The Washington times., 1932-06-07
BONUS BRIGADE
CALLED SOUL
Of DECENCY
Elsie Robinson Declares Vets
Are Not Tramps, But
Solid Citizens
By ELSIE ROBINSON
Noted Author 81 Listen World"
Newspaper Column
Copyright. 1882. by International
NeWs SerYicel

News service)
Five thousand veterans
camping on the Washington
wastes-7,OOO more ex-soldiers
hurrying by foot, in trucks,
box-cars, flivvers, along every
road that leads to Washington.
The army that saved the coun-
try now marching on the Capt.
tai.
That's news. Perhaps it's also
history. Which ever it is, you're
listening in and forming your
opinion. All right-for i. But
before you do, there are certain
facts you should have straight.
Whether We approve of them or
don't, these men are not trampS.
They are not Communists. They
are not hoodlumS nor restless un-
employed. They are representa-
tive American citZens-conServa-
tive. respectable, patriotic men
merchants, real estate dealers,
lawyers, ex-bankerS, union men in
good standing. And they are here
with a purpose.
Solid, Decent Men
Of course, there are some buns
and radicals amongst them
bound to be. But in the main,
they're solid citizens like you and
Living by the same ideals
heading for the same goals.
Regular folkS-that'S the thing
that hits you so hard when you
first see them. You go down to
the dumps for a thrill" expect
ing to find a crowd of buns like
you used to see in the hobo
"jungleS, across the railroad
tracks. And with one glimpse
that thrill is knocked out of you
and you feel as cheap as a
phoney nickle. For there, facing
you, are your own people!
Men like your own father or
husband, brother, sweetheart or
son, without shelter, rags on their
backs, hunger in their eyes, but
their jaws grim.
Orderly, But Grim
The orderliness of it all
there's the one thing you mustn't
forget. The orderliness of the
B. E. F.. is the finest and the
most hopeful-yet, at the same
time. the most dangerous and
ominous thing-about the whole
performance.
Riots ravel out on themselves.
But these men are not rioters
There's an almost solemn quiet
ness about them-a conscious,
steely-eyed precision. The look
of men getting ready-waiting.
They have formed a military
organization-live as nearly as
they can by military rule. They
permit absolutely no radical talk,
no panhandling, disorderly con-
duct or drinking.
They have established an in
telligence service along army
lines to ferret out any reds or
riot talk.
They are here to get the bonus
and-they tell you quietly without
any boasts or blustering-that
they'll stay until they get it.
Until 1945 if necessary.
But suppose Congress ad-
jOurns?"
"We-wOn't-adiOurn," they
answer with a smile.
Work? They have an attitude
about work that startles you a
little until you realize how logi'
cal it is. They don't want a dole
of work just as they don't want a
dole of money or food. and they
don't see why they should have
to have it. They consider them
selves the nations eX-creditors-
and they don't see why they
shouldn't be treated with as much
respect as Morgan, Mitchell, or
the Missouri Pacific.
HeartIess Treatment
Well. maybe that idea is cock
eyed and again maybe it isn't. But
the point is-it's their idea and
they're sticking to it.
They won't work for less than
union wages. If a man can't of
ford to pay that, they work for
nothing at all-or just grub.
There's a lot of criticism of this.
But the B. E. F. say they are not
scabs or moochers.
How are they faring? Rotten.
Regardless of the merits of their
case. This is a mighty heartless-
and perhaps a mighty dangerous
way for q big company to treat