The Wilmington morning star., 1946-02-26
Fair Enough
Bv WEsTBROOK PEGLER
Copyright 1916, BY King! Features syndicat

have a right to join any veterans society they
choose, the fact remains that they are en-
titled to information as to the nature and
politics of organizations now soliciting their
adherence Few Of the veterans can analyze
the purposes of these organizations or detect
the similarity of such purposes to those Of the
Political Action Committee of the C1O or COM
munist organizations and fronts.
With considerable respect for the editors Of
the New York Herald Tribune, would never
theless point out to service men, who are in
vited to ioin the American Veterans Com
mite. that Charles C. Bette, who writes vet
erans' propaganda for the Herald-Tribune on
SUNDAYS is not an objective and impartial
commentator but an advocate OF client. He
| is an officer and employe OF the A.V.C. he
| is in competition with the American Legion
In the Herald Tribune, Bolte Is not so ident1'
| fled, He is merely "Charles G. Bolte" and his
attack on the American Legion on February
10 may have been accepted by those who read
it as an impartial opinion.
The faults Of the American Legion are well
known but it may glory in the charge that II
always has been guilty Of strong and mar
row nationalisrn which means loyalty 10 the
United States and to no other nation or group
OF nations. The American Veterans Commit
tee is rival and political enemy OF the Le-
glon whicn has no political program or party
works and the promotion of special benefits
Tor veterans, some Of them undeserved. Tha:
the Legion has tended to make parasites OF
lts members at the expense Of the whole ma
ton and to their detriment can be argued
e11ectlvely. Some individuals have exploited its
office OF national commander for selfish poll
tlcal ambitions and cheap personal glory.
II Bolte were TO attack the Legion in the
role Of rival under his official title of chair
~ an n "a >
would be fair But the Herald-Tribune i'm
poses on the readers Of Bolte's propaganda
when it fails to label him as what he is
AS hitherto noted in these pieces, the polit-
ical program of Bolte's group is consistent
with that Of Sidney Hillmans PAC. which.
in turn, was agreeable to the communists and
their fellow-travelers in the 1914 campaign
and, in general, has been ever since. Also as
noted here. the little group of founding fathers
of the AVG. who, as former men at arms
might not mind being called comrades" in
clude two veterans OF the late Office Of War
Information, haven of communists during
the war, two members Of the Lawyers Guild
similarly infested, and a press-agent for Hill
mans political group.
Any veteran or ron-veteran civilian who
knowing this background still wants to join
the AVG, has that right. Civilians without
service records are eligible. However, lest he
be deceived and his adherence exploited by
clever organizers and propa gandists, he has a
right to that background. It is not alleged
that Bolte or any other individual is COM
munist. Any American might advocate any or
all articles on the AV.C.'s political program
without bringing his citizenship and loyalty
into doubt. But it is important that the pros
pective member shall decide as intelligently
as he can whether coincidence or design Is at
work here. Attacking the Legion In the Herald
Tribune. Bolte wrote that "the main effect
of the ASSAULT Of John Stelle the Legion's
ley, the Veterans Administrator, was "to
lower the stock of the Legion
lone seasoned Washington observer he
wrote, called It "the greatest bonehead play
the Legion ever pulled He does not name
this seasoned" observer. He might be an
official Of the AVG. or the communist party.
He might be fictitious. We do not know.
Stelle had asked thai Congress investigate
the Veterans Administration and proposed the
selection of seasoned business man to re-
lieve Bradley There follows strong dose of
Bolte's aspersions on the Legion and plug
for his own organization, the AVG, with
which bear in mind, the Ferald-Tribune does
not. identify this seemingly dis-interested au-
thority. Regardless of the facts and merits of
the case we have here sample Of the can
dor and honesty with which the AVG. may
be eXpecteI to solicit the membership OF I'M
suspecting servicemen and veterans who are
not equipped by knowledge and experience to
detect undeclared pertinent facts. Any truly
American organization should be willing to run
up its colors in a fight but in this case the
principal promoter of the AVG. appears only
as an Individual.
Another indication Of the A.V.C.'s politics
appears in its recent bulletin.
This paper carries a two-column picture Of
a civilian in tin-lat Of the First World War
bending in tussle with another civilian who
has graspei him by the wrist. The outline
said: IA plain clothesmsn is clubbing picket
on the back as he pushes him from his post"
The picture does no: show anyone clubbing
anyone There is a streak in the picture but
a club it might be in the hands of another
it does not appear to be club And If 1t is
picket and aimed at the head of some veteran
trying to 60 through a picket line to reach
his job.
letter to the editor says the picket was
recently discharged from the Army and Is q
member of the AVG.
1.-THE enclosed pictures shows how he en-
joyed his freedom the letter adds
The truth is that no veteran or anyone else
has right to blockade any plant to prevent
any other veteran or any other American from
entering any place on lawful business 1t IS
the duty of the police to use all necessary
force, including clubs, to prevent anyone IN
cluding veterans from rioting and beating up
other veterans or civilians on lawful errands.
Bolte's AVG. is soliciting non-veteran clVi.
lians at IS each or $100 for life membership.
The same printed COUPON includes dotted