Evening star., 1943-10-29
Soldier Vote Measure
To Put Chief Justice
|0n Ballot Commission
BY J. A. OLEARY.

BY J. A. OLEARY.
Senator Lucas. Democrat, of Illi-
nois agreed today to amend the
Green-Lucas soldier vote bill to
make the Chief Justice of the United
States the deciding member of the
five man war ballot commission, as a
Senate subcommittee began hearings
on the measure.
House Republican Leader Martin
two weeks ago criticized the original
plan to have the President appoint
at least two Democrats and at least
two Republicans, leaving in doubt
the status of the fifth member.
! Senator Bridges, Republican, oil
New Hampshire, who raised the is
sue today said his only purpose was
to make the setup Of the commits
sion air tight so that if next years
election should be close, and possibly
decided by the soldier votes, the re-
suit would not be open TO question
Lucas Stresses Sincerity.
Senator LucH who joined Sen
ator Green. Democrat, OF Rhode Is
land in drafting the bill, assured the
subcommittee his only purpose is tc
give Americas fighting men the op-
portunity to vote, under the super
vision of ''nonpartisan, honest and
efficient commission.
I'm so interested in this bill they
can appoint three Republicans anc
give US two Democra ts-that's how
far I'm willing to go he said.
Later, he said the Secretary o.
State Of Massachusetts is preparing
to recommend an amendment, put
ting the Chief Justice on the com
mission, and added it is acceptable
TO him
Senator Lucas said ne had the
impression last year that the Army
and Navy was unsympathetic tC
soldier voting because the amount
OF administrative work it involved
but at recent conference of State
officials in st. Louis the Army anC
Navy were very helpful.
Senator Lucas also advocated spe.
cial sessions of State Legislatures
I for removal of legal barriers which
he said would prevent many service,
men from voting for State and loca
Offices in the 1914 elections.
Thousands of servicemen. over.
seas and al home. won't have g
chance 10 vote next year for State
and local officers unless the Cover
nors of the various States call the
, Legislatures into special session anC
remove the complicated legal re-
strictions now governing absentee
voting" he said
Sees No Hindrance to War.
Senator Butler. Republican. o1
Nebra ska called attention TO the
furore election campaigns create a.
home and asked Senator Lucas il
there is any danger in creating {
similar atmosphere in the Army ol
Navy and thus interfere with the
war
Senator Lucas said he did no
think there is anything in that
argument. adding.
I think its just as important tha
these boys vote as that We Senc
Senators around the world, ant
that took time
Servicemen now constitute such ,
large part Of the electorate tina
any national election in which the,
cid not participate could hardly bt
called representative. Senator
Green declared at the opening O
hearings.
Brooks ASsaiiS Bills Form.
Earlier, Senator Brooks, Republi.
can, of Illinois charged the bill is sc
drafted as to give President RooSe
welt an advantage in next year.
election, assuming he seeks a fourth
term
The Brooks charge. made in al
interview. is based on the proposed
Slmplltled ballot. on which blank
spaces are left for the soldier ol
sailor 10 write in the name or party
OF his choice. Senator Brooks con.
tended that if the names of The
presidential nominees are not print
ed on the ballot servicemen are more
likely TO remember the name of tht
President than his opponent, Sen
ator Brooks made ii plain he favor
the purpose of the bill and was OBJ
lecting only to the approach.
Defending the constitutional rieh
Of Congress TO pass such a bill. Sen
ator Green said there are thre,
points involved. namely: The powe
OF Congress TO establish an abSente,
ballot to eliminate preliminary reg
istration and TO suspend any poll Ia.
requirement during the war.
Cites Previous Bill.
In each OF these particulars. II
argued. there is no difference be
tween this bill and the law paSse
last year, which Senator Green sal
proved TOO cumbersome.
All three points were raised j
debate in both houses of Coneres
when the present law was enactec
By the vote in both houses in favo
OF the present law. Congress for
mallE expressed its judgment. j
other words, the proposed law is a
constitutional as the existing law,
Senator Green said.
In defense CT the clause elnminat
ing registration. he pointed out man
young men have reached voting ag
since leaving home for military serv
ice. and therefore have had n
chance to register.
The objective of the bill was in
dorsed by Postmaster General Franl
S. Walker, chairman of the Demo
cratic National Committee, and b.
Admiral Emory S. Land of the Wa
Shipping Administration. Admira
Land said every effort would b.