Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-29
HELM BATTLES
FOR VOTE INQUIRY
Declares Senate Elections
Committee Is Too Slow.
Wants Probe by Nye.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
Senator "Tom" Heflin of Alabama
launched today in the Senate his bat
tie to retain the seat in that body which
he has held for so many years. and tc
which his opponent, John H. Bankhead
was declared to be elected last No.
vember.
Following up his notice of contest foI
the seat which he filed last night with
the Senate, Senator Hefiin endeavorec
to get before the Senate resolution pro-
viding for the impounding of the ballot
boxes in Alabama and examination by
the Senate Campaign Investigating
Committee.
Senator Robinson of Arkansas. Demo.
cratic leader of the Senate, suggested
that the resolution should be amended
so as to provide that the Senate Com
mittee on Privileges and Election!
should have the jurisdiction over the
ballot boxes if any Senate committee
had it. He pointed out that the con-
test which Senator Heflin has filed goes
TO that committee.
Holds Committee Too Slow.
The Alabama Senator objected, de.
claring that the Privileges and Elections
Committee moved too slowly and that
there were members of that committee
including Senator Moses of New Hamp-
shire and Caraway of Arkansas, who
would be hostile to his cause. He
pointed out, too, that the Campaign
Investigating Committee. headed by
Senator Nye, already had investigated
IN Alabama and that they were turning
UP information daily that would startle
the Senate.
IT tell you that the election in Ala
banna was the most corrupt that ever
took place in this country" said Sen
ator Helm. He insisted that already
more than one-han of the ballot boxes
in Senator Bankhead's own county
jackson County, have been opened in
violation of the law and that ballot
boxes had been opened in 20 other
counties or more.
What Senator wants to shield Mr.
Bankhead," demanded Senator Heflin,
IF the. election was stolen from me?"
The Alabama Senator said that here
and there on the Democratic side of
the chamber the question of States
rights had been raised, the right of a
State to retain custody of the ballot
boxes. He wanted to know why it was
this question was raised now when in
the past the Senate has been willing
enough to take over the ballot boxes in
Pennsylvania and Illinois.
The Alabama Senator took a shot at
Senator Dill of Washington, member
of the Nye committee who, he said
had suggested that Senator Hef1in ought
to file contest if he were not satisfied
with the result of the election.
Hits Senator Dill.
eff Senator Dill doesn't wish to make
the investigation in Alabama" said Sen
ator Helm, I'VE can put another man
on the committee in his place.
Turning to his colleague, Senator
Black of Alabama, Senator Hef1in fired
a series of questions at him. Black
supported Bankhead in the recent SEN
atorial election. Senator Helm was
denied the right to enter the Demo-
cratic primary which nominated Bank
head and Hef1in ran as an independent
in the general election.
Helm wanted to know first whether
Senator Black was in favor of a full
and fair investigation of the Alabama
election. Senator Black replied that
he was in favor of a full and fair IN
vestigation, but that he did not believe
the election had been stolen from SEN
majority Of the people in Alabama con-
sidered the charges made by Senator
Helm "a farce"
Doubts Boxes Opened.
He added that he did not believe
that any of the ballot boxes in Ala
bana had been opened since the cleo
ton or tempered with and said that
he had sent kilograms to officials ask
Z. L. t.s-
nection. Senator Hef1in tried to get
Senator Black then to say whether he
favored the adoption Of his resolution,
but Senator Black replied he would
answer that question when the matter
came before the Senate.
Senator Helm declared that he had
rendered great service to his party and
his country when in the 1928 campaign
he opposed the election of Alfred E.
Smith, Democratic candidate for
President.
"The State Democratic Committee let
me out of the party because dared to
oppose Al Smith" said Senator Helm.
''There was a move on to tntimidate
Democrats so that they would submit
TO Smith denomination in 1882"
Couzens Opposes Action.
Senator Couzens of Michigan an
JI1dJ nc NOulu OOJCSV W bA1C
immediate consideration of the Heflin
resolution. The Michigan Senator said
his objection was made because he be-
lieved the Senate should go ahead with
its consideration of the War Depart
ment appropriation bill
Senator Moses of New Hampshire had
read to the Senate a substitute for the
Helm resolution which would provide
for the taking of the ballot boxes in
Alabama by the Committee on Privi-
leges and Elections instead of the Nye
Committee.
Senator Heflin said he objected to
this procedure. He argued that the
Nye Committee should be permitted to
continue the work it has already begun
Senator Moses said that he did not
believe in divided authority and that
the Privileges and Elections Committee
should have entire jurisdiction.
'.If the Senator from Alabama does
not think he will get justice from this
committee" said Senator Moses, The
Is mistaken. In my opinion justice Is
not what the Senator wants"
"In view of that statement by the
Senator from New Hampshire said
Senator Helm, IT will object to his
serving on the Privileges and Elections
Committee"
To this Senator Moses replied that
Helm could take that matter up with
the Committee on Committees in the
next Congress.