The New York herald., 1922-06-12
LEGION CRACKS whip
AGAIN TO GET BONUS
It's Officers Realize Senate
Revolt Against 1t May
Grow.
SURPRISED AT POLL
Many. Members Committed
to Bill Admit Outlook
Is Gloomy.
M'CUMBER'S HANDS TIED
Tells Measures Promoters He
Cannot Do Anything for
Week or Ten Days.
Specia, Dispatch to THE NEW York HnALD


New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. g.. June IL.
The announcement that thirty Sena-
tors are openly fighting the McCumber
bonus bill authorizing raid on the
Treasury Of from $4,000, ,o00.0 900 to
s7,o00.000,o0 and the fact that many
others are on the fence caused dis
tinct shock to the bonus advocates.
While they are still claiming. by
some mysterious process Of reasoning,
that they will have bonus bill en-
acted at this session of Congress, pri-
vately many Senators committed to
the bill admit the outlook is very
gloomy.
In desperation the American Legion
officers have again applied the whip
as they realize that many Senators
who have been under their domination
for fear Of political reprisals are in
clined to break loose. A general stam-
pede is probable.
Senator McCumber told legion officers
he is helpless in the matter, that he has
entered into a gentleman's agreement
with Senator's on both sides of the cham
ber not to call up the bonus bill for a
week or ten days. His purpose in doing
that was to expedite the passage Of the
tariff bill, of which he is the sponsor
Senate leaders will not vote for any
change in the program.
Anti-Bonus Senators Busy.
Encouraged by the revolt against the
McCumber bonus bill. the anti-bonus
Senators are working like Trojans and
are determined to leave no stone un-
turned to defeat it outright in the Sem
ate. Failing in that, they are confident
they will have ample votes to prevent
passage of the bill over the veto of the
President.
A feature of the bonus fight discourag-
ing to the legion sponsors Is that practi-
cally all the outstanding figures in the
Senate are opposed to the bonus bill
Their united strength exerted in open
opposition to the bonus bill will be over
whelming, it is feared by the bonus
raiders. ~
Nf his bill for adjusted compensation for
soldiers" as contained in his report to
the Senate, has been blow to bonus ad-
vocates, while the anti-bonus Senators
arc planning to riddle Is numerically.
In Mr.. McCumber's own words. the
adjusted compensation Is very much
less than that received by the lowest
class of labor at home during the whole
war"
That argument was ridiculed by Sena-
tor Borah, who says the adjustment APP
parently is to be on comparison with
the wages paid to the charwoman and
the stable boy.
Many Senator's, even those inclined to
support the bonus bill. are beginning to
realize the force of Senator Borah's
argument and the absurdity Of the intel
lectual defense made by Chairman Nc
Cumber.
Soldering as Employment.
This is the first time in the history
O. this country" said one anti-bonus
Senator to-day" that soldering has
been classed as a galnful employment.
IL we are to class our ex-service men
as Hessians and work on the theory
that they were In the army to make
money, then we ought to pay them
much more than the sum paid any other
class OF workers because of the hazards
and hardships they endured.
However, the men who served their
country in the world war had no idea
they were entering upon gainful en-
ployment. 1t is. absurd and insulting to
that fine body OF young men to justify
the bonus on that ground II Is utterly
impossible for the United States to pay
its debt to the ex-service men OF the
late war in money. To do so would be
~ wreck the United states Treasury"
This Senator agreed with Senator
B9rah that there is no way OF measur-
LII patriotism or compensating II In
collars and cents. He thinks this coun-
try would be comforting a much greater
benefit on the ex-service men by pro-
viding them with good job rather
than granting them a bonus which to
each soldier would be so small as to he
OF little value. while the aggregate sum
would be so large as seriously to inter-
fere with the plans Of the Treasury De-
partment.
The unfortunate thing about the bonus
situation Is the fact that the men who
are louiest In their demand for bonus
arc not concerned 70 the slightest extent
about .he economic problems involved.
They have given that phase OF the ques-
dion no consideration whatever. When
the subject Is brought up they dismiss
~ with a suggestion tnAt the interest on
the foreign debt will be more than suf
fclent fer the purpose. despite the fact
that none of that fund Is in sight. and
the Treasury Department says II will be
needed badly when received for other
purposes.
Revenue Not Their Concern.
Bonus advocates are disposed to let
the other fellow worry about sources Of
revenue 10 pay the bonus. That is not
their concern. They are only looking
on the political side OF the question, and
recent elections in Pennsylvania. Iowa
and Illinois have caused many Senators
20 believe advocacy OF bonus Is a uues-
tonabe asset IL not distinct liability.
Protests against the passage OF the
bonus bill continue to pour In on Sens-
tors from all sections OF the country and
from all classes. Here are few sam
pies
From n resident of Pennsylvania II
take the liberty OF calling your attention
20 the incloscd editorial from THE New
YonK HERALD. 1t tells straight from
the shoulder why the bonus bill should
not be passed The voters Of this State
feel that everything possible should be
done for the sick and injured. The able
Nodded n patriotic, should not demand