The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-11-17
BY H. E. BRIGGS

IN a series of articles now running
in the Daily News, a Mr.. Fred
Paisley claims to tell the truth about
the bonus" question. Before we
analyze Mr.. Pasley's articles, let us
find out why the Daily News is in
favor of the bonus" at this time.
On the preceding bonus" marches,
the News, like the rest Of the yellow
Capitalist sheets was against the
"Bonus" and the men who asked for
it. If you look back, you will see
that the vets wei called all the
names fit to print. Now, the News
comes forth as champion of the
needy vets. In an editorial full of
praise and eeping. the News
laments their dire need" and CEN
sures the government for not pay
ing the Bonus" Immediately. This
sudden interest has a reason, Of
course.
Those in high circles are bent on
initiation. The Bonus" is an easy
way of starting the drive, bone to
the millions of vets and their
families and a scapegoat issue when
initiation gets out of control. This
is also the reason for the change of
heart of Senator Borah, always a
demogagic fence SITTER Pittman,
always a staunch anti Bonus"
man; Bachrach of New Jersey, Siro-
vich of New York, etc. They feel
the turn of the tide and expect to
profit in votes when the vets are
broke again. The News, being the
two-faced hypocrite that it is, also
Jumps on the Bonus" band wagon
to profit by increased circulation.
Over four million veterans are in
terested in the Bonus" question.
so, a high-powered reporter is hired
to whoop it up, but not too much.
1t is important that the public
should know who the champions OF
the vets are. When all this goes
under the heading of recovery" it
is easy to see just what the powers
that be have in the back Of their
mind. The discovery by the Daily
News that the vets are in dire
need" and that the Bonus" is a
"iust debt" contradicts Roosevelt's
Roanoke speech, where he said that
the vets are better off, as a class,
than any other group Of citizens.
Such solicitude is like throwing
drowning man life pre5erver after
he goes down for the third time.
Half truths were never more dam
gerous than at this stage of the
struggle for the Bonus. l." One OF
these is that the vets are in need.
Yes. the cry for the bonus at the
Legion Convention in Miami has its
echo in every flop-house, bread line,
shanty town, C.C.C. camp, relief
project, etc, throughout the coun-
try. The Daily News doesn't men
ton this. No, its mouthpiece, MIR.
Pasley. gives all the credit for the
bonus" fight to what he calls the
NO. l Men" in the Legion and
VF.W. In his first article, he beats
the drum for Commander Van
zandt, V.F.W.. praising his stand on
the Bonus" fight. Frank N. Bel
grano, newly elected Commander Of
the Legion is also praised, but not
the fact that the executive commit
tee, behind the backs of the rank
and file bstitute d the word
recommend" for the word DE-
NIAND." DEMAND is what the rank
and file did however, and DEMAND
it shall be, regardless Of the tinker
ing of the executive committee.
1t is this determined stand and
the growing rank and file move
ment of those who marched to
Washington in 1892. '33. and ga,
which is influencing the dsna-
gogues on Capitol Hill, and the
press they control