New-York tribune., 1922-06-22
Ladd, in Fiery
Bonus Plea, Hits
At Big Bankers
n. ID. Senator Calls L. s. Fail
urc to Force "War Prof.
iteers" 20 Aid Veterans
Greatest Crime of Age"
Blamed for Opposition
Declares Financiers AreW or.
ried Lest Actual Cash BE
Divided Among Public

From The Tribunc's Washington Bprean
WASHINGTON. June q. In a rad
iesl speech in the Senate to-day. IN
which he advocated cash bonus for
the soldiers. in accordance with the
measure he has heretofore introduced
for an issue Of money to meet II, Scna-
tor Ladd OF North Dakota, made a fiery
attack on the big bankers. He declared
his belief that mos, Of the opposition
TO the soldiers compensation has been
fathercd by the big banks" He called
il "onc OF the greatest crimes OF the
sge that we have not dscG the strong
arm OF this government 20 reach into
the gold-ladcn Golfers Of these wdr
prohteers and compel them 10 divide
their outrageous profits with the boys
who suffered. sacrificed and bled."
Senator Watson. OF Georgia. also ad-
vooated bonus legislation. The action
Of the Senate yesterday In making the
bonus measure special order 10 fol-
low Immediately after the tariff bill
has by no means settled the effort 20
get tho bonus bill put ahead Of tariff.
Senators Walsh. Of Massachusetts,:
Ashurst. Of Arizona; La Toilette and
others arc planning at an opporiunc
time to renew the motion 10 proceed
to consideration Of the bonus bill.
II was said to-day that any charge
that the Democrats arc delaying the
bonus bill by hlibustcring on the tariff
will be met By a motion at once 20
proceed 70 consider the bonus ques-
tion.
North Dakota Pr,mary Involved
Senator Ladd's speech in advocacy Of
the cash bonus was looked on as hav-
inc political importance He is aligned
with clements in his state opposed to
Senator McCumber. and the speech was
evidently calculated 70 countcract IN
the primaries the effects Of the work
on bonus which Senator McCumbcr has
been doing and on which the latter
relics for many votes IN the June %
primaries.
1T is my belief" said Senator Ladd.
that most of this opposition 10 the
soldiers compensation has been faith
cred by the Zig banks u is my opin-
ion that the propaganda inspired by
the bankers has had a great deal OF
influence upon the whole subject.
MAY venture another opinion In
stead Of being 50 Jealous Of the public
interests and so fearful Of the consc-
quences upon the Federal Treasury. the
bankers are more worried a; this time
lest there shall be some actual cash
distributed among the people of the
country that will for a time restore
business in such a manner az TO result
in their temporarily losing control Of
the situation.
1--WE behold in America a most un-
tenable condition. We have small
coterie Of bankers that are patiently
more powerful than the government.
They control the financial situation.
They can say 10 the government how
much Of the Treasury obligations they
will buy: they can finance new railway
enterprises and new industrial COM
binations that meet the stamp Of their
approval: they can even finance for
eign ventures, and the rate OF ex-
change seems TO affect them but little
in so doing.
Assails Alleged Bankers Control
81 can point with pardonable pride TO
my own state. North Dakota. Ex-GOy-
ernor Frazier Of that state was one Of
the frst--if not the t-of state cx-
ecutives 20 include in his message 20
the Legislature q recommendation 10
take care Of the soldiers. To the credit
Of our state let IL be said that North
Dakota authorized the largest cash pay
ment of any state in the Union, not
withstanding the unhoiy efforts OF the
financial conspirators 20 destroy the
credit of the state.
"While Congress continues 20 per
nit these banking conditions 10 prevail
we shall be forced 70 tolerate imitation
and dehation so timed and admins
tered as TO benefit the bankers. fan
ciers and spectators at the expense OF
the producers, especially the farmers,
laborers, small business men. country
bankers, until the farmers become
serfs 10 pass with the land.
"Will you exercise the solemn duty
delegated TO Congress By the people
through the Constitution and assert
some control over the currency and
credit Of this country. or will YOU
supi-ely consent 10 continuation Of
bankers control by sanction Of Con-
gress?"