The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-18
GRAHAM SILENT
BUT REPORTED
BONUS FRIEND
Harding Sales Tax Rider Not Fa-
vored by Hlfnsis congressman
But Acceptable.
washington News Bureau.
Rock Island Argus-

Illinois congressman are facing tne
soldier bonus issue did not appear
today to have been appreciably re-
lieyed by President Harding's let
ter, proposing a sales tax as the
most feasible method OF paying
cash bonus, IL congress passes such
legislation at the present time.
Representative Charles K. Fuller,
Belvidere, summed up what is IN
doubtedly the sentiment or a ma
jority of the down-state members,
when he said here today:
NEARLY all of us are for the
bonus, and nearly all or us are
against sales tax"
He agreed, however, with Repre-
sentative Rodenberg. East ST Louis,
that IL it comes TO choice OF
voting for or against the bonus,
majority of the down-state mem
bers will probably vote for the bill,
even though it carries the sales
tax rider recommended by the presi-
dent
Representative Ira C.. Copiey,
Aurora, is the only down-state
member who has been regarded
here as openly favorable to the gen
eral sales tax. He iS the Illinois
member of the house ways and
means committee which has juris-
diction over all taxation measures
and he has been meeting daily with
the other members OF the commit
tee of Eve, appointed jointly from
senate and house, to discuss with
the executive the various meth
DDS proposed for raising the bonus
DaDr4CantoffUn CnnInU has
favored the sales tax in these ses-
sions, along with Fordney, Sena-
tors Watson of Indiana, Smoot OF
Utah and other sales tax advoS
Gates.
"Uncle Joe" Cannon, Danville, is
probably the only down-state mem
Der who will vote against the bonus
no matter what the form of tax
finally agreed upon. Among the IL
linois congressman who declined
to comment on the presidents let
ter today but who are understood as
being ready to vote for bonus are
William ]. Graham, Aledo; Allen
Moore, Monticello; Clifford Ireland,
Peoria; John c. Mckenzie, Eliza
beth; Loren E. Wheeler, Spring
field. Representative Thomas S.
Williams, Louisville, declared that
he is Opposed to the sales tax" but
he is certain to vote for the bonus.
1t was understood here this week
that Senator Medill Mccormick Is
preparing letter, stating his po-
sition in full on the bonus to his
constituents.
Favors Sales Tax.
Senator Mckinley has favored
sales tax legislation since the plan
was first brought forward in the
senate by Senator Smoot, during
. the debate on the revenue bill, at
which time the Illinois senator vot-
ed for it 1t was given out at his
office yesterday that he will "fol-
low the recommendation of the
president" which may mean that
he will either vote against defer
ring bonus legislation Tor the pres
ent, or vote for sales tax as
method of raising the necessary
funds.
The Illinois members make no
secret of the fact that they are ia
a quandary over the situation. For
the past week, some of the prin-
cipal manufacturing interests at
Rockford, Peoria, Springfield, De-
catur, Moline and other cities of
the state, have been wiring and
telegraphing their Washington
Representatives in vigorous oppoSi-
ton TO the leYying of new taxes for
the bonus. Meanwhile, American
Legion posts and auxiliary organ
izations in the same cities have
kept up a continuous bombardmenr
for fhoA hill rhaJ har Of (Nnp1ronrrn
all over the state have likewise
been active, the Freeport organiza-
ton being the only one favorable
TO the bill which has reported to the
Illinois senators during the week.
In the closing sentences of a
speech delivered on the floor of the
senate, Senator Medill Mccormick
of Illinois, this week confirmed the
prediction made few days ago that
he will support the treaties draft
ed at the recent arms conference.
The Illinois senator warmly
praised President Harding's part
in summoning the conference and
plainly indicated that he will not
view any of the seven pacts drafted
by the delegates in the same cir
recognizable" light in which he OPP
posed the League of Nations.
America believes that Europe
may profit by the labor and by the
example of the international con-
ference adjourned last week." SEN
ator Mccormick declared.
''The modest man who summon
ed it and those who have guided
its course never pretended, like the
proponents OF the league, to a re-
generation of all mankind, nor even
to the establishment of Utopia in a
single hemisphere.
If the conference has not ac-
complished all that it might have |
done, it has done far more than |
the wisest hoped that it might &C
complish. 1t has made an end to |
suspicious, to old resentments, and |
TO newer rivalries between the mar
thine and Pacific powers which in
jured commerce and threatened |
peace. 1t has removed very far
from Americans all menace, OF |
war.
I'm IL weeks the Washington |
conference has done more to cast !
OFF the shackles upon trade, to lift
the burdens off the backs of the
and to break down the
hindrances to international good
VIII; it has done more for peace
ard more against war than has the
League of Nations during all the
three times II months of it's exist