The New York herald., 1922-06-16
Defiant Attitude Threatens
Whole Program Of Ad-
mlinistratiOn.
BATTLE ROYAL CERTAIN
All Agree That Outcome
Hinges Upon Result Of
Preliminary Fight.
By LOUIS sEIBoLD.

By LOUIS sEIBoLD.
Special Dispatch to THE NEW York HzrALD.
washington. d. G.. June i5.
A conference OF Republican Sena-
tors to be held next Monday will de-
eide whether the bonus raid shall be
permitted to split the Republican ma
jority in the upper house wide open.
The conference was arranged by
Senator Lodge. majority leader, after
an interview with President Harding
this morning. Senator Lodge an
nounced that the conference would
decide on 'the order Of business" to
prevail for the remainder of the ses-
sion and with particular reference to
the disturbing bonus proposition.
The bonus Senators met the an
nouncement of Senator Lodge with
the positive declaration that they
would move within few days to pass
the bonus bill regardless of the de-
cision of the conference or the atti-
tude Of President Harding.
The defiant attitude Of the bonus
Senator'S has precipitated a situation
which threatens the entire program of
the Administration. including the
tarift. Senator McCumber, who mani
testify was disturbed over the result
OF the conference between the Presi,.
dent and the leader Of the majority In
the Senate. said no intended to GO
ahead with his plan to set aside the
tariff in order to dispose Of the bonus
without further delay.
Democrats to Aid.
Mr.. McCumber announced that re-
gardless of the decision Of the con-
ference he would move early next
week to lay aside temporarily the
tariff for a few days" in order to
get a vote on the bonus bill He
clearly intimated- that his plan would
not be affected by the conference. in
which position he was supported by
number of his colleagues. including
La Toilette. Lenroot. Capper, John
son, Gooding. and. OF course. the ma
jority of the Democratic Senators who
will uphold any movement to elimi-
nate or delay the tariff.
The attitude of the bonus Senators
engendered a conflict Of Senatorial
emotions not entirely free from bit
terness. According to the plans OF
Senator Lodge the conference will de-
eide: Q) Whether the tariff bill shall
be kept constantly before the Senate:
(2) II the ship subsidy bin shall be
advanced to the next position. and (3)
II the bonus shall be permitted to dis
place both Of these projects for which
the President has expressed a prefer
ence.
While the Republican conference
was not primarily arranged with the
view of passing on the bonus every
Senator in both groups on the sub
ject realizes the treatment to be ac-
corded It Will dominate the delibera-
tions and conclusions on it.
President Gets support.
A scrutiny Of the situation tonight
justifcs the statement that not all.
Of the Republican Senator's will even
venture into conference because OF
their opposition to the bonus also
that the majority Of those who will
participate probably will follow the
leadership Of the President and head
off any movement to adopt the Nc
Cumbcr suggestion OF setting aside
the tariff.
The fact was the majority of the
bonus Senators headed by Mr.. Nc
Cumber anticipated such a result.
Wherefore. they did not lose any time
In declaring they would move to bring
up the bonus bill at once regardless
of the results of the conference. A
split over the McCumber program of
forcing the bonus to the front as
sumed definite form and justified the
declaration of Senator's on both sides
of the controversy that battle royal
over 1t probably will occur next week.
The result. of course. will determine
the fate OF the bill.
In communicating the substance OF
his conversation with the President to
his associates, Senator Lodge asserted
that no particular prominence had
been given the bonus matter. The
discussions between the President and
the Senator's related to the order OF
business" TO be adopted by the major
ity In disposing of the tariff. the ship
subsidy, the bonus and few other
comparatively unimportant measures.
Senators with whom Mr.. Lodge con-
ferred on his return to the Capitol
gained the impression that the Presi-
dent hopes there will be greater expe-
dition in disposing of Congressional
matters and that the two houses will
finish their work in sufficient time to