The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-06-20
Achieves Unity on 3
Point Program; Fights
Jim Grow
BY I. AMTER


THE convention called by the Vet
L Grams National Rank and File
Committee at Fort Hunt. Va, near
Washington, May 14-27, was de-
cided contrast to the convention
held last year and the bonus march
Of 1882. The bonus march of 1882
was mass movement with a lead
ership securing control in the in
terest Of the government. The con-
vention of last year was still I'M
organized, with unclear elements in
the leadership. Those having a clear
program, the delegation of the
Workers Ex-SerYicemens League,
fought hard to put through their
program and partly succeeded, but
did not succeed in giving organiza-
tional form to the movement.
Since 1888, the masses of veterans
have suffered from the crisis like
the rest Of the working population,
and the rehabilitation Of the vet
Grams has grown apace. This was
reflected in the convention.
This convention marked a con-
solidation of the leading, clearer
elements in the vterans' movement.
The convention consisted of 1929
delegates from the American Legion,
Veterans Of Foreign Wars, Disabled
American Veterans, Workers Ex-
Servicemen's League, Americ n
World War Veterans Negroes Of
Georgia., and large group of I'M
attached veterans. OF the 1929 del
egates, 1406 werh veterans of the
world war. There were 270 Negro
veterans from all parts Of the coun-
try. One thousand one hundred
and fifty-nine have been unem-
ployed for an average of three years,
and represented 121 occupations.
Three hundred and ninety-six were
from C.CC. camps. In short the
convention represented a cross sec
ton of the veterans.
The convention served to consoli-
date the veterans movement, to give
it a definite program and to lay the
basis for building broad rank and
file movement in this country. The
building of the movement was left
in the hands of national COM
mittee Of AZ, which in turn elected
an executive committee of IL, in
Guiding the Washington resident
committee of three, composed Of
Harold Hickerson of the w. E. S. L.,
Valley of the unattached veterans
and Eaton of the Disabled Vet
Grams. This is a promise that the
movement will go forward.
The high political level Of the
discussion and decisions was mani
fest in the resolutions adopted. The
convention went on record con-
demning the use of police and the
national guard in the Toledo strike
and called upon the national
guardsmen to realize that they are
workers and refuse to be used
against their brothers. Resolutions
against fascism and war, for unity
of the Negroes and whites, against
the C.C.C. camps, etc, were adopted
The convention unanimously en-
dorsed the Workers Unemployment
and Social Insurance Bill, H. r.
1898, as against the Wagner Lewis
bill. 1t also endorsed a resolution
calling for cancellation of farmers
mortgages, for farmers relief, etc.
Thus the solidarity of the veterans
with the workers and farmers was
further emphasized.
Despite the fact that the conven-
ton was called on a three point
program-for immediate payment Of
the bonus, repeal Of the national
economy act, and for relief for the
unemployed and the farmers-there
were elements, who, similarly to last
year, tried to swing the convention