Evening star., 1943-04-07
ALLIES CLOSING IN ON RETREAT|NG RChANEl
Veto Vote Delay
May Aid Lewis,
Bark|ey Warns
Use of Bill as Club
Over Mine Leader
Risky, Senate Told
By the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
Majority Leader Barkley told
his fellow Senators today that if
they keep the Bankhead farm
parity bill behind the door of the
Agriculture Committee as a club
against John L. Lewis of the Mine
Workers, "Mr. Lewis, not Con-
gress, may come out with the
club"
Urging that President Roosevelt's
veto of the measure be sustained
openly on the Senate floor, Senator
Barkley declared:
1T has been suggested that the
bill should be sent back to COM
mittee to be kept behind the door
as club against labor increases,
with particular reference to John
L. Lewis and his United Mine
Workers
"Whatever you may think of John
L. Lewis, he's very able and skillful
strategist. I am not so sure that if
this bill is to be used as a club, that
the club will not be used the other
way. Mr.. Lewis. instead of Con-
gress, may come out with the club"
Vandenberg Favors Delay.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican,
of Michigan argued against sub
mitting the veto to vote now, say
ing that by holding action in abey-
ance, the Senate could strengthen
the Presidents stand against infla-
ton.
1--WE must await presidential &C
ton on other fronts Senator VAN
denberg said.
IF the President performs in the
spirit of his courageous veto mes
sage, it will be our duty to hold
the line.
IF he does not, it will be avail
able to establish new equilibrium =
Action on the veto message ought
to await demonstration of effec-
tive and efficient action to prevent
imitation not only on the farm front
but elsewhere, Senator Vandenberg
said.
Hits "Clever" Course of Action.
Senator Barkley also said he un-
derstood there was a feeling among
some members that it would be "a
clever thing" to avoid direct vote
on MIR. Roosevelt's Veto He sum-
moned the memories Of senatorial
giants of the past, Webster, Hayne
and Calhoun. as arguments against
such a course.
Il do not think it is becoming for
the Senate to try to walk a tight
rope on this or any other problem, =
Senator Barkley asserted. "If people
want to see tightrope walking they
should go to circus, not the SEN
ate"
Farm leaders seek to send the
vetoed bill to the Senate Agriculture
Committee. limiting broadly they
hope to renew their drive to wipe
out the veto after settlement of the
current wage increase demands of
the United Mine Workers.
Arrayed against them, however,
they find determined administra-
ton leadership, with James F..
Byrnes, economic director-termed
the master strategist" by Senator
Bankhead, Democrat, of Alabama
pulling strings behind the scenes to
dispose of the measure now.
Barkley to Fight Delay.
After carrying the brunt of the
battle on the Senate floor, Senator
Barkley told reporters he would fight
to keep the bill from becoming "a
shotgun behind the door" which
might be used as an argument for
altering present economic stabiliza-
ticn formulas
The measure would force price
control officials to disregard benefit
payments made to farmers in estab-
fishing agricultural price ceilings.
Mr.. Roosevelt said such a move
(See BANKHEAD BILL, Page A-4.)