South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-20
INDIANA SOLONS
JOIN INSURGENTS
Fairfield and Hickey Demand
Chance to Make Good
Their Promises.
special 10 The News Times

WASHLNCYTON, Feb. l9.-Rep.
Fairfield and Rep. Hickey Of the
twelfth and thirteen Indiana. con-
gressional districts insist that this
I congress should make some provis-
ion 10 pay the returned soldiers q
bonus either in the form Of money,
government certificates or govern
ment bonds.
THE time has come for Us 10 do
nothing or 20 do something and l
am for doing something" said Rep.
Fairfield in discussing the bond pro-
posals.
So eventually, and without blair
ing OF trlImpets, Fairfield and l1ick-
ey OF Indiana, found themselves
among the republican insurgents OF
the house. There they remain at
this time. How long they will re
main there no one knows. for it has
been rather unusual TOR any member
Of the Indiana delegation to remain
in any one place long enough TO es-
tablish himself.
Break With Guardians.
Fairfield and Hickey are among
those republicans who sneaXed from
the house chamber and from their
guardians, the republican steering
committee" and held a rump CON
vention az which il was decided that
| no longer would the insurgents await
action from the steering commit
tee" on the bond proposals. The in
surgents. as Mr.. Fairfield aptly ex-
pressed il, declared the time had
come 20 do something or do moth
ing" and with this ultImatum TO the
republican leaders they are not
stalking about the house floors.
The bond question presents fine
opportunity for the overthrow Of the
republican leaders. Frank w. Mon
dell. republican floor leader, and ev-
cry member of the steering commit
tee fears TO discuss the subject, fears
IL so much in fact, that the czaristic
rule exercised TO the extreme to pre-
vent discussion of bond legislation
on the floor. The steering commit
tee" has eNerted all its power, and
exerted 1t successfully, TO prevent
the bond question getting before n
republican caucus; for once in eau
, Gus, II was known the members
would overthrow their leadership
assert their own will.
Leaders Straddlc Issue.
Months ago, had any one of the
many leaders in the house asserted
sufficient independence and had suf-
ficient courage to meet this bond
question, here would not have been
the present troublesome aftermath
The policy laid down by the republi
can leaders. however, was TO strad-
die the question and remain astrad-
die in the hope that the soldiers
themselves would relieve the con-
gress from any responsibility. When
the soldiers refused to be made the
goats" of this policy and demanded
that congress do something, the re-
publican leaders found themselves
"ahold OF the bears tail" and they
have been afraid TO let go.
BY plain indifference and sugges-
ton MOndell and others have en-
deavored to put before the country
the reasons why the soldiers cannot
be granted a bonus Day after day.
the discussion OF alleged economy
have permitted a stroke, subtly de-
livered, at the request of the sol
diers. II was evident that the in
tention was to make the task diff
cult for the soldiers If the soldiers
continued 10 press their demands
for bonds. But the soldiers
refused TO be intimidated and made it
clear that they wanted congress to
act. and now Mr.. Mondell and his
associated "passers of the buck" find
they must do something.
Throw on Yoke.
Months ago, had the republicans
in the house been advised they
would not he permitted to demand
action on bond or bonus legislation.
they would not have made promises
10 the soldiers and their constituents
and would not have been put in the
position of having promised some
thing which they could not deliver.
That Is their position now. They
have made the promises, were per-
mitted TO make them by the republi-
can steering committee" but now
that they have made them, the steer
ing committee has refused to per-
NIT any action.
Through the organization in the
house, no republican member has an
opportunity TO represent his constit-
uents until the steering commit
tee" gives permission and so every
member who made promises has
been compelled 10 endure in silence
the status OF breaking his promise
This Eas been unjust 20 the individ-
ual members though II permitted
the steering committee" TO escape
censure. But at last, the members
have thrown off the yoke, have de-
clared that the time has come Ito
10 something or DO nothing" and
perhaps now freed. these members
will assert themselves until the
house Of representatives will do
something for the soldiers and also
viii again really represent the peo-
pie and not a political organization.