New-York tribune., 1922-09-20
Ho,U N. Y. Press Vie,cs
Harding's Veto Of Bonus
president Met His Duty Man-
fully,' Saws the Worid';
'HerCLd' LGuds His STRENGTH

The New York newspapers comment
editorially on President Harding's veto
# the soldiers bonus bill as follows:
The World
President Harding's veto Of the bonus
bill is not only the most courageous
Thing that he has yet done, but it is
altogether the most statesman-like
thing that he has yet done.
Mr.. Harding has met the issue, and
he has met it without finching or
apologizing.
Although the veto was expected and
lad been anticipated by the Republi-
can leaders in Congress, few of them
could have been prepared for so force
full statement Of the Presidents OBJ
Jections or have foreseen that Mr..
Harding would make so convicing an
argument against the shamelessly i'm
moral measure by which they intended
TO provide campaign fund for the %
party this fall at The expense of the
United States Treasury.
1t Will always remain TO the credit
x the President that he met his duty
IN this matter squarely and manfully.
The American people cannot fail to
respect him for what he has done
The Herald
In his action yesterday with regard
to the bonus Legislation President
Harding revealed himself to the Amer
iean people as man of courage and
as a Chief Executive who puts sacred
duty ahead Of personal, political con-
sIderation.
In returning the bonus measure to
congress without his approval, and
IN opposition to the tremendous pres
sure OF his own party, President
harolng had consideration for the
common sense of the situation. with
me government staggering as it is
under the enormous burden of debt. II
IS the coward who eringes to political
eIamor, not the strong man, and Mr..
harding now stands out before the
american people, and the world, as a
man who has the strength and the
torce of character to make good in q
duty '''0
The Times
President Hardings veto of the
bonus bill is but the last in series
OF steps which he has taken to prevent
'he pIling of that intoIerablc burden
on the back of the country. He alone
mas stood effectively between the peo-
ple and this eXaction. But for him
inc bill would have become law last
Year, Again this year he long held
up its passage by his letter to Chair
/ man Fordney, and by letting it be
Nnown that he surely would veto il
unless It met conditions which he and
everybody knew to be distasteful Ia
congress and impossible of enactment
Now, when the time has at last come
20 put his courage and sense of duty
TO the test, he takes his pen and writes
forbid" across the face of the bill
The veto message is much strongo,
and more explicit than had been ex
pected. If the veto is sustained in +h,
Senate, as the Presidents friends ar.
confident that it will be, the bill vii
not be brought up again in the presen
Congress. It's chances in the mex
Congress cannot fail to be dimmed b,
the lapse of time, the falling of o
public. interest, and the heightenet
financial difficulties which are certai,
TO confront the government durin,
1923. All this change in the outlooj
for bill which last year was declare,
certain to pass" we owe to Presiden
Harding. If the country does not TAX
due advantage of the breathing spac
which he has won for it, the fault vii
he its own, not his. In this matter o
high Importance, the President has S,
borne himself as to deserve we'll of tn,
Republic.