Evening star., 1943-12-06
Morley Hits Senate
Soldier Vote Bill
As Empty Gesture
BY J. A. OLEARY.


BY ]. A. OLEARY.
Decribing the Senate version of
the servicemen's vote bill IAN empty
gesture" Chairman Worley of the
House Committee on Election of
President and Vice President, said
he is hopeful the House will adopt
a more workable plan.
BY vote OF AZ to 81, the Senate
rejected the proposed simplif1ed
Federal ballot on which all men,
bers, of the armed forces in the
United States and abroad would have
voted for President and members
Of Congress. In It's place the Senate
passed bill merely recommending
to the States that they pass appro-
pirate laws.
Taking issue with the claim that
the original bill involved the issue of
state rights" Mr.. Worley said elec-
ton officials in each State still would
have been the judges OF the validity
of the simplified ballot, except for
the waiver of registration and of
poll taX-which were set aside for
servicemen by 1912 law.
Cites Own Record.
Mr. Worley said that in his State
Legislature and in the House he has
been a stronger advocate of State
rights than some of the opponents
Of the simplified soldier vote bill.
1T is not a question of State
rights. 1t is merely one OF CO.
operation between the Federal and
State governments to make it pos
sible for those away in the military
service to vote" he continued, con-
tending that the time factor will
prevent men on the war fronts from
going through the normal procedure
OF writing for and returning an
ordinary State absentee ballot.
The chairman of the House com
mittee also declared he wants TO
draft "a non-partisan bill" Com
menting on the Taft amendment To
the Senate bill, which prohibits use
OF Federal funds by any Government
agency to send political propaganda
to service men. Mr. Worley said
he is in favor of giving Opposing
sides an equal opportunity in pre-
senting their case.
Empty Gesture"
Il don't know when we will have
a meeting tof the House com
mittee)," said Mr.. Worley. Il have
been reading the Senate bill and
debate and If it does what l think
it is just an empty gesture"
Some States, he said. have made
sincere effort TO give the soldiers
chance to vote. while others have
made no provision. He said his only
purpose would be to work out some
thing that will make it practical
for soldiers to get their votes back
home in. time.
Commenting on the action of
Congress last year in setting aside
registration and poll tax require
ments for servicemen. Mr.. Worley
said it would be up to a ma ioritv of
the committee to determine those
questions, but expressed his belief
those exemptions are necessary If
they really want soldiers to vote"
Meanwhile, the battle of words
over the Senate'S action continued.
with Representative Rankin. Demo-
crat, OF Mississippi replying to the
statement of Senator Guffev. Demo-
crat, of Pennsylvania that an "un-
holy alliance" of Southern Demo-
Gratis and Northern Republicans
beat the original bill
Representative Rankin described
Senator Guffeys statement as "one
of the most ridiculous statements I
have seen"
I wonder Just when Holy Joe be-
came so intensely interested in the
welfare of the men in our armed
forces said Mr. Rankin IN a state
ment.
Last year, when my amendment
to raise the base pay of the men in
our armed forces to $50 month
came before the Senate on a mo-
ton to instruct the conferences
to accept that amendment. Senator
Guffey voted against it.
Moore Derides alliance"
He opposed the best interests of
the men in the service then, and he
is opposing their best interests now =
He described the substitute bill
as the American way"
Senator Moore, Republican. of
Oklahoma, one OF those who Senator
Guffey says formed the "unholy
alliance" retorted last night that
what they really did was to help
head of the most gigantic vote
stealing in history"
The squabble broke out Friday
when Southern Democrats and Re-
publicans teamed to upset the Sem
ate leadership. They threw out the
bill for a Federal absentee voting
plan and substituted State super
vision
Senator Guffev called it an "un-
holy alliance" which would deprive
the armed forces of their right to
vote. and for this Senator Moore
called him the veriest demagogue. -
Senator Moore said in a statement
that the administration bill laid
the basis for the most gigantic vote
stealing in history" and he defended
the Democrats who voted with his
colleagues against it. declaring:
No member of the Senate would
deny any constitutional opportunity
for the men and women in uniform
to vote"
The simple facts" said Senator
Moore, ARE that the White House
palace guard knows that the fourth
term Jig is up The Lucas
Green bill for establishing a Federal
ballot commission was bold, last
ditch effort to herd our American
boys into polling booths the world
over and vote them en- bloc for the
New Deal"
Influenza
Continued From First Page.)
ago, said Dr., De Kleine, a former
medical director of the American
nl