Washington. June 8.— The ragged veterans' army demanding bonus payment calmly grinned tonight in reply to police persuasion that it pack up and go home.
Walter W. Waters, Portland, Ore., elected the fourth commander chief in 48 hours, after
stormy committee session said his 8,000 charges had decided to "disregard a police invitation to evacuate tomorrow.
"Whenever the bonus is voted, we will be very glad to accept the police offer of free truckage out of the city," Waters said. He was the originator of the marchers movement and resigned once as commander in chief.
Supplies Donated.
Having received charge of their commissary, the veterans laid plans to accept offers of rations rom outside. Two truck will leave tomorrow for an unknown destlnaion in Baltimore, Md., for donated supplies.
A "national headquarters" was established in a vacant apartment building loaned by the owner. The Lnacostla River encampment—largest of the camps—was reorganized on a military basis, and its nearly 6,000 inhabitants sought tray lumber to build more shelters. From tonight on the army will be its own boss, with police on the sidelines to keep order.
An order by Brig. Gen. Pelham D. Glassford offered the accommodation of free rides of 50 miles or so in every direction. The thouands here are from every state.
Interest Rate.
A few had left today, but the vast majority was determined to stay and see the outcome of the vote Monday when the bonus-payment proposal comes before the House.
A considerable section of the tattered army is still firm in its determination to "stay until 1945" unless the bonus is paid.
A move to reduce the interest rate of bonus loans, which is rapidly consuming many of the certificates, was made today in the House.
The ways and means committee approved the Bncharach bill which could make the interest rate on the certificates 4 per cent. The veterans administration estimated this would cost the government $140,000,000 before the certificates mature in 1945.
Food which the veterans receive their encampments today was the last to be purchased with funds admistered by the police and the leaders were preparing to solicit donations to supply their self-administrated commissary.
Meanwhile, police kept in close touch with federal officials as numbers at the camps continued to swell. At Rolling Fied, adjacent to the camp on the Anacostia River, leaves were canceled, guards doubled, and emergency measures taken.
Rough handling by the veterans themselves caused communist agitators to change their tactics in working among the veterans. The communists today attempted to distribute a mimographed sheet called "Daily Notes." A small negro boy was taken in hand and given trial by the veterans as he sought to pass the sheets about the Anacostia camp. Because of his size, he was allowed to leave uncontested after a warning not to come back.
the "Daily Notes" were couched in careful language and devoted much space to race discrimination. Many of the veterans in the encampments are negroes. It encouraged support for the Workers Ex-Servicemen's League, a communist organization which is now under constant survelliance by police and department of justice agents.
Plans Altered
Rejection of their requests to demonstrate publicily caused considerable confusion among the league's leaders. As fast as they laid plans for a demonstration they canceled them when one and another obstacle was met in conferences with police or Capitol Hill authorities.
Their original plans had called for a "monster" demonstration today, but failure to accure proper permits changed that plan. Next it was decided to attempt to present a petition to Vice President Curtis and Speaker Garner at the capitol Friday, but late in the day this plan was changed and a decision made to try again for a parade permit.
Prospect of a food shortage did not trouble those in the encampments. A local boy's club provided baseballs and bats and the huge crowd that arose from under the shad trees and sought places on the team would have heartened any college coach
Wed May 30, 2012 4:06 pm