New Britain herald., 1922-09-20
THE BONUS VETO


 There is no question but that Pres ident Harding outdid himself in his message vetoing the bonus bill, With his ability to express himself in lan- guage which employed the 'inevita- ble word' at the proper point he marshalled all the arguments against the bill, relying primarily, however, on the fact that the bill does not meet the requirements he demanded for any bonus bill before he would give 1t his approval-it does not carry provision for the payment out of any specific funds. Praise or blame for the at least temporary defeat of the bill should be given the President alone, for his conduct and attitude regarding 1t first delayed its presentation until such time as its opponents-and they were powerful opponents-were able to get before the people all the argu- ments against it, thus bring converts in Congress to the cause of it's defeat and secondly in stamping it with his official disapproval.
 It will always be a question whether or not the party leaders of the Re- publican party are pleased or dis pleased that the President did not
 lt ic nn ton but that those leaders would have 1t understood by the former service men and their friends that the party as a party approved and fought for the measure. Whether or not the President was acting with the ap- proval of such leaders in taking from them the onus of having defeated the bill will remain matter of con- lecture It is quite possible that the big interests have never been worried at all for fear the bill would become a law-and, of course, it was the "big interests which opposed 1t. The ''big interests have a way of knowing that will happen at Washington which is denied the ordinary individual. One is tempted to believe that the bill will not be passed over the Pres- dents veto, and that the interests have known for some time what the fate of the bill would be.
 There are certain facts in connec- noteworthy The strongest opposition to the bonus came from the inter ests" They would have the main burden of paying the bonus, Under present political conditions "the inter- ests' control more votes than any other group of men according to the belief of politicians sagacous and wise" to political affairs of today Today a politician would rather have the support of the interests" than the support of any one group of the people.
 The chief gathers from the bonus ing matters carefully it is believed that President Harding stands a better chance of political advancement, be- cause of that great power of the interests" since his veto of the bonus than he did before. Nor is this say ing by any means, that he is strong CT with thespeope than before. He may have been actuated by the finest motives; he may have believed the country would suffer if the bill be- came a law; his veto may have been an example of courage. On the other hand the fact--and it is believed to be fact-that the money power of the land opposed the granting of the bonus may have had a strong infiu- ence on him to act as he has. The fact remains that his veto brings joy to the interests" and disappointment to people who feel that inasmuch as the men were sent into war they should be reimbursed for a small part of what they suffered. The fact re- mains that the principal rejoicing is among those who stayed at home while the men fought in France; the disappointment comes to those men who fought.