Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-04-02
TELLS why LODGE
VOTED AGAINST VETO
ON SOLDIER BONUS

Boston, April 1.-The first explana-
tion of the action of the late Henry
Cabot Lodge in refusing to support
the presidents veto Of the veterans
adjusted compensation bill was made
public today by Bishop William Law
renee of the Episcopal diocese of
Massachusetts in delivering the ad-
dress Of eulogy at joint session Of the
state senate and house Of representa-
tlves held in memory of the former
senator from Massachusetts, A prom
lse previously made to "a great con-
stituency" was assigned by Senator
Lodge, the speaker said, as his reason
for falling to support the president on
that occasion.
Bishop Lawrence, a friend of Sena-
tor Lodge from boyhood, analyzed the
character and career of the Massachu-
settS statesman before gathering
that filled the chamber of the house.
Regarding the attitude Of Senator
Lodge on the bonus, Bishop Lawrence
said: THE veterans adjustment bill
passed by Congress was vetoed by
the president, was passed over his
head by the House. and coming before
the Senate was bound to meet a very
close vote. Senator Lodge had sup
| ported both bonus and adjustment
bills from the start. Would he hold
| his position? Thousands of kilograms
| poured in on him urging him to stand
| by the president. I sent one. When,
however. it came to the final vote. Sem
ator Lodge answered to the call in IA
vor of the bill and overriding the pres
, ident's veto and only his vote was
| needed to reverse the decision. 1t was
| critical moment in the life and long
career of the senior senator. the leader
| Of his presidents party; and anath-
| emas were hurled at him from over the
country. He was accused of playing
| false to the president, a friend and
| former governor of his state.
| "When the national convention met
! in Cleveland, he who had been perma-
nent chairman thrice, who had been
chairman OF the committee on resolu-
tions and who for years had been a
man to be considered at every step,
found himself without Office and often
coolly, though courteously, treated.
Delegates sought his room for advice
and he had a quiet but important part
in making up the platform. He simply
said: My party has given me high
honor in the past and If l had done
what is not now approved by many.
why should I not take my place in the
ranks?' and taking out his little vol
ume Of Shakespeare which was al
ways with him he read quietly in his
room, recalled happy memories ana
harbored no i'll will. His past was
secure.
| What perverse reason or temper
could have led him to this act was
asked on every hand. His answer was
given In a letter to a friend. He
wrote:
! 1.-The veterans adjustment bill
came up a second time and l voted,
of course. to pass it. Then came the
tremendous pressure to have me
change my decision and vote against
it. This I simply could not do. l
/ should have lost all my self-respect II
I had. had not made promise to
any individuals or to soldiers, be-
cause they never asked me for one:
but had made the promise by decla-
ration to a great constituency. There
have been no changes in conditions
whatever. l simply could not do IL
If I had I should have incurred the
! Just contempt Of those whom l had
| betrayed and the contempt also of
those whom / had deserted. l do not
mean that my opinion is right or
wrong. l am speaking of my own ac-
I tiOn'"