Evening star., 1925-04-02
LODGE BONUS VOTE
REASON IS GIVEN
Kept Pledge and Paid
Penalty Willingly,
Friend Says.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
BOSTON, April 2.-Explanation of
the late Henry Cabot Lodge in re-
fusing the support the Presidents
veto of the veterans adjustment bill
was made public yesterday by Bishop
William Lawrence of the Episcopal
diocese of Massachusetts, in deliver
ing an address of eulogy at Joint
session of the State Senate and House
of Representatives, held in memory
of the former senior Senator from
Massachusetts. "A promise previous
ly made to great constituency" was
assigned by Senator Lodge, the speak
er said, as his reason for failing to
support the President on that occa-
sion.
Bishop Lawrence, a friend of Sena-
tor Lodge from boyhood, analysed the
character and career of the Massa-
chusetts statesman before gather
ing which filled the chamber of the
House of Representatives. Regard
ing 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 very
close vote Senator Lodge had sup
ported both bonus and adjustment
bills from the start. Would he hold
to his position? Thousands of tele-
grams poured in on him urging him
TO stand by the President. l sent
one. When, however, it came to the
anal vote Senator Lodge answered to
the call in favor of the bill and
overriding the Presidents veto, and
only his vote was needed to reverse
the decision.
Critical Moment of Life.
1T was a critical moment in the
life and long career of the Senator,
the leader of his Presidents party,
and anathemas were hurled at him
from over the country: He was ac-
cused of playing false to the Presi-
dent, a friend and former governor
of his State.
when the national convention met
in Cleveland, he who had been per-
manent chairman thrice, who had been
chairman of the committee on resolu-
tions and who for 40 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 plat
form. He simply said, MY party has
given me high honor in the past and
If I had done what is not now ap
proved by many, why should I not
take my place in the ranks?'
And taking out his little volume
of Shakespeare, which was always
with him, he read quietly in his room,
recalled happy memories and har-
bored no i'll will His past was Sc
cure.
Explained to Friend.
what perverse reason or temper
could have led him to this act? was
asked on every hand. His answer is
given in a letter to a friend. He
wrote:
1.-The veterans adjustment bill
came up second time, and I voted,
Of course, to pass it. Then came the
tremendous pressure to have me
change my position and vote against
it. This 1 simply could not do.
should have lost all my self-respect
If L had. I had not made a promise
to any individuals or to soldiers be-
cause they never asked me for one,
but 1 had made the promise by decla-
ration to a great constituency. There
have been no changes in conditions
whatever. l simply could not do it.
If 1 had l should have incurred the
just contempt of those whom I had
betrayed and the contempt also of
those whom 1 had deserted.
1 do not mean that my opinion is
right or wrong. 1 am speaking of
my own action
when at Nahant awaiting his sec
ond operation a friend found him
lying on his couch, weak but ready
to talk, he said with deep emotion:
I voted to draft the men into the war
I promised TO vote for a bonus when
they went across. 1 regard that as
a sacred promise and would have be-
trayed them had I broken it,"