The daily times., 1922-02-16
Senator Lodge Was Put in EN-
barrassing Position When
the Leviathan Contract Was
Given to Virginia Company
Instead of New England
Concern, Bonus Opposed.
(By David Lawrence
Copyright, 1922, by The Daily


6
Times.) ...ssl,
Washington, Feb. 15.-Pres1dent ]
Harding has just made two brave
decisions which, irrespective of any
thing else that may happen to his
political fortunes, stand out as mile
stones in his career.
To turn down his personal friend
and political associate, Senator Henry
Cabot Lodge, on matter that means
much to the chances of Mr.. Lodge
for reelection this fall was to do
something which few Presidents havei
had the courage to do. To turn down
the almost unanimous demand OF his
party associates in Congress for eth
er a bond issue or a series OF direct
taxes to raise money for soldier
bonus was also no simple matter.
Both decisions have been based up
on what Mr.. Harding himself admits
were the inexorable laws OF business
and sound finance as against the will
of politics and special favor.
Briefly, Senator Lodge was put in
Ian embarrassing position by some
voters in his constituency who saw no
reason why the Boston Navy Yard
with 2,5OO workers should not get
the benefit of the work to be done
in reconditioning the former German
liner Leviathan. Mr.. Lodge was per-
lsuaded to introduce an amendment to
"a pending appropriation bill which
would have compelled the United
States Shipping Board to let the con-
tracts to navy yards and to disregard
1.-THE bids already made for the work
by private firms. The Senate adopted
the amendment but President Hard
ing listened to the objections OF
iChairman Lasker of the Shipping
Board who declared that severa
firms had already spent many thou
'sands Of dollars in making surveys II
determine how much to bid and tina
lsound business principles dictated tn
necessity of giving the work to tn
Lowest bidder.
Mr.. Harding was similarly advlse'
partment 1t was hard, however, t
say to Mr.. Lodge that the amendmen
adopted by the Senate must b.
- IGNORED. It's true the amendmen
wasn't law and isn't law yet. Blu
word from the President Woul
have caused the Shipping Board to d
fer to Senator Lodge. The Preslden
D. has the utmost confidence in Chai1
man Lasker and he showed 1t IN
signal way by following the latter
Recommendation instead of the pleat
D. ines of a political bosom friend. IL
day, therefore, the Shipping Boar
Awarded the contract to the Newpol
News Ship Building Company and
z, far as politics is concerned, DEM
lcratic constituency in Virginia WI
get the benefit of the work and the
will be no political advantage to tt
Administration except insofar as fo
lowing a business instead of a poli'
cal principle is broadly a good thln
Mr.. Harding explained to friends
lterWards that the government cou
IL not beStOW special IaVOTS III d"dfuH
work of this kind and while he
not mention Senator Lodge by nam
lhe suggested that to follow the WI
lof the Massachusetts constituen
might cost the government many m
Hons of dollars more.
AS for the bonus, Mr.. Harding's
ltitude stated substantially as folio
at the White House:
to Under the pressure of wars respt
of sibilities and the spirit Of patriots
ate and the readiness to do or die,
on government can raise almost any 81
ock of money. It did during the war. I
ere in times Of peace there is not
.ep- same sweep of determination to
the things. For this reason, the Presid'
). CONTINUED on Page Six.)