Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-03-22
Wednesday, March %, 1922.
STANDING PAT

between the lines Of the report Of the
meeting between the President and
the House committee for considera-
ton OF the latest device for voting a
bonus without providing the money
with which to pay it. Nest Of them,
we think, will get the impression that
the President came back from his
short vacation refreshed and re-
solved: resolved to stand pat.
No one may mistake the need Of
someone standing pat with regard to
the muddle into which the bonus con-
troversy has drifted. While the Re-
publican party in its platform did not
commit itself to the bonus Mr. Hard
Ing expressed the conviction that
equity warranted an effort on the
part Of the Government to place the
service men on more >quable footing
with those who were permitted to
proft from the war activities at
llDUAf. .NON 4tIC ido il' IA So3to tiiS
opinion that it would be equitable to
do anything calculated TO rctard the
getting the machinery of production
going. On the contrary, seeking in
formation from sources which could
furnish it, he found that this could
not be done at the present time un-
less the public should be called upon
10 directly satisfy the assumed obli-
GatiCn in some way like that pro-
posed under the sales tax. It re-
quircd courage to do this. But he
did it. We hope he is standing pat
on II. notwithstanding the threats
that have been made.
Evidently he has not changed his
mind. but is waiting to be shown.
Certain members of the House may
regard themselves alchcmists capable
Of changing dros3 to pure gold. 1t
does not appear that they have con-
WINGED him yet that it is anything
other than fools gold" They are
not alchcmists, and some of them are
buck passcrs." and whatever of
value there may he in the proposition
they now advance, the plan of rail-
reading 1t through the House with
out due consideration is simply an
effort to avoid blame for not passing
1t. They think, with some reason, it
Is true. that it will be difficult for
them to convince the primaries back
home that they did the best thing to
do. The Democrats are playing the
political game for all there is in it.
Sight seems to have been lost of the
.merits. OF everything connected with
the service man except his vote. Both
parties are milling around in the
Same mudhole. The only distinction
lis that the Republicans arc to be held
responsible and the Democrats are
frying to make the responsibility as
difficult as possible.
Matters have now come to such a
pass that the only way in which those
responsible may command respect ia
Ito find the right thing to do, do 1t
right and take the consequences.
We believe the President found the
right course to be pursued and the
quicker Congress enters on the trail
he blazes the better it will be for all
concerned. At least any alternative
should not be accepted without free
and full discussion.
:. A feature OF this controversy, this
playing of politics. is the effect which
will be produced in the public mind
That mind should not be permitted to
Forget the disabled ex-scrvice man.
.If he Is to get what he should re-
.ceive. public attention must not be
Sdiverted. The moment it Is, in the
nature OF things. the administration
.of relief becomes lax. Such is HUI
man nature. 1t ought not to be, but
II will be. While the Republican
congressman are trying to devise a
way In which to grant the bonus and
put off the paying of it. and the DEM
ocratic congressman are bowling
about paying 1t with an excess profits
tax. notwithstanding we see in bust
ness today the depressing effect Of
such n tax. the public is being dis
gusted, and in this mood is not likely
to insist on there being done for the
disabled soldier that which should b.
done.
n..aix.aes In laal,ixasz ha Gle 4 1901 O