Evening star., 1946-06-17
|AVC Ends Convention
After Chating Liberal
Path for Coming Year
By George Beveridee
G.. c.a

DES MONIES, Iowa, June IT,
Delegates to the first national
convention here Of the American
Veterans Committee were or
their way home today after
adopting a constitution and plat
form of policies that assure a
liberal path for the organizat tion
in the coming year.
The representatives also voted
faith in the leadership of the past
three years by electing Charles G
Bolte to the post of national chair
man, with only one delegate dissent
ing when a vote of acclamation was
called for yesterday at the end of the
three-day session Mr.. Bolte had
directed AVG as head of a provi-
sional National Planning Committee
since 1943.
In the most hard-fought contest
of the elections, Gilbert Harrison
founder of AVG, was elected ma
tional vice chairman, nosing out the
California candidate, Norris Helferd
by vote of 1902 to 1859.
Carried About Room.
When word of the decision reached
the Bolte suite, Franklin D. Roose-
welt, jr., and Oren Root, jr., organ
izer for the Wendell Willkie presi-
dental campaign. lifted Mr.. Harri-
son to their shoulders and paraded
around the room.
TITS great victory of AVG" Mr.
Roosevelt said. I've always felt
that Harrison was just the man for
the job"
Other new national officers in
cluded two delegates of the Wash
ington chapter to the 24-member
National Planning Committee. They
were Robert Nathan, local chapter
chairman, and Meyer Bernstein, d.
rector Of veterans affairs for the
CIO in Washington.
| At press conference last night
Mr.. Bolte said he was sure the
delegates all are leaving with a feel.
ing of unity-and that wrangling.
and differences of opinion among
the delegates are healthy sign
The convention was a clear indica.
ton OF stronger and more vigorou.
AVG for the coming year.
Will Retain Liberalism.
THE extent of liberalism will def
nitely remain the same as it ha.
been for AVG" he said. Il think
the convention has proved that
Mr.. Bolte said he thought there
was no immediate possibility" o1
an AVG national headquarters move
to Washington from New York
The decision, though, will be ut
to our National Planning Commit
tee," he said.
The possibility of change ot
name for the group will be decided
by national referendum, he said
He also stated that plans will be
begun as soon as possible for for
nation Of United Veterans League
The convention ended on a key.
note of hard work after all-day anc
all-night sessions to thresh out
policy and election platforms,
| L lIiillh TIC w dSlililStOll tlld ploi
won a particular victory" Mr.
Nathan said, referring to Washing
ton platforms that were used on q
basis for a drawing up nearly all
the planks"
Outright BONUS" Opposed.
A decision announced last night
to continue AVG opposition to ar
outright bonus" ended one of the
most controversial questions of the
convention. The defeated proposal
provided that AVG should indorse
bonus if by next March Congress
has not passed legislation to "effec-
lively control prices, guarantee en-
ployment for every citizen and vet
eran of the country and assure low
cost housing for ALL"
At meeting Saturday night, Mr.
Bolte was unanimously nominated