Evening star., 1947-01-12

e saDora into the American
-AP Photo.
was AVC's present leader, Charles
G. Bolte, 2s, a forceful speaker and
writer and q natural leader. join
ing the British Army before the
United States went to war, he lost
leg during action at El Aemein.
From it's beginning, AVG issued
loud and lusty demand for q voice
in national and international af-
fairs. Turning its collective back
for the most part on veterans bene-
flts-mainstay of other groups-the
AVG contended that veterans could
best help themselves as citizens.
They coined the slogan, "Citizens
First, Veterans Second" which has
become the backbone Of its policies.
The Washington chapter, recruit
ing number Of young Government
officials and business executives,
quickly gained power. BY May it
had 500 members and smaller units
had sprung up at George Washing
ton University and in Hyattsville.
At the first ave convention in Des
Moines that month Washington
delegates policy programs DOM
mated committee sessions and some
of them were adopted outright as
national policy. Head Of the dele
CATION was Robert r. Nathan, econ
omist and former chairman of the
War Production Boards Planning
Committee.
Communist Charge Was
Important Issue
Most important issue at the con-
vention, however, was charges OF
radical" and Communist" that
hung over the group.
AVG weathered them through a
hectic but thoroughly democratic
three days of policy making. Lib
eral leaders, headed by Mr.. Bolte
and Franklin D. Roosevelt, jr.,
national housing officer, effectively
beat down strong faction Of more
militantly progressive members dur
ing an election fight. The group
also voted to keep clear Of any par
ticipation in partisan politics.
Admittedly left-of-center in pol.
icy, AVG leaders admitted Com
munists among its ranks, but claimed
they were a controlled minority
Since, however, AVG has strongly
denounced actions Of any party
members in the group.
Soon after the convention, men,
bers of the District chapter formed
smaller units and, last September,
organized a Washington area coun-
Gil. At present the council rules "a
chapters and a membership in ex-
cess of 5000. Still on top, though,
and still led by Mr.. Nathan, is
Washington Chapter No. l, with
about 1000 members.
Chairman of the council is Jack
]. Motley, 32-year-old Navy veteran.
No. / campaign OF the group at
present, he said, is to urge admit
tance of Negroes to George Wash
ington University's Lisner Audi
torium for public activities.
Whenever it has thought the need
at hand, the council has beat drums
without reservation at public rail-
lies. Examples were a motorcade
and rally held in support OF OPA
restrictions apd, more recently, a
protest rally against "scuttling" OF
the veterans housing program. The
group also turned out in. force to
urge District suffrage in the plebi-
scite November S. Special commit
tees have been instructed to offer
aid to all District civic groups spon-
soring community projects.
The council has also established
female unit-AVC Associates. Not
yet chartered, the group is composed
primarily of relatives of AVG mem
bers, but includes some nonrelatives.
A decision from national headquar-
tiers will decide whether a charter
is to be issued or whether relative
only auxiliary will be formed.
The AVG council, like Amvets,
frankly tells potential members it
is still in a period of organization
and makes no attempt to compete
with routine service facilities that
are standard equipment for the
older groups. Leaders contend,
however, that in time they will be
strong in fraternal and service as
sets. ....
The second installn,ent OF Mr..
Beueridge's discussion OF Deter-
ans groups ,oill deal NTH the
Veterans OF Foreign Wars ard
American Legion, the Veterans
OF Foreign Wars ana the Dis
abled American Veterans. 1t
,Dill appear in nert Sundays Star.