The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-07-14
Winning the Veterans


L creasing role on the side of the work
ers in the mass struggles throughout the
United States. Cases are more numerous
which show the resistance of rank and
file members of the American Legion to
being deputized during strikes, and
against mass demonstrations of the unemployed.
These rapid developments indicate the increasing
mood Of the veterans for struggles and unity with
the workers
These are the answer of the veterans to the
bourgeoisies attacks on their standards of living,
their answers to the whole NRA program, their
answers to the direct preparations for war and
fascism.
These confirm the line and perspective of the
Eighth Party Convention held in Cleveland, April
to 8, 1884.
While in the past the veterans fought only for
their back pay, misnamed the Bonus and resisted
cuts in their compensation, allowances and pensions,
now in addition to fighting for their immediate
demands they have raised the political level of
the struggle through their united action in the
recent mass convention of over 400 veterans in
Washington. Here they supported the Workers
Unemployment and Social Insurance Bill, H. R.
1898, resolutions against War and Fascism, and for
the Toledo strikers
In all the recent mass actions, the veterans have
played an important role on the side of the masses.
In Minneapolis, April 6, in the May Day Demon
strations, in the demonstrations against War and
Fascism in the International Longshoreman strikes
on the Pacific Coast, the Workers Ex-Servicemens
League played an important role.
In the Minneapolis teamsters strike, due to the
pressure of the rank and file of the veterans, the
officers of the American Legion, District Council
Lii
their membership as deputies against the strikers
The official organ of the American Legion comes
forward with neutral policy in strikes. At the
same time, the officers of the American Legion
use their membership against the militant agricul-
tural workers. However this indicates the develop
ing of resistance within the ranks of the member
ship of the rank and file of the American Legion
to resist being used as fascist shock troopers
THE Seventh Congress of the International Asso-
citation of Veterans of which Henri Barbusse is
the Chairman brussels, July %, 193D will take up
its main issues the role of the veterans in their
militant struggles against War and Fascism
The question of winning over the veterans who
are involved in the various strikes, who are
bers of the various unions, now becomes an impor-
tant question to be considered in every strike
ment. The increased attack to break down the
relief of the unemployed, at the same time the
relief of the veterans, must be given immediate
attention in our unemployed work
The continued underestimaton of the veteran
question must be broken down.
firm organizational base has been laid in the
recent Convention in Washington, held between
May 10 and 9th. A great majority of these veter-
ans were strongly under the influence of the "red
scare" when they came to the Convention. But
this was defeated.
The Party came out openly in the Convention
as the only fighter for the veterans The Workers
Ex-Servicemen'S League, through its leading COM
rades, won over the confidence of the rank and
file of the veterans as leaders and organizers in the
work The Negro veterans were on all committees
and received the full support of the white veterans
of the South as well as of the North
The members of the American Legion, Veterans
of Foreign Wars, DAV, accepted the policy of
building the groups of veterans within these organ
izations for common program of unity adopted
at the Convention.
This lays the firm base for strengthening the
Workers Ex-Servcemen's League, for penetrating
the various veteran organizations and winning over
the rank and file for struggles on the side of the
masses.
THE Central Committee is determined to break
down the underestmation of revolutionary work
among the veterans that exists within many sections
of the Party and to point out sharply the serious
shortcomings in this work.
No serious preparations we're made by the Dis
trict Committees in preparing for mass movement
to Washington. Even last minute letters to the
Districts in the main disregarded until the
representative of the Workers Ex-Servcemens
League came to their cities Some Districts did
not even keep themselves informed of the leaving
of veterans from their city, nor who the Party
members were. The Party fractions in the WESL.
continued in the main, to follow narrow, sec
tartan line and did not carry on any activities
within the reformist veteran organizations to have
direct representatives of groups of the various posts
of these organizations at the Convention.
The campaign for the International Convention
Of the lac international Association of Veterans)
has not yet been brought to the attention of the
veterans as g whole, combining itself only to the
report to the members of the WESL. who were
delegates at the Veterans National Rank and File
Convention in Washington.
The Central Committee reaffirms the line laid
down in the Open Letter and Eighth Party Con-
vention
We call upon the Party members who vet
pranc close !, ", fIo