Evening star., 1944-01-04
Lucas Moves 10 Offer
Senate New Version
OF Soldier Vote Bill
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

1ilc llSllt lOr q SlIupllleQ FeQ-
eral ballot to let servicemen vote
in this years national election,
although rejected by the Senate,
may be reopened in that cham
Der before its comes to a head
In the House.
At the same time, Senator VAN
denberg, Republican, of Michigan
urged early June conventions for
both major political parties to expe-
dite soldier voting. The Michigan
Senator, who favors Federal SOL
dier voting law, said he is convinced
that the presidential candidates
must be nominated by July /.
The Republicans have been accus-
toned to hold June convention, but
some Democrats have been advocat-
ing a late start and a short cam
paign as war measure. The later
the tickets are completed the less
time there will be- to distribute and
collect absentee Servicemen'S votes.
After study OF the parliamentary
situation, Senator Lucas, Democrat,
.of Illinois said today he expects to
introduce new version of the de-
feated Green-Lucas bill when Con-
gress reconvenes January 10 and
seek an early committee report on it.
The new version represents a con-
cession to the States rights Sem
ators who led the fight on the orig
inal bill, but is not likely to meet all
OF their objections.
Having been advised by parlia-
mentary experts that the question
may be brought up again if material
changes are made in the defeated
bill, Senator Lucas today was put
ting the finishing touches on a re-
draft.
Changes Outlined.
Although retaining Federal
war ballot commission to distribute
and collect the votes of the millions
in the armed service, the new draft
is designed to let local precinct
officials pass on the ballots without
having to file any reports with the
secretaries of State. The only ex-
emptions from State law would be
the elimination of registration and
poll tax requirements for servicemen
which was approved by Congress.
in 1912.
The bill the Senate passed as a
substitute for the Green-Lucas
measure calls on the States, acting
individually, to amend their laws to
permit servicemen to cast regular
State absentee ballots. The Senate
approved States es'-right plan is await
ing consideration in the House Com
mittee on Election of President and
Vice President The chairman
Representative Worley of Texas, is
suffering from a cold and no date
has been set for committee
meeting.
Topic Is Live One.
Just back from trip to Illinois,
Senator Lucas said he found the
soldier-vote issue the livest topic of
conversation back home.
Il talked to more than 200 people
while l was away and that was the
first subject mentioned by IS per
SCllS VI tllCill, llC Sdld.
During his absence. Senator OMa-
honey, Democrat. of wyoming sug-
gested speedy passage of a constitu-
tional amendment to overcome the
State rights argument that Congress
is without power to authorize a
Federal ballot for soldiers. Senator
Lucas today turned down that alter
native, declaring:
"A constitutional amendment Is
not the remedy. The remedy lies
in early passage of the Green-Lucas
bill. ." = We all know the time 1t
takes States to call Legislatures into
session. Time is of the essence.
The 1914 election will be here before
we know it. Forty-on States would
have to call special sessions. We
cannot take chance"
Senator Vandenberg said he still
favors effective Federal action" to
permit servicemen to vote, even
though he found, while at home, that
Michigan is preparing to change it's
own procedure to facilitate soldier
voting. The Michigan Legislature
has been called to meet February l.,
he said, and primary and convention
dates are being moved up so that a
complete ballot of candidates will
ho ro d1y IL, fiy,oa