Evening star., 1942-11-18
Poll Tax
Continued From First PAGE J

Senator Barkley in the majority
leadership to which he was elected
in 1887, Senator Hill said, he had
not heard of it.
Senator McKellar frequently
turned in Senator Barkley's direc-
ton with bitter looks.
He asserted that in the 267 roll
calls since January S, he had been
absent only 8 times while II find the
Senator from Kentucky absent 2l
times"
Senator McKellar's speech brought
to the surface the growing bitterness
felt by Southern poll tax Senators
toward Senator Barkley for his as
sumption of leadership in the drive
to pass a measure outlawing collec-
ton of a poll tax.
Senator McKellar said the letter to
President Roosevelt indorsing Sem
ator Barkley for the Supreme Court
was written without the majority
leaders knowledge and was signed
by a number of other Senators. He
read the letter, which said Senator
Barkley's splendid education"
great ability" and fine character"
fit him especially for appointment to
the court.
II wrote every word of that letter
myself, Senator McKellar said,
never dreaming that this man I
was so highly recommending would
single me out and put the indignity
upon me OF being arrested"
Il am against this bill and I
shall filibuster against it and call it
filibustering" Senator McKellar
shouted with right arm upralSed.
"Ill take any step against 1t,
because I believe in the Constitution
of the United States"
Smith Unable to Gain Floor.
Senator Smith, Democrat, of South
Carolina tried to gain the floor, but
Russell refused to yield to him,
whereupon Senator Smith threat
ened III speak in my own time
about 40 hours"
Senator Barkley later expressed
hope Senator McKeIlar would not
withdraw his name from round
robin petition recommending him
to the Supreme Court, even though
the majority leader said the petition
would never reach the President"
Il hope he won't have his name
stricken from the petition because
1 appreciated his action and would
like to keep it in my files as evil
dence of the esteem l was once
held, even though I may not enjoy
it now," he declared.
Senator Barkley took the floor to
answer what has been said about
me personally and ofncially," and
added he did not intend to be
"goaded' into animosity or i'll feel
ing. least of all toward Senator Nc
Kellar, whom he had known for 80
years.
He said the arrests of Senator
McKellar and other Senators Satur-
day came as a result of a series
of parliamentary steps to obtain a
quorum.
He appreciated the compliment
of the Endorsement for the Supreme
Court and said a seat on that bench
was "a goal that was the worthy
ambition of every lawyer"
But it is an appointment to which
the President ought to be left free
to make his choice" Senator Bark
ley continued. II am in no sense
an applicant for it."
Senator Russells strategy against
the bill, begun yesterday, was to
insist on correcting" the journal
of Mondays session, which must be
disposed of before other business
can be taken up.
Senator Bilbo. Democrat, of Mis-
sissippi meanwhile kept a stack of
books on his desk to supply himself
with material for extended debate if
the bill should be called up for dis
cussion.
Murray Assails Tactics.
President Philip Murray of the
Congress of Industrial Organiza-
tions yesterday sent a letter to
members of the Senate declaring
that the Nation stands aghast and
enraged at the tactics of small bloc
- which is seeking to frustrate
majority rule in this Nation"
He called for speedy enactment of
the anti-poll tax legislation, assert
ing:
I'm this period of national crisis,
I'the opening of our polling places
to every qualified citizen in the Ma
ton by the elimination of poll tax
restrictions which disenfranchise
large numbers of American citizens
is a measure essential to our war
effort"