The New York herald., 1922-08-19

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urging for two or three days that "a
simple bill recognizing the principle
of the bonus be passed now and re-
enforced at the next session" This, of
course. is merely another variation of
the old device OF passing the buck"
Politicians in the American Legion,
who to-day actively assumed charge
of the fight to force the bonus through
the Senate, would probably be satisfied
with the recognition" of any real
principle which may be involved in the
| bonus scheme. The chief concern of
the politicians in the American Legion
who are trying to barter the votes OF
its members for Senatorial votes for a
bonus bill is to obtain as much "recog-
nition" as possible. At successive
stages of their fight for the Govern
ment cash bonus the politicians in the
Legion have indicated their readiness
to take anything they can get. They
started with demand for payment
on the spot of Government cash to
ablebodied ex-service men seeking
financial reward for their patriotic
services. When they found they could
not get away with this they modified
their demands by devising a five way
optional plan.
The only spot cash the McCumber
bill provides is for men who would be
entitled to less than $40 for serving
their country in wartime. Repeated
attempts to find a scheme for financing
| the bonus proposition have failed be-
cause all such proposals failed to meet
the objections of the President and
Secretary OF the Treasury Mellon. 1T
would not be surprising, therefore. II
an entirely new scheme drastically
modifying the terms of the McCumber
bill ultimately came out of the Senate
debate
MacNfder Takes Charge.
Republican and Democratic Sena-
tors who are now opposed to the
bonus scheme on moral as well as
economic grounds will fight any such
proposals as may be brought for
ward They will take their stand back
of the President and respond to no
other influence except that of public
sentiment, which they are unalterably
convinced is Overwhelmingly opposed
to the bonus as a vicious, unpatriotic
and unwise economic proposition.
1t is probable that before the bonus
fight has gone very far a number of
Senators in both parties will be COM
PEELED to admi. the force and logic of
the Presidents position and that of
their associates who are determined
to support him with the full measure
of their ability.
In assuming command Of the fight
for the bonus Commander MacNider
of the American Legion brought for
ward his heaviest artillery in the line
of political experts and accomplished
lobbyists. The commander spent most
of the day at the Capitol comforting
with friendly" Senators. painting in
brilliant colors the value OF the polti-
cal support OF mercenary bonus claim
ants and sketching awesome pictures
of the consequences of their opposition
to any candidates who resist their de-
mands for Government cash.
Mr.. MacNider was. of course. re-
ceived with open arms by Senators
who still labor under the delusion that
the American Legion possesses any
political power OF Importance. which
fallacy has been fully exploded in the
results of several State primaries and
popular, canvasses OF public sentiment.
Tries to Convert Borah.
So confident is Mr.. NIcNider Of the
\ political power welded by the rner-
cenary members of his organization
that he attempted to win over some of
the Senators who are opposed to the
| McCumber plan. The Legion com
mander tried to change the point of
view OF Senator Underwood, the Demo-
cratic leader. He obtained little COM
fort from that quarter. He also sought
out Senator Borah. one OF the most
vigorous opponents OF the bonus
scheme. and will attempt to convert the
Idaho Senator tomorrow. There is
little likelihood of doing so.
Some Of tho Legion lobbyists in
urging Senators holding a neutral po-
sition to come out in support of the
bonus did not hesitate TO predict that
President Harding would approve the
McCumher bill despite his criticism and
complete disapproval OF It.
All OF these shock forces or the
Legion have been concentrated at the
national capital TO meet any emer-
gency. while their propaganda units
! throurhout the country are pouring
in heavy verbal shrapnel through the
mails by the ton. Mr.. McCumber win.
or cogrse. assume command OF the
Senatorial phalanx and handle the
bonus bill which bears his name. The
other bonus Senators are perfectly
willing to have him 90 so, because
from present indications the job is
not going to be any more pleasant
than his experience in trying to ex-
plain the discredited tariff bill, which
also bears his name.