The Washington times., 1924-04-12
VETO BEING
EORI;EDBY
FRIENDS
Democrats Who Have Always
Fought for Veteran Endanger
Passage, Says Lambert.
By JOHN T. LAMBERT,
Cosmopolitan News Service.


Sturdy efforts are being made
here today to prevent the soldiers
bonus from being wrecked by
party politics.
For five years, the Democrats
in Congress have been the con-
slant friend of the bonus. Except
here and there, where some old
time Bourbon has wormed his way
into the party councils, the Demo-
Gratis have to a man supported the
justice of the contention that the
men who fought the war are en-
titled to compensation ser the
direct loss they sustained by being
taken away from their regular
trades, professions, and employ
ments and being put into the can
Torment or trench at a wage
which was incapable of supporting
either themselves or their families.
Everyone else in the world was
compensated except the man who
risked his life.
Helped Democrats.
The bonus issue is responsible
for great changes in Congress. In
the last elections, the Democrats
made substantial gains, due in good
measure to the obtuse Republicans
who were willing to give a billion
to the railroads, hundreds of mil
lions to the war contractors and
other profiteers, but not a penny
Of adjusted compensation to the
veterans.
Senators Dill and Wheeler, and
others, were sent to take their
places beside Robinson, Walsh Of
Massachusetts, and the other re-
liable friends of the bonus The
independent Republicans were sent
from the West by the joint votes
OF the farmers and veterans. The
House made the same ratio of
progressive gains and practically
every new member of the lower
branch is an ot1t-and-out supporter
of the bonus.
There is danger now that the
tables may be turned The bonus
bill that passed the House. found
the Republicans overwhelmingly in
favor of it. The bill as it stands is
certain to pass over veto of the
2 President, if he insists upon assert
ing his own view above that Of
the majority.
Democrats Provoke Veto.
But here and there an occasional
Democrat seems ready, under the
guise of friendship for the soldiers
to load down the bill with amend
ments which are expected to pro-
woke a Presidential veto. 1t is
charged they care less for the sue
cess of the bill and the welfare of
the veterans than they do for the
opportunity thus afforded to play
politics in the hope they will force
the President to run the risk Of
losing the soldier vote.
The veterans have at last come to
realization of their own strength.
1t is understood the Legion has
gained 100000 members recently
and that the veterans, like the
farmers of the Northwest, look sui
ACIlIy upOI LIlOSC WIN nave LrGdLGQ
them with much treachery and lit
tie relief
The effort to distract the present
political move against the bonus
here rests upon the assumption that
there is glory enough for both par
ties in passing the bonus. The
Democrats, who have been it's
friends in the dark hours, can i'll
afford to appear to desert it now,
when the prospects Of it's success
are SO bright.
Both parties are facing an cleo.
ton when they will be held to ac-
count by the veterans, who have
Peen inspired to fight for their
rights. Leader Robinson and some
of his wiser associates are confront
ed by the possibility that the Re-
publicans will garner the principal
credit, and the Democrats will de-
rive little from a cause to which
they have been so faithful in the
past unless all thought Of political
capital is removed soon from the
bonus strategy.