Evening star., 1922-05-03
Reelection and Bonus.
Senator Borah stirred up the new

Senator Borah stirred up the news
papers of the country with his letter
to the Pocatello Poet of the American
Legion. His declaration that vote
for the soldiers bonus, SO far as he
was concerned. would mean an effort
to purchase reelection through raid
on the public Treasury has brought
forth sharp comment, most of 1t. how
ever. altogether favorable to the SEN
ator. There is a general disposition
on the part of many editors to de-
bate the senator's statement without
regard to the merits of the bonus
question, while other editors have
taken advantage of the opening to
reopen the general discussion of the
bonus problem.
impeached the characters and reputa-
tions of the majorities of his asso-
ciates in Congress beyond the pale of
toieration or forgiveness" the Knox
willie Sentinel insists. land not only
the Senate but the House member
ship and the American people are
shamCd beyond all measure If mem
bers of the two houses do not resent it
and bring him to the bar of their two
pOulcS. ne iSS lOHS dS d uOuS, ohOoAu
demand the Idaho senator's expulsion
from the Senate in defense of its
sacred dignity and honor"
r Yet a directly opposite opinion is
entertained by the New York Tribune
-(republican), which insists that '.the
Idaho senator has elected to follow
what he considers the righteous and
patriotic course. He is not to be
driven from 1t by threats of political
vengeance. In this he has done only
what senator's Of tried moral courage
have generally done. He would rath-
er run the risk of losing his seat than
bid for reelection by participating in
what he considers a raid on the
Treasury. The bonus agitation would
not have made such headway If there
The senator Is urged to make his
sentiments a matter of Senate record
by the Minneapolis Tribune (repub-
lican). which suggests that "a typi-
cal Borah talk along the lines of the
Pocatello letter would create some-
thing Of q stir in the Senate. How
much self-consciousness it would
arouse among his colleagues is one
Of those things that only can be sur
missed. Meanwhile Commander Mac
Nider of the American Legion serves
notice on the Senate that that body
is expected to pass the bonus meas
ure without further delay
REGARDLESS Of the fate Of the bonus,
the Seattle Times independent re-
publican) completely indorses the
legion demand that the strength of
the Army be placed at 10000 men,
holding that ''it's truly a pity that
the altruism which finds expression
in opposition to an American Army
Of ADEQUATE size cannot find express
sion sometime in a demand that the
Army shall be big, enough and eff
cient enough to give Americas youth
the adequate training 1t needs in or
der to have the best possible chance
of surviving when sent into battle"
Characterizing the bonus as "the
latest example of shotgun legisla-
tion," the New York Evening World
(democratic) insists that 'it is pity,
all the more pity, because the shot
gun held to the head Of Congress
ed. Mr. MacNider can't deliver the
vote Of the American Legion. much
less all of the veterans" In the
opinion of the Fargo IN. d. Forum,
however. Senator Borah deserves
commendation for his position, the
newspaper insisting that 1T .aI Gaaiea
stand like that. The road to re-elec-
tion is creased with public money
and buying votes with public money
has become one Of the popular sports
of Washington. Senator Borah Is ON
the reSeTVat1On OltShCE tAAA -
on it, but here is one occasion when
he has shown not only the the co9rags o9 h;s
party: but also better judgment than
the majority has shown" ,
So far as the Youngstown (Ohio)
vindicator (democratic) is concerned.
it believes that the members mnob OF tas ne
anv men. and it says that 1T Is easy
under tie fseir tq batg masnd ane
chsArinr FOR q senator who: thinks
q h,s pr,nsnle:r rs1s shan .ensneas ne dees
=. - morrn1y indorsed by the Lincoln
Nsbr STATE t5ess 5errnal al: ans mh1sh Amsg ssys
;can ex-soldiers who do not honor
gorsh the %sra fes thls dis his
Convictions go counter to theirs.
senator Serao poitIesg ansTee exehansss Il nax
ths Iitfie Rock Arkansas Gazette
points ;n out add adding taae sssrs i
noiitfciar. state ana national. should
rsfnse to be 4 party t. aontsmp tible