Evening star., 1932-06-29
VETERANS WORRY
OVER NEXT MEAL
AND LEADERSHIP
Waters Uncertain OF Stand
ing as Camp Marks Fails
to Ballot.
OTHER GROUPS FAVOR
HIM BY 1,300-TO-1 VOTE
Blaine Fears Epidemic Will Re
suit From Crucial Shortage
of Food.

Uncertainty reigned today in the
scattered bonus camps as $4,000 vet
erans wondered where their next meal
was coming from and whether they had
O leader to unity their ranks.
Although Walter w. Waters of Port
land. Ore, suddenly was pressed back
into the leadership last night at a sur
prise meeting of 10000 Anacostia vet
erans, his authority Immediately was
challenged by Mike Thomas, Camden,
N j., veteran and commander of Camp
Marks, who demanded an election to
confirm or disavow the action of his
men.
Today, no veteran at Anacostia
seemed to know who was in the saddle
and, despite orders from national head
quarters to hold an election, no ballot
ing was in progress at Camp Marks.
Thomas could not be found this
morning. Friends said he could not
be disturbed" and hastily summoned
meeting of regimental commanders wss
too important to be quizZed," accord
ing to a guard stationed outside the
conference tent.
In other camps Waters had piled up
q commanding Lead over Thomas by
noon, the vote standing 1900 to /,
with no ballots cast for George Alman,
another Portland veteran who held the
post of national commander for brief
period, after the first resignation of
Waters.
What was described as an attempt to
assassinate Waters was reported to po-
lice last night by Owen w. Lucas, his
Secretary Lucas informed Inspector
o. T. Davis. head of the police crime
prevention division, that shot had
been fired at the off1cial Bonus Ex-
peditionary Force automobile as it
passed down East Capitol street about
IL O'Clock. Although Waters was not
was sure the shot was intended for
him.
Waters was drafted for the national
commander post by acclamation Of the
veterans at Anacostia, who feared a
coup by opposing factions. His ''re-
election" followed a day and evening
of wild excitement at the various camps
and came shortly after food supplies
reached an alarmingly low level, ex-
cept for two and half tons of Farm
Board wheat and -four requiSitioned
ALUM bAtC AAAlSAASell AsC0 SAOSo-
The men were on scant rations to-
day and doubt was expressed by many
that enough food was on hand to give
the men full dinner this afternoon.
Blaine Fears Epidemic.
Meanwhile, in the Senate, Senator
Blaine, Republican, Wisconsin. warned
If the veterans are put on reduced Ia-
tions, serious epidemic will break
out among them.
Within the next "a hours, the only
rations left for these men will be
bread made out of Red Cross wheat"
Blaine said.
when these men are reduced to ra-
tions consisting of bread only, mem
bers Of the Senate do not need medical
advice to know that these veterans will
be subjected to malady out of which
will grow one of the most ravishing
epidemics this country has ever ex-
perienced"
Blaine declared Congress should not
edjourn and leave this situation facing
the people Of the District, either from
a financial or a public health stand
point.
Seeks NeutraI Emergency.
He then disclosed to the Senate that
he has been working on plan for the
establishment of neutral agency to
take care of the situation in the alb
sence of Congress Pressed by Sena-
tors to explain the plan, he admitted
he was not privileged at this time to
disclose details as no responsible body
had been found yet to accept the re-
sponsibility.
He has been negotiating the plan, he
explained, with Police Chief Pelham D.
Glassford, the District Commissioners
and other heads of organizations. Sub
ject to notifications, he declared, the
plan does not involve any compulsion
on the part of veterans, nor would 1t
reduce the dignity OF Congress.
This plan involves the cooperation
Of the Federal Government through an
agency that will function as a central
lied power after Congress ad1ourns, -
was all he would divulge The Public
Health Department also is co-operat-
ing, he said.
Blaine suggested an amendment be
inserted In the deficiency appropria-
ton bill, which the Senate was about
to take up, to defray necessary relief
work under his plan.
Senator Jones, chairman Of the Ap-
preparations Committee, who later pre-
Sented the SI5,000,0 900 deficiency sup
with Blaines' objective. but suggested
he offer joint resolution in the reg
ular manner.
Expects House Action.
IF any appropriation is needed to
take care of the situation Senator
Jones added, II think the House would
send to the Senate an appropriation
resolution, and If it does, / am sure
the Senate will act upon it. ANY work
able plan would be approved, am
sure"
Blaine added he did not desire to
unnecessarily delay the deficiency bill,
but simply wanted the Senate to con-
slider earnestly the question OF relief
for the veterans when he is ready To
submit the plan.
Meanwhile, the House had before II
a resolution passed by the Senate, un-
der which the Government would lend
the veterans money for their transpor-
tation back home.
The measure. introduced by Senator
Howell, Republican, of Nebraska, and
approved by the Senate in 10 minutes
without debate, would authorize the
veterans administrator to lend ex-
{ service men the money on their ad-
justed service certificates, the sum to
be deducted from the certificates with
out interest If not repaid
Many veterans, believing the resolu-
ton had passed both houses, applied
to the Police Department today fol
transportation home.
As an outgrowth Of the beating OF
two Communist agitators Monday, Po-
lice Chief Glassford requested the dis
trict attorneys office to investigate the
assaults and determine whether GRIM
inal action could be taken against the
veterans at the Twelfth and D streets
southwest camp, where the two Reds
were attacked.
Glassford's action followed complaints