The New York herald., 1922-06-14
rather discouraged by the position as
sumed by President Harding to-day.

rather discouraged by the position as
sumed by President Harding to-day.
In Embarrassing Position.
Goarded by the officials of the
American Legion who have sought to
WELD politica! club over the Sena-
tors of both parties, Mr. McCumber
and his bonus associates have been
placed in a very embarrassing posi-
ton. The optimism which favored
their predictions regarding bonus
prospects a week or two ago has al
most completely disappeared.
The best minds in the bonus group
have not been able TO evolve a plan
for extricating the bonus bill from the
legislative muddle in which it is now
mired and get IL before the Senate so
they can record themselves in favor OF
1t. From the looks of things they will
be compelled either to accept the judg@
ment of the President or allow the
Democrats to take the bonus bill out
of their hands.
There is little question that the DEM
ocrats intend doing this very thing IL
Mr.. McCumber and his greatly dis
tressed bonus party conferees do not
make some move in this direction. To
permit the bonus group among the
Democrats who are in the majority on
that side of the chamber to take
charge of the raid would place the
Republican bonus Senators in a very
awkward position.
A Democratic move to advance the
bill would naturally deprive Republic
can bonus Senator's OF the political
benefits which they insist on believing
can be conferred out of hand by the
officials Of the American Legion.
Therefore 1T is up to Mr.. McCumber
and the other Republican bonus Sena-
tors to head off their Democratic col
leagues in maneuvering for political
advantage.
The "gentleman's agreement" nego-
tioted between Mr.. McCumber and his
Democratic allies who contributed
votes enough to report the bonus biv
from the Finance Committee was tn
hold good for a week. The period of
probation will be up in O day or two.
Unless Mr.. McCumber soon makes an
attempt to move the bonus bill from
the end of the calendar the Democratic
supporters Of the measure will attempt
flank movement toward lining up
members of both parties on test
question to which both sides attach
supreme political importance.
Senator Lodge in his capacity of
Republican leader will be appealed to
by Mr.. McCumber and other bonus
Senators to point the way out Of the
dilemma m which they find them
selves. Just what position Mr.. Lodge,
who is threatened with stiff fight on
his hands for denomination, may as
sumo. in view Of the Presidents posi-
ton, Is a matter of conjecture.
The Massachusetts, Senator Is "for
bonus" but he has plainly indicated
his opposition to the scheme the Nc
Cumber bill proposes. 1t is considered
doubtful whether he will fall in with
the plans of the bonus Senators at
the risk of ignoring the wishes of the
President. The chances are he will
not care to do so, but will urge the
bonus Republicans to acquiesce in the
Presidents views and keep the tariff
before the Senate and the bonus where
it now is on the calendar.
Anxiety Revealed In Debate.
The anxiety of the bonus Senators
over the complications in which their
pet measure has become involved was
plainly revealed to-day by exchanges
Of opinion relating to it in the tariff
debate. Senator Kendrick (Dem.,
Wyo), who will be opposed for re-
election by Leader Mondell of the
House, and an ardent bonus advocate.
declared it should be taken up and
passed at once. He expressed his
complete sympathy with it's purpose.
Senator Sterling (Rep., S. d. added
to the distress of Mr.. McCumber by
declaring that he would oppose the
bonus bill from the minute 1t was