The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-08

Congress.
Here's what happened:
The Senate was debating the
amendment sponsored by Sen. Rus
sell (D-Ga) to ban the financing
of any independent office out OF the
Presidents emergency fund for
more than a year-admittedly de-
signed to wipe out" the Fair En-
ployment Practice Committee.
In the midst OF the debate. Sen.
Buck-a dyed-in-the-wool dupont
Republican from Delaware-sprang
the first surprise of the session by
moving that the FEPC be exempted
from the agencies covered by the
amendment.
Sen. Russell jumped to his feet
and declared he was "astonished"
as indeed he unexpectedly. he
said. in view Of the fact the Re.
publicans are the main ones who
are always gripping about bureau
crazy"
But Buck demanded 4 roll-call:
and-as surprise No. 2-the Senate
voted, 1922, in favor Of his motion.
Twenty-four Republicans, IL Demo-
Gratis and Progressive voted for It;
only two Republicans-Milliken
tCol) and Reed (KanJ-and 20
Democrats. mostly from the South,
voted against it.
again leapei TO the floor and really
lit into the Republicans: Charging
them, among other things. with try.
ing to coddle the Negroes for po-
litical purposes. He moved to re.
consider the motion. and his fellow
southern reactionaries joined In the
cry.
Surprise No. 8 came on the re-
consideration: Completely reversing
its position Of few minutes before.
the Senate went on record. 1926.
against Bucks proposal And this
time. only Is Republicans supported
it. along with 8 Democrats and l
Progressive: while 9 Republicans
and "a Democrats opposed 1t.
Just for the record, it might be
added that the Republicans who
switched their votes were: Bal
(Minn.), Bridges CN.H). Holman
(Ore), Robertson (wyo). Ship.
stead Minn) and John Thoms.
Qdahol.
Shortly afterward. the Russell
! amendment-leaving tina FEP(
! risht where NuassaA vented ik--Ssu
! adopted by q voice vote. Ant
Z shortly after that, the $1,000, 90. %
I Independent OfYices appropriate
! bill itself was adopted by anothe
I. voice vote.
= Frankly. we can't figure II out.
Did a lot Of those Senators simpl,
: get their signals crossed?
Was the whole thing cut and driet
in advance-and staged in such {
wav that the Republicans could
make show OF sympathy for the
> Negroes at the start. and thus ap-
pear TO have been overwhelmed BY
their even greater passion against
bureaucracy"
Or was it not until this momen,
that the Republicans abruptly real.
lied that IL they had the slightest
houe OF keeoing UP their alliance
with the southern reactionaries. the
Negro question was one thing on
which. almost above all others, the
southerrers were going to expect
them 10 go along?
And, though they did 90 along.
finally. in this instance-which
probably will prove but the first
in series Of such tests-can they
repeat such a performance many
times without kissing their Negro
votes goodbye?
| * = y
Well. anyhow. it's rather ironic
thst-whereas the COP campaign
for Negro votes is being based.
to a large extent. on the discrimi-
nations allegedlv inflicted upon the
race under a Democratic regime
the ultimate effect Of yesterdays
Republican switch quite possibly
may be to destroy the only agency
In the whole country solely devoted
10 fishting such Determinations:
The FEPC.