Evening star., 1933-05-13
B. E.. F. Finds Real Host
Second Army to March on Washington Has Al the
Comforts of Home in Quarters at Fort Hunt.
Plenty of Good Meals.

versation and appearance one would
Judge them rather less red" than
their predecessors.
In the first place, their demands are
somewhat milder. Many declared they
would be satisfied with payment Of half
the bonus due them. especially II this
was accompanied by . job. Nobody was
accusing the Government Of .duplicity
If they we're red" hearty meals have
made them STRANGELY pink"
The freedom OF the camp took some
Of the men by surprise. They 60 and
come as they please. The only authority
seems to be that of their safety
corps" appointed by themselves, who
patrol the company streets.
what does the 8. c. on your arm
stand for?" one of these fellows was
asked.
1T means that I'm q trlsty." he
answered proudly. Then. hastily real
izing, he continued mo. that's not
what it means. 1t means that I'm a
guard"
Information by Women.
when my outfit was coming into
Washington" said another, I'VE were
stopped by q woman who told us not
to let the Government put US down
here. She said they had q place all
surrounded with machine guns and
thousands Of troops all around 1t. So
We kicked about coming here.
But on my word Of honor. you can
get out Of this place any time you
want to and walk for miles and miles
without seeing q machine gun. or .
soldier. That woman was all wet. ]
the Government ought to put her in
jail"
There are the same old arguments
for the payment of the bonus. Some
say the Government has billions and
billions" hidden away. Others are here
not because they themselves want the
bonus especially but from q sense Of
patriotic duty to force the Government
to pay in order to get money into cir
culation In order to create jobs for
everybody. Still others have . milder
position which apparently will be
stressed at the convention next week
public support-they want remittance
Of the interest on the money they have
borrowed. Most OF these men already
have collected half the bonus due
them-that Is. borrowed the money
from the Veterans Administration at
interest which will eat up the other
half bv the time 1t falls due. In ef-
feet, they feel, the Government has
seized upon the economic emergency to
Cheat" them out of half their bonus.
As for President Roosevelts proposal
to put needy veterans in the forestry
army, sentiment Is divided. The men
haven't been following the newspapers
very closely and don't understand just
army headquarters there was general
opposition. Only "scabs' would join up,
they said. TT was an insult to offer .
veteran dollar a day"
But down in the company streets
many Of the men said that they would
be glad OF the opportunity and would
20 to q camp as soon rs arrangements
were made. Sentiment still Is in the
process Of formation but when the
showdown comes, It seems likely. many
Of the men will 60 into the forests and
many others will Indignantly refuse.
The hearty meals are having strong
effect on the formation Of sentiment IN
this respect.
Contrast 70 HovelA
This clean. well-ordered camp offers
q very striking contrast, indeed, to the
wretched, filthy hovel city on the Ana
costa Flats last Summer with its hordes
Of hungry, ragged men and women.
There are many new faces, but there
also are many veterans Of the battle
Of Anacostia," who display their men,
bership cards in the old B. Z. F. as II
they were honorable discharges. and .
prevalent topic Of conversation Is that
dark, hot Midsummer night when they
were driven, out by the Army. They ex-
pected somewhat the same reception
this time and the contrast seems like
q dream. They rub their eyes to make
sure they are awake.
It Is, In fact, = dream like interlude.
In 4 week, according to present plans,