Evening star., 1943-11-21
New Soldier Vote Plan
Offered by Revercomb
On Eve Of Debate
By J. A. O'LEARY,

next years election, under which
the serviceman would send home a
power-of-attorney, authorizing some
member of his family to cast his
vote on election day.
That was only one of a number
of changes IN the pending Green
Lucas bill considered by Republicans
yesterday, as the Senate prepared
to open debate on the measure to-
morrow.
The entire Republican member
ship OF the Senate has been called
to meet in party conference at
10:30 am. tomorrow to discuss
amendments tentatively outlined
yesterday by dozen G. o. P. SEN
ators.
Believe His Plan Better.
Speaking individually, Senator
Revercomb said he would rather
give the serviceman, away from
home next year, the right to desig-
nate a relative or close friend to
record his preference at the polling
place, on proper showing of au-
thority, than to distribute blank
forms at military bases all over the
world to be filled in and mailed back.
AS the bill now stands, this SIM
plified form of ballot-limited to the
election of President, Vice Presi-
dent, Senators and Representatives
would be available to the millions
of servicemen and women in camps
In this country, as well as overseas.
At the same time, Senators Rever-
comb and Vandenberg, Republican
of Michigan, both foresaw the posi-
bility of another Hayes-Tilden con-
test growing out of next years elec-
ton, If Congress approves the pro-
vision in the Green-Lucas bill, en-
powering the War Ballot Commits
sion to recommend to the House and
Senate that the electoral vote of a
State be declared invalid if the COM
mission finds there was not sub
stantial compliance" with the SOL
Gier-vote law in any State.
Contest Over Hayes.
In the election of 1876 the elec-
toral votes of several States were
challenged, and charges made by
both sides. A commission Of five
Senators, five representatives and
five Supreme Court justices finally
was appointed to determine the is
sue. The commission stood 8 to Z,
and Hayes was declared elected by
an electoral vote of 1875 to 1874.
Republicans emphasized they have
no desire to place any obstacles in
the way of soldier voting, but be-
lieve additional safeguards should
be placed around the machinery for
giving them the opportunity to vote.
Senator Bridges, Republican, of
New Hampshire, outlined five
amendments he said we're discussed
yesterday and probably will be con-
sidered by the minority conference
tomorrow. They are:
/. To require the President to Sc
1ect the four members of the War
Ballot Commission from lists of
nominees submitted to him by the
Democratic and Republican National
Committees. Each committee would
submit six names and the President
would appoint two. The Republican
suggestion would eliminate the pro-
vision for designation of Federal
judge to preside and cast the de-
Gliding vote in event of tie.
Equal Distribution Of Literature.
2. An amendment to require equal
distribution of literature to men and
women in the armed services by any
agency of Government which may
be given that task.
3. To prohibit censors from re-
moving names from political litera-
ture.
4. To require the Ballot Commits
sion to act by majority vote. If
the commission is confined to two
members from each of the major
parties, this would limit it's action
to proposals that gained the sup
port of at least one member of the
opposite party.
5. To eliminate the section en-
abling the War Ballot Commission
to recommend the throwing out of
the electoral vote of a State If the
commission certifies the soldier-vote
bill has not been complied with sub
stantially.
Vandenberg Explains Bill.
"The implications of the measure
go far beyond the question of IA
cilitating a total service vote, which
is something every one wants to
facilitate in every possible, practical
way" said Senator Vandenberg.
For one example, the provision
In the pending bill which would
permit the War Ballot Commission
to invalidate the entire electoral
vote OF State If it finds that there
has not been substantial compli-
ance by officials of such State with
the provisions of the bill could
easily precipitate almost exactly the
kind OF a controversy over the next
presidential succession as we had in
the Hayes-Tilden affair.
"Of course. nothing of the sort Is
contemplated by, the sponsors of
the bill, but when the presidency
of the United States in the midst
of war crisis is at stake, it is
perfectly obvious that any such
bill must be tested against any haz-
ardous contingency.
Guards Against Obstacles.
ut has nothing to do with keep
Ing servicemen from voting. On
the contrary, it is an effort to
be very sure there are no unfore-
seen obstacles, because we want to
be sure every serviceman brought
within reach of a ballot shall have
the chance to cast and have it
counted under the full protection
of law"
Congress passed a law last year
providing for the send of absentee
ballots to servicemen, but in re-
porting the Green-Lucas bill the
Privileges and Elections Committee
said the present process was found
to he ineffective IT. ren,liraS threo