the American convention
meets on Anacostia field and
across the continent sweeps the
order.
"REMEMBER NOVEMBER"
NAVY BAND PROGRAM
Evolution of Dixie" a descrip-
tive fantasia by Lake, will feature
the concert tomorrow. night of the
United States Navy Band, Lieut.
Charles Benter, leader, in Lin.
B,0n -