Evening star., 1932-06-26
CRISIS IS IMMINENT
IN RANKS OF B.E.F.
Virtually LeaderIeSs and Split
Force, Facing Food Lack,
Fights Collapse.

lHluLucilI 4OOO Slioi OdSCt biiC DOiuS Va
peditionary force strove last night TO
stave of the collapse that appeared GER
tain to come with adjournment Of
Congress.
A remnant of the leadership of the
bonus army, suddenly left floundering
by the unexpected resignation of Walter
w. Waters as commander, made frantic
efforts to hold the 19.000-odd veterans
in line by Fastening the meeting time
for the first national convention OF the
B. Z. F., at which the army will be re-
organized. new leaders chosen and mat
ters of policy decided upon.
Draft Rules Today.
A delegate from each area" of the
scattered bonus force was summoned TO
meet today to draft rules for the con-
vention which the Executive and Legis-
lative Committee, meeting jointly, de-
cided must be held "at the earliest pos
sible moment" It was emphasized that
the forthcoming convention would be
rank and file" affair, and would not
be dominated by a select group, as
charged by the Workers Ex-Service-
mems League, a Communist organlza-
tion.
Waters. the object of bitter attacks
by the Communist League, gave as a
reason for his resignation the fact that
considerable feeling exists in the
ranks that all had not had a voice In
his selection. 1t was the second time
he had quit his post, his last election
having been voted by the Executive
Committee. meeting in secret session.
The action of the 35-year-old Port
land, Greg, veteran followed his fail
ure Friday to mass the bonus marchers
on the Capitol Plaza to demonstrate
the strength of the B. E. F. in last
appeal to Congress to enact bonus
legislation. 1t came only few hours
after the Executive Committee re-
pudiated his refusal to accede to Police
Chief Pelham D. GlasSfords request
not to billet more men at Camp MeigS
and the Supply Corps continued to feed
a group of veterans whom Waters had
ordered cut of because Of radical
leadership.
"Not Quitting b. Z. F."
"I am not quitting the B. e. F."
Waters insisted in his letter Of reslgna-
ton. "I intend to stay active in this
fight until it is won"
That the principal fight now facing
the bonus forces is one over leadership
was seen in efforts Of George AMMAN,
another Portland veteran, VINO was
deposed as commander prior to Waters
election, to organize 10000 veterans Tor
a parade down Pennsylvania avenue
Tuesday night.
Altman, who also was elected as ma
tional billeting officer because OF al
legged radical tendencies, canvaSsed the
veteran camps yesterday afternoon and
announced afterward he had on his
side all the men north Of the river
and plenty in Anacostia in favor OF the
parade" and hoped they would camp
on the White House lawn"
Together with Mike Thomas, camp
commander at Anacostia, and John
Pace, alleged radical leader Of 500 vet
Grams quartered around Thirteenth and
B streets southwest, Alman constitutes
the greatest threat against Waters re-
turn to command, which is being sought
by the more conservative element. If
Alman could swing portion OF the
men from Oregon, the first outfit on
the scene here, and Thomas could
swing his camp, the two men, with
Pace, would control the election of a
successor to Waters.
Two units lined up soidly behind
the resigned leader, however, and
pledged themselves to support nc other
candidate for national commander
Camp Bartlett quartering nearly 1900
men, voted unanimously to reinstate
Waters, while the New Mexico unit of
35, chartered at 645 @ street southeast,
wrote the Portland veteran they were
100 per cent behind him and urged
him to reconsider his resignation
The New Mexico veterans attributed
the dissension which caused Waters
resignation to organizations that wish
to break the B. E. F. and overthrow
our national commander"
Camp Bartlett Backs Waters.
mended Waters for his services and di-
rected that a man be appointed to cast
the vote Of the entire camp for his re-
election. Eugene F. Everette, until re-
Gently camp commander, was chosen
to represent the camp at the balloting.
Until a successor is chosen at the
convention, Thomas Kelly of Camden,
N. j., vice commander, will act as ma
tional commander. A. H. Milton, loyal
to Waters, resigned as chairman of the
Executive Committee simultaneously
with Waters action. He gave as the
reason Ill health and was taken to a
hospital on the verge Of collapse from
severe cold and overwork. Mike
Thomas also went to a hospital to re-
cover from bad cold.
Waters resignation, addressed to the
National Executive Committee, follows,
in part:
LAS I have repeatedly stated publicly
and privately, I did ot,-nor do I now.
seek the tremendous responsibility Of
this position. Nor did 1 accept it with
any thought Of personal gain or ag-
grandizement. I was and am now
interested in one thing and one thing
only. I came to Washington for one
purpose only; namely, to do what
could In an honorable way to obtain
justice for myself and all Of my COM
rades Of the World War
IT accepted the position Of national
commander Of the B. z. F.. rendered
me some weeks ago, with the avowed
intention of giving unstintedly Of my
ability in this capacity. This I have
done. have devoted every ounce Of
my physical and mental strength to
the cause I have made many mis-
takes, but hardly believe my sincerity
or honesty is open to question.
Urges Solid Support.
However. it is my frank opinion that
the rank and file Of the B. E. F. now
in Washington should be permitted at
this time to choose their permanent
national commander. This man
to be chosen by popular vote of the
rank and file, and whoever he may be,
the entire B. z. F. to a man should
get solidly behind him and stay solidly
behind him. In this way and this way
only can our mission and purpose be
successful
L want TO say that this is not re-
quest on ny part for a vote OF conf
dence nor do I consider myself TO be
a welcher or a gutter. am not
quitting the B. z. F. I intend to stay
active in this fight until the fight is
won"
With little more than 81 200 left In
the B. E. F. treasury Gen. GlaSsford
was in a quandary last night as to how
the veterans would be fed after Mon.
day, when he said existing funds and
rafions would become exhausted. The