, 1921-07-21
CRAFTSMANSHIP AND POLITICS.

The vote in the senate on The ~recommittal of the
bonus bill reveals the statesman and the politician in
that body. 1t was a question of the countrys inter.
est or the veterans interests, and it required no lit
tie nerve to apparently vote against the boys We sent
to France to fight in the great war. Yet every vote
cast for recommittal of the bill was a righteous and
patriotic vote. It all means that the country, due
largely to the p~rofigaey of the Wilson administration
is in no financial position to undertake a five billion
dollar obligation at this time. 1t also means that the
boys to whom obligation and reward is acknowledged
must be content to bide the time, possibly six months,
possibly a year, until there is recovery through re-
arrangement, sufficient to meet the reward due them
It further means, that the Republican party, the only
party that ever did legislate for the benefit of those
who upheld the country's honor in war, is back of the
bonus measure and will see justice done to the least
of them that risked their lives in the cause of their
homeland.
Wyoming may take pride in Senator warren's ac-
ton in his vote TO send the bill back to committee.
He himself is a veteran of another war. He was a
boy soldier once and was no more than a boy when
by service he became a veteran. He was for long
years chairman of the senate committee on military
affairs, and in those years more than once was COM
PEELED to fight for justice for officers and men. We
are certain his vote to send the bill back was in
fuenced by motives of fairness and justice to the
country, for his choice in the matter would naturally
be to recompense the gallant boys who had brought
the war to a close. Yet he was guided by statesman
ship, by the higher considerations.
Can as much be said of Wyomingis other senator
who cast his vote against ~recommittal, who by his
vote was willing to commit the government to an obi
CATION of five billions of dollars when it is hard
scratching to bring the regular costs of government
within its possible revenues? The Kendrick vote was
purely a political one. It was cast to all intents and
purposes with a view of currying favor with whatever
voting strength the war veterans represent. He is a
member of the minority party in the senate, the party
that never has concerned itself with the soldiers well
fare HI had the opportunity to support his govern
ment or to play cheap politics. He played politics.
Which reminds Wyoming people of the bull he
sometime since spread at a meeting of the Sheridan
Commercial Club, when he proclaimed that he would
place no obstacle in the presidents path in unfolding
the public welfare and the good works he felt sure the
new president would favor. He would uphold the
presidents hand in all these works.
The president appealed to the senate to postpone
the bonus measure for the present because the treas
ury department could not meet the bonus payments
If the bill were passed. Yet it is noticed that Mr..
Kendrick was not a very valiant upholder on this &C.
casion. He did just as he always has done, voted with
his Democratic brethren in opposition to the Repub-
lican majority and for purely political and selfish
reasons.