The New York herald., 1922-07-02

New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. C., July 1.
The defeat of Senator McCumber,
arch apostle of the bonus, for -renoni-
nation is expected to exercise a de-
cisive influence over the bonus and
other features of the administrative
and legislative program.
Republican leaders in and out of
Congress. who were compelled to in
terpret the results of the North Da-
kota primaries as rejecting more or
less dissatisfaction with Congressional
undertakings, already are discussing
the advisability of revising current
plans to meet the situation.
Few, if any, of these leaders chal-
criticism within the party and spokes-
men for the Democrats that the North
Dakota decision indicates an expand
ing wave of liberalism throughout the
country.
The nomination of Mr.. Beveridge in
Indiana, Mr.. Pinchot in Pennsylvania
and Mr.. Brookhart in Iowa, and
finally the proposed substitution of
an extreme radical like former Gov.
Frazier Of North Dakota is conceded
by even the more ardent defenders of
the Administration and Republican
Congressional program to indicate sig
nifcant dissatisfaction.
Harding Policies at Issue.
To what extent the results in the
States named properly car be attrib-
uted to dissatisfaction with the Har-
ding policies as distinguished from
the methods followed in Congress is
a matter of lively discussion and will
probably continue to be so for some
time.
Even the Democratic critics of the
President and the policies Of the ma.
jority in Congress concur in the opin
ion Of Republican State leaders tha
the results indicate greater dissatis
faction with legislative undertaking
thapa with those of the Administra,
tion.
The fact is most of the leaders wht
are not directly responsible for con
ditions in Congress confidently asser
the belief that the people of the coun
try are generally satisfied Mr.. Harding
is making an earnest effort to elm
mate the causes for complaint agains
his party. but he Is constantly OBJ
structed by Congress is the view.
However this may be, there is NJ
question that the primary results t.
date have clearly indicated dissatis
faction with either the Administration
Or Congress. IL not both. For this rea
son the North Dakota results ma,
prove of great value in encouraging
change in both the policies and meth
DDS of Congress, induce greater re
spect for the soundness of Executiv,
judgment and make for closer co
operation between the two branches O
the Government.
Change on Bonus.
One of the immediate effects of tn
North Dakota contest already ha
been to provide agitation for the re
moval of the bonus irritant from tn
Congressional situation. There alread,
has been a tremendous change of sen
timent in both houses regarding thi
enterprise. The primary results hav
exploded the fallacy that it is withiI
the power of the politicians of tn
American Legion to dictate the result
of political contests.
Greater significance is attached L
the defeat of Mr.. McCumber in thi
respect than TO any previous bonu
event. The North Dakota Senate
was the most active champion of tn
bonus raid in either house Of Con
gress. He actually believed the poll
ticians in the American Legion coul
deliver to him nearly, II not ALL O
the $4,000 soldier votes In his State
II they had been able to deliver S
per cent of them Mr.. McCumbe
would have been renominated. Their
can be no question of this fact TIL
trouble was that Mr.. Frazier, whe
Governor. put through a bonus bi
ON the theory that IL was q State an
not a national obligation. and got tn
greater number of soldier votes.
Senators and Representatives VIII
permitted themselves to be coerced b
the threats of tho American Legio
have devoted chief attention to thI
phase of the North Dakota results
Many of them who manifested a fren
Eied desire to obey the commands c
the politicians in the American Legio
now appear to be recovering fror
their fright.
They are paying more attention
mo legitimate and convincing state
ments made by the President. Secre
tary Mellon and Senators who regar
, the bonus rather as a national menac
than a political benefit.
There was much less talk to-da
among Senators who were most Ell
thusiastic for immediate action on II
bonus than before the results of II
North Dakota primaries. Out Of sue
discussion as concerned It there al
peared to be crystallizing a movemer
10 dump the Fordney- -McCumber bonr
bin into the discard and adopt
scheme that will be more valuable
form to the politicians and Of far les
substantial benefit to bonus claimant
N Every attack on the bill has resulte
M In modification of it's original prov
Hxfona The cash bonus for all bonu
&aneficiariea was dropped In the Hous