Evening journal., 1922-06-17
Defer ACTION
ON BONUS BILL
Continued From First Page.

Continued From First Page.
and oppose the plan to advance the
bonus ahead OF the tariff
Throughout a day OF conferences
between the various groups over the
bonus, Chairman McCumber persist
ed in his statement OF yesterday that
he would disregard the wishes of
the President. He reluctantly ac-
quiesoed to the Lodge plan when he
found that even a majority of his
bonus associates were against him.
Without consulting the valiant
band OF nine Republicans in the
death battalion" Senators who
urged him to go ahead with his plan
for advancing the bonus ahead of
the tariff. or the eleven who refused
to commit themselves, the Finance
chairman agreed to back down from
the arbitrary stand he assumed on
Thursday.
He could not do so. however, un-
Taylor, legislative representative OF
the American Legion officials. who
claims to control the votes OF all the
ex-service men in the country. AS
the legion officials have surrendered
point after point in their fight for a
bonus, this. OF course. permitted Mr..
McCumber to agree with the Lodge
program. The position of the
American Legion officials, who be-
gan by demanding a spot cash bonus,
indicates they now will take any
thing they can get. Their chances
for getting anything at present can
not. by the widest stretch OF the
imagination, be called rosy.
Mr.. McCumber's surrender 10 the
leadership OF President Harding was
not characterized by any great
amount OF harmony or good feeling.
Some OF the more ardent bonus Sen
ators, including johnson (Cal.) and
Capper (Kan.). millionaire leader of
the agricultural bloc, expressed dis
OF the deal into which Mr..
McCumber had entered with Senator
Lodge.
1t is not quite certain that these
two, and perhaps other bonus Sena-
tors. will assent to the Lodge-Mc- |
Cumber agreement which is to be
acted upon at the conference OF Re-
publican Senators on Monday. It is |
not improbable there will be several |
oral explosions at that gathering to |
add to and complicate the already |
~ - -. l.
situation.
OF the two or three outstanding |
features OF this muddle the attitude |
Of the Democratic Senators is per-
laps the most disturbing to the Re-
publican Senators who solemnly /
agreed to set aside the tariff in order
% pass the bonus bill. The Demo-
,rats. OF course, are not a party to
he deal between the two Republ-
AN groups. On the contrary. they
cordially disapprove of Il. This was
'learly revealed by Senator Walsh
Mass, Dem.), leader of the bonus
group in the minority. who declared
le would force the fighting to bring
Onward the bonus II Mr.. McCumber
'ailed to do so.
I'm my judgment" said Senator
Walsh, I'VE have given Mr.. Nc
Iumber a reasonable time to show
lis sincerity on bonus legislation. II
le has yielded to the Old Guard 1
I'M extremely sorry. because I
loped the bonus would not be made
party measure. Unless Senator Nc
lumber makes a move to bring the
'onus before the Senate next week
s he agreed to do ten days ago we
hall force the issue and demand a
ecord vote on the subject. The
Democrats in favor OF a bonus have
ept their agreement and-w look to
lr. McCumber to keep his. We have
oubled the sincerity Of the Re-
ublicans in their pretended con-
erh for the ex-service men and
his latest move gives color to our
uspicions."
Democratic bonus Senators were
ot alone in voicing suspicion that
fr. McCumber and some OF his
onus party associates were not en- lr
rely sincere with the bonus claim
nts among the ex-service men. Re-
ublican Senators who are opposed
} the bonus expressed the opinion
1at Mac" (meaning Mr.. McCum-
err was double crossing the SOL
lers."
In support OF this declaration they
lid that II he had carried out his u
romise TO set aside the tariff for
le bonus he would have received
Rough Democratic votes to win.
This charge against the finance
iairman figure actively in the dis
issions of the bonus muddle, both
and out OF Congress. II prompted
fcials OF the American Legion TO
lsh reserves to the rescue of the G
orth Dakota Senator. who has a
ard fight on his hands for renom-
alton.