The New York herald., 1922-03-01
H4llD7NG REFUSAL TOzG GfEK'
STAND HALTS- BONUS RAID

among members who have been depend
ing on Mr.. Fordney to make good his
frequent promises. His failure TO do so
has undoubtedly cost him lot OF pres
tige. AS one after another OF the projects
he proposed has been rejected the bonus
advocates have come to question MS
political wisdom and business prescience.
During the last three or four days
some of Mr. Fordney's Republican asso-
ciates on the Ways and Means Commit
tee have taken exception to his views
and two or three distinct groups have
grown up among the Republican members
Of the committee. The most important
OF these, numerically, is that which con-
tinues to stand with Mr.. Fordney in
favor of recommending a bonus Dill
without providing the machinery Tor
raising the money.
Group for Sales Tax.
A second group continues to assert that
the only acceptable method for doing SO
would be to adopt the suggestion OF the
President that a sales tax feature pe
included in it. Up to this afternoon the
alternative proposed by the President IN
the shape of postponement had only one
or two supporters.
1t developed at the sessions OF tne
Republican members Of the committee
this afternoon that four OF the members
came out in open advocacy OF pian
that one of them described as being
..bonest and free from bunk" This was
to have the Republican members OF the
committee recommend postponement OF
bonus legislation as suggested py the
President with the statement that oppo-
sition to the sales tax scheme was TOO
pronounced to overcome.
Mr.. Fordney and other ardent sup
norters of the bonus who fear the con-
SEQUENCES of such a procedure vigor-
ously opposed this plan. One OF the
members of the committee said to-nlsh''
however. that Mr.. Fordney mad peeh
compelled to admit In committee meet
ings his inability to propose a feasible
financial solution of the problem ina,
would be acceptable to the President
and the people of the country. He sug-
gested that action be deferred until to-
morrow in order that the sentiment or
the House over the postponement idea
could be sounded.
MacNfder's Statement.
After his conference with the Presi-
dent, Commander McNider went to the
Capitol and talked with chairman Ford
ney and Senator McCumber. In a
statement issued by him just before he
left Washington for st. Louis the COM
lnander said Senator McCumber and ME-
Fordney had informed him that quick
and favorable action would be taken on
the compensation BILL" and that he
told them that sentiment throughout the
country is overwhelmingly in favor OF
it,"
In personal statement to reporters
the head OF the American Legion said
his remarkable telegraphic demand that
President Harding urge Congress to. pass
the bonus bill without further delay
was not mentioned at the White House
interview. The President sent word
that he had no statement to make re-
garding the visit of the commander ana
other representatives Of the American
Legion.
Among the protests received In the
two houses to-day were many from
women who served in various capacities
during the world war. Most of the
communications of this character not
only protested against the bonus legis-
lation but expressed displeasure be-
cause women had been ignored by the
American Legion propagandists urging
the passage OF bonus legislation.