Pueblo chieftain. (Pueblo, Colo.) 1889-current, 1921-07-16
CRY MARX SULLIVAN

tBl MANN AN
Washington, D. c.. July 15.-Presi
dent Rardine's authority over the
Republican Senators has been in
creased by the bonus bill episode to
point where IT is hard to foresoc any
Questioning of IT. on almost the same
day his prestige turnout the country
has been increased enormously by
the success of his initiative for a dis-
armament conference.
The combination makes Harding s
position as party leader practically
unassaiIable II he now chooses to
exercise authority over the Republic
an Senators, they are in no position
to resist. When they begged Harding
to come in and take the bonus of re-
sisting the bonus bill. which they
were not courageous enough to take
themselves, they put themselves in
position where they can hardly refuse
in the future. as the saying Is. to Eat
out Of the Presidents hand What
the Republican Senators did about the
borus bill humbies them in rropoi :
tion as iHarding's courage on the
same point dignifies him.
The history of the summoninS or
President Harding to step into ihe
breach is one of the most interesting
political episodes of the present SEE
sion. The Initiative in favor OF the
bonus bill came from Republican
Senator. McCumber OF North Dakota.
the other Senators, who have been
embarrassed by Senator McCumber's
energetic advocacy OF this measure.
now say grumblingly that the North
Dakota Senator's motive lay N the
fact that he comes up for reelection
next year. This may or may not he.
In any event. Senator McCumber mas
no greater need to defend his motive
in pushing the bill than the other
Republican Senators have to defend
their course in dodgin action on 1t.
Senator McCumber stands next to
Senator Penrose in authority on the
finance committee OF the Senate. In
that position he Is able to exact some
defense In the beginning the other
Republican Senators seem to have
been willing to let Senator McCumber
get the credit for activity In favor OF
tho bonus bill without intending that
n should go as far as 1t ultimately
did.
But Senator McCumber took the bit
IN his teeth to a degree his fellow
Republicans did not anticipate ana
forced the bonus bill to point where
II was made the unfinished business
The other Republican Senators,
who in their hearts did not approve
OF The bill. could have prevented IT
from becoming the unfinished bust
ness by the simple candor OF voting
s-ainst Senator McCumber's motion
To that effect.
But tho fact Is that in the two roll
call on the giving of right of way to
the soldier bonus bill only one Re
publican senator had the courage to
vote nav. In fact. among both
Democrats and Republicans there
were only five Senator'S who voted
against making the soldier bonus Dill
the unfinished business. and the only
effective speaking in the Senate
against this action will be done by
three Democrats Senator Underwood.
who Is the Democratic leader. Senat-
or Glass OF Virginia who is former
Democratic Secretary of the Urea
sury. and Senator Myers OF Montana
All the Republican Senators. except
Warren of Wyoming. either voted In
favor of giving right OF way to the
bonus bill. or else took refuge IN Sill
ence. Hardly handful OF them
really believe the bill ought TO be
taken up. but they lack the courage
to say so either in speeches or by
their votes.
It was NJ this point. IN the light or
their own unwillingness to vote the
bonus bill down. that they went to
Harding more or less in state OF
panic and begged him TO show the
courage that they did not themselves
have President Harding took the
burden with complete courage and
oandor.
After this episode 1t Is hard to
imagine the Republican Senate lead