The New York herald., 1922-03-01
.HARDINC'S REFUSAL
TOMODIFY HISSTAND
STALLS BONUS RAID
Sentiment Growing in Con-
oress to Postpone Action
Despite Threats.
MAC NIDER COUP FAILS
He Misrepresents the Presi-
dents Attitude and Is
Caught in Act.
TORDNEY GROUP BREAKS
White House Developments
Lead to Weakening Of Raid
ers' Forces.
TORDNEY GROUP BREAKS
ny LOUIS sEIBoLD.
Special Dispatch to THE NEW YoHK HErALp
New York Herald Bureau.
Wusliurt0u ID. G.. Feb. o.


New York Herald Bureau
Washington. ID. G.. Feb. 49,
Promoters of the bonus raid on the
national finances and business OF the
country are not nearly so confident OF
success to-day as they Rave aggres-
sively asserted for month.
Postponement OF all bonus legisla-
tion Is much more probable than even
the passage of an unfeasible measure,
the only value OF which would be to
make an empty show Of fulfilling po-
litical promises.
President Harding stands sauarely
by his letter TO Chairman Fordney OF
the House Ways and Mcaiis Comnit-
tee. in which he suggested the adop-
ton OF sales tax or postponemenf OF
action.
The President told Commander Mac
Nider and other American Legion rep
resentatives in an interview at the
White House this morning that he
would not modify his decision.
Made No Commit tmcnt.
II was announced that "the Presi-
dent made no commitment except that
contained in his letter to Mr.. Fordney.
which expressed his attitude and which
remains unchanged. He proposed no
further statement and has none 10
make"
THE declaration OF the President to
the American Legion officials Is ad-
mitted 10 have proved most disconcert-
ing TO them. though ii did not prevent
Commander MacNider from telling the
newspaper reporters just before he left
the national capital that the President
had authorized him TO say that II am
for the bonus compensation heart an
soul and will issue a statement regard
ing our conference"
The President did not do anything ~
tho sort. He received Commander Mae
Nlder. John Thomas Taylor and Daniel
r. steck OF the Legion legislative com
mittee and discussed the bonus situation
for more than half an hour. Following
tho .interview the commander and his
associates made the statement that the
President was for the bonus bill heart
and soul"
MISREPRESENTATION Established.
Ignoring the proprietics that usually
govern interviews with the President,
the American Legion commander not
only described the meeting. but entirely
mlsrcpresentcd the Presidents state
ments. This fact was established by
the correct version of the Interview ob-
tanned later at the White House.
The optimistic statements OF Mr.. Mac
Nider and his associates in presenting
what purported TO be reflection OF TIC
Presidents opinions on the bonus oil.
were not confirmed by their manner IN
making them. Tho American Legion
officials appeared 10 be ANYTHING hut
satisfied with tho result ~ their con-
ference Their confident utterancce did
have the effect. however. Of creating
some doubt as 10 the exact position of
the President.
Ardent Congressional supporters OF
the bonus raid seized upon Il 10 support
their contention that the President mas
changed his mind and wants tho boau4
hill nut through" The White House
statement proved that tho Presidcn' has
not changed his mind and that II " not
his purpose to Interfere with the pre-
rogatives OF the legislative branch OF
the Government as demanded by Mr..
MacNvier in the ex extraordinary telegram
he sent to the President last week.
Best Evidence Of No Change.
The best evidence tha, the President
does not intend 70 change o. mcdi'y his
views was furnished by the Republican
members or the Ways aud Means Com.
mittee later IL the day.
Chairman Fordncy and his associates
made two attempts 10 agree on the
terms OF bill which they have re-
pcatedly assured tho bonus propagan-
dlsts viii be prepared BY the Ways and
Means Committee and passed by the
House. They did not succeed IN doing
so. nor is tho prospect for the produc-
tlon of such measure at all encourage
irg.
Following The White House confer
ence an accurate reflection 81 which
was communicated - Mr.. Fordney,
sentiment IN favor Or pcstponlng bonus
legislation became very pronounced. al
though many Representatives implorcd
Continued on lage Two.