The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-08-27
HARDING
BITTERLY
CRITICISED
LaFolsette and Borah
Denounce Executive
Dictation as to
Soldiers
Bonus

Washington, Aug. 22.-After a
continuous session Of more than
twelve hours, during which Presi-
dent Harding's course in recently
addressing the senate on soldier
bonus legislation was vigorously
debated, the senate reached an
agreement on all provisions OF the
shipping board deficiency bill car
rying s48,5e0.009, and upon ad-
jo,1rning at HIS o'clock tonight
arranged to take q vote on passage
OF the bill reconyening at 10 o'clock
tomorrow morning.
Eariy in the day the senate elm
inated an amendment TO limit sal
I aries paid to officials, Of the board
and tonight on virtually straight
party votes it rejected three sep
arate amendments offered by Sen
ator Trammeil. Democrat, Florida,
designed to prevent employment by
the board OF a lawyer recently
connected with firms having claims
against the board
President Harding's appearance
! before the senate last month IN
opposition to passage Of the sol
diers, bonus bill started storm OF
debate in the senate tonight when
the shipping board deficiency bill
was being considered during which
. his course was criticized and de-
{ tended. The discussion was start
ed by Senator la Toilette. Repub-
iican, Wisconsin, who referred to
the resolution introduced in the
house by. Representative Cochran,
Democrat, New York; eEiticising
the president for addressing one
branch on congress on pending
legislation, and drew many sena-
tors into the fray. ,
Senator Lodge. the Republican
leader, called attention to the
peace without victory" speech OF
former President Wilson to the SEN
ate prior to American entrance into
tie war and his address on the suf-
frage amendment later. 1t would
be a sad day for the republic, the
Massachusetts, senator said. when
any one of, the three branches OF
the government could not confer
with another. sse
< Declaring it was not necessary
.eithes to criticize or euaogize. Mr..
Harding Senator Borah, Repub-
lican, idaho. said that on the qaes-
ton Of the bonus, 1--WE surrendered
our judgment to his dictatioa." If
the president wanted precedent,
there We're plenty, he declared, add
ing that this did not change the
situation.
Mr. Ia Toilette assailed the pres
ident for what he described as
executive interference with the leg
isiative branch of the government.
He asserted that the president was
brought into the debate to pre-
-ent passage Of the bill, and that
his action was without authority
under the constitution.
..It Were well if that black page
in the senate's history could be de-
stroyed and forever forgotten. Mr.
LaFollette declared. ut was re-
markable that alarm. should seize
the presidents mind when the SOL
diers' bonus bill was pending, and
appear at the senate to rescue the
nations finances from utter de-
struction."
Mr. Lodge declared he saw nc
reason for debarring the presi-
dent" from congress and Senator
Knox, Republican, Pennsylvania
interjected:
"And 7 see no reason why con-
gress should be debarred from the
White House. as has occurred IN
the past eight years
Mr.. Lodge also cited numerous
constitutional provisions which, he
said, gave the president full au,
thority to address either branch OF
congress at his pleasure, saying
that it would be impossible for the
president to speak to both houses
If only one were in session.
Asserting that he never hac
heard ''such violent denunciatior
of Wilson as had been directed
at Mr.. Harding. Senator Kellogg
Republican, Minnesota, said he was
unable to understand the reason
for it.
Mr.. Borah explained that he was
IN full accord with the president or
the bonus question, but that hi!
criticism was aimed at the appear.
ance Of a president whether Mr.
Wilson or Mr.. Harding.
.I am unable to find anything
ike it prior to tho Wilson admin
istration.'' he said With all due
respect, know of no more pitiable
spectacle ever presented to the
people than that Of the senate il
throwing down the bonus BIZ! aftel
it had been reported and the preSi
dent had come here to oppose it. 1
was because he came here that w
surrendered our judgment to hi
dictation.
1.-The Republican party had mad
a solemn pledge for enactment o
bonus legislation. There was no
an item in the presidents messag'
that was not before US. We hat
made the bill the unfinished busi
ness and had given the assurance
4bat If would be rushed and pass