The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-09-23
The Fighting
Vets
BY II. e. BRIGGS
The Legion Convention

File and the two-faced misleadership
It is not only the job of the Legion
rank and file to GUST Commands
johnson but to elect rank and file
committees for control of the Legion
Veterans Bureau, Review boards, etc
Commander Johnson's past has
been one of hypocrisy and betraya
as far as we are concerned. To cover
up this "do nothing" policy of thc
Legion's National Executive Council
they now come forward with a A.
point program. But what of John
sons past? On the first broadcast Of
President Roosevelt, johnson anti
cipating our disgust and revolt against
the Economy Bill told us to "stanc
behind our commander in chief.
While throwing verbal brick bats al
the National Economy League he die
not lift a finger to organize rea
fight against the N. E. L. In fact We
find the N. E. L. infested with rene
gade Legion officials like A. B. Roose-
welt, Gov. McNutt of Michigan, etc.
All IN the Same Boat
The American Legion miSleaders
together with the leaders of the v
F. w. and D. A. v. regardless of Their
criticism are no different from the
N. E. L., American Veterans Associa-
ton and U. S. Chamber of Commerce
Why thI sudden interest on the
part of the Legion officials in a pro-
gram? Especially a APPOINT program
We never had one before. This A.
point program is a reflection Of rank
and file sentiment; it may have been
Matched by Legion officials but the
impetus came from the rank and file
We shall see later why this program
is useless and lacking in the demand
of the rank and file; because we, al
though forcing their hand had no.
thing to do with the actual framing
of the points.
What is going on in the veteran
world today is reflection Of the
whole economic struggle; proving
that the veterans are not a priv
ileged" class. We, like the rest Of the
workers, are victims of the break
down of capitalism.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars was
forced by their own rank and file to
talk about the unity of all vets" and
even pass resolutions for the Bonus
But the leaders of the v. F. w. like
the American Legion will do nothing
but talk militantly, pass resolutions
and lobby congress. Proof that these
actions are not enough may be found
on the breadline, in shanty towns
and even veterans hospitals, etc
Talking and passing resolutions are
not enough, these must be backed up
with mass action. This is the diff
ference between talking and doing;
this is the difference between the
officials plans and the rank and file
demands.
The National Economy League has
nothing to fear from johnson. The
only fight the Legion officials are
waging against the N. E. L., the A
v. A. and our other enemies is one
Of control of the rank and file. We
are suckers pure and simple, suckers
and boobs for taking it on the chin
from these takers. There is only one
honest, militant rank and file vet
Grams organization in America today;
fighting with all their heart and soul
for the rights of the rank and file
this is the Workers Ex-Servicemen's
League. This organization battling
for our rights instead of being ma
ligned and slandered should be de-
Tended by us; this organization, the
driving force behind all mass action,
Bonus Marches, relief fights, etc. for
veterans is making the v. F. W., D.
A. v. and American Legion misleaders
talk about plans and programs. But
all their talk we repeat, will get us
nowhere without mass action.
4-Point Program Exposed
81. A government policy of equal
treatment for the veterans and
widows and orphans of veterans, of
all wars, thus bringing all of the ma
tons veteran wards on a common
footing. All determinations must be
corrected for all time.
80. A permanent classification and
fixed determination of benefits for all
classes of veterans of all wars and
their dependents, to the end that
both the government and the veterans
shall know what the benefits shall
be, and to reduce to minimum the
discomfort from maladministration
and misadministration of the law.
90. A government policy Of entirely
adequate provisions, in periods of
economic conditions, for all
veterans with war service connected
without regard to their
status or other means Of
support.
a. A government policy recognizing
that all incapacitated veterans are,
when without means of support,
charges and wards of the Federal
and not of State and
local governments, or public or pri-
VaCe CHARITY"
Let us examine the APPOINT pro-
gram:
Point IA government policy of
equal treatment, ETC." Well the gov
eminent was impartial and treated
all veterans OF all wars" equally
when it sIashed all veterans compen-
sations, pensions and disability al
lowances. But does Mr.. johnson de-
mand restoration of the cuts and
,ompensations, pensions and disability
allowances? No. He merely asks for
another government policy of equal
"All determinations must
be corrected for all time" Not only
corrected Mr.. johnson but wiped out.
And what determinations? We know
from the past that Mr.. johnson really
isn't interested in discrimination. If
he was he would fpht against the