Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-05-08
Communist Veterans
Open Sessions Here;
Dennis, Foster Attend

9uHENH .2EAABUHBA tHE8Nn AZ
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tJGUQAy- 0yl3f III MEM
81 !.
About 500 Communist war yeter-
ana from over the entire country
gathered ct Turner's Area today to
omen the American Communist
Party,s flrst tVo-day yeterans' en-.
campment.
Present as delegates took their
seats In sections marked by States,
IN true convention style. were Eu-t
gene Dennis, secretary 81 the party
who recently was indicted on
charges Of contempt Of the House.
He was accompanied BY William q.
Foster. Communist chief In the
United States.
Numerous American nags adorned
walls Of the arena - two Of them
thanking huge pictures Of American
Communists who died during World
War II. At the rear OF the hall
il sign. extending the entire width
|of the building, read End Jim
Crow.
Three Basie Subjects.
John Gates, chairman Of the
meeting. baid the conference would
consider three basic subjects
means for lasting peace, preserva-
ton OF 1ndlvlduAl AoerueS ana
veterans problems.
Inc session opened with singing
OF the Star Spangled Banner ana
an assortment o. military paigie
calls that included taps, reveille ana
assembly.
In the t1rst address, Philip Frank
field OF Baltimore, leader OF the
Maryland delegation to 10, said he
regretted I'VE have no key of the
city to offer you at this time"
Some day, when Washington gets
the right to vote, and when big Bill
Taylor civilian G. Taylor, head Of
the Washington Communist Party)
has duly been elected mayor-we will
have welcome mats all over the CITY,"
As Mr.. Frankfeld spoke, NUM-
Der of non-C Communists entered to
lsit In special spectators section.
Included were four co-eds from
George washington University.
They said they were social science
students who wanted ito see how
the Communist meeting is run"
Thomnson 7. Kevnoter
Outside tl,s arena threa ro,ica H.
rcers and several rnilitarv ro It and N.
sea. patrol member. stood ~
In the kevnote sddrass pnhArt
THOMPSON Nav yorr atst. Coms
munist chairman who WAS nitro
duced a. the party'a moot distin.
e,1ished veteran. said the comno,,-
nists are "lavinr n,,r marty onep n
serious accusations by This meeting y
"By afforIinr o,1r veterans =
chance to eet together. we are tai
ing unfair adyantaee Of the Re-
publican and Democratic PARTIES
which have given their Veteran
members no slch opnorf,,n,tv !. he
declared. Terminp them the awaIl
Street parties. !" he CHARGED the DEM
ocrats and Republicans want "yotes
not expressions" from their vet.
Grams.
The delegates whistled stomped
their feet and anplauded wildly
when the speaker said the nurpose
Of the Communist party Is to ab,,ild
g powerful force to raIly the people
against reaction"
This afternoon two Communists
who fought on Two lima placed a
wreath at the Two Jima Men1orial
on Constitution avenue across the
street from the Navy Department.
Mr.. Foster will speak tonight on
the same sprooram with pauI Roha.
son, the singer, at the arena Mr.
Dennis is not scheduled to. talk.
Platform Includes Bonus,
In forum discussion at at eve
ming session, Mr.. Gates will present
the Communists veterans platform.
which includes requests for aaFed-
eral bonus that would run as hiet,
as $4,000 for a veteran who was
wounded overseas.
The platform also charges that
Negroes get unfair consideration
from the Vataraf,e' Adyofr;s4ra %;.,,