Evening star., 1944-03-14
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

BY ]. A. O'LEARY.
Saying he is not informed of
President Roosevelt's intentions,
Senate Majority Leader Barkley
declared today he would vote
and speak against the service
mems voting bill compromise
which would leave the matter
largely up to the States. =
Senator Barkley's decision was re-
garded in some quarters as presaging
a presidential veto of the measure,
which would permit only limited use
of Federal ballots by overseas troops.
but the Kentuckian said, MY de-
cision was made independent of the
veto question. do not know what
the President intends to do"
Even with Senator Barkley's sup
port, Senate advocates of a Federal
war ballot were admittedly outnum-
bered and the chamber was expected
to approve the compromise version
today.
With the House expected to take
similar action later in the week, the
only uncertain factor remaining in
the long controversy is whether
Mr.. Roosevelt will sign 1T, veto it
or let it become a law without his
signature.
Bill Called Impractical.
Also opposing the conference re-
port, Senator Walsh, Democrat, of
New Jersey told the Senate today he
does not believe it is practical or
workable, unless we can arrange
to call off the war for month or
two, so our soldiers can go to voting
school,"
The conference report represents
weeks of negotiation between ad-
ministration spokesmen, who believe
everyone In uniform should be given.
a simplifled Federal ballot, nd
those who insist voting pro- dure
is State function. Thate is a
widespread feeling at TIL Capitol
that, II the President toes this
measure, Congress will drop the
subject and rely on the }1942 law,
which also leaves soldier voting
largely in the hands of the States.
Three Conditions.
The conference agreement re-
quires use of State ballots wherever
possible. The short, Federal ballot
could be used overseas, however,
under three conditions, namely: If
the Governor of State certifies by
July Is that such a ballot Is au-
thorized by State law; if service
man applies for State ballot by
September l, and has not received
1t by October /. In this country
the Federal ballot would be avail
able only to persons from a State
which has no absentee ballot, and
If the Governor certifies the Fed
eral ballot is authorized by State
law.
In the first round of debate yes
terday, administration speakers ar
gued that every State Legislature,
with the possible exception of CAL
ifornia, would have to meet again
and take action to make this limited
use of the Federal ballot possible.
Senator Austin, Republican, Of
Vermont, who joined Senator Con-
nally, Democrat, of Texas in defend
ing the conference agreement, said
the Legislatures could give effect to
the compromise by passing short
resolution, sanctioning use of the
Federal ballot wherever State ballots
do not arrive overseas by October /.
They disagreed as to whether the
Governors would call the Legisla-
lures to take that action.
Guffey Attacks Conference Bill.
Senator Guffey, Democrat, of
Pennsylvania, supporting use of the
Federal ballot by all service per-
sonnel, closed yesterdays debate
with the charge that if the confer
ence report plan becomes a law it
would perpetrate 'the greatest
organized election steal since 1876,
when the Republican party were the
beneflciaries of the presidential elec-
ton which was stolen from Samuel
j. Tilden."
Weeks ago opponents of the Fed
eral ballot had also used the Hayes
Tllden contest as an argument
against use of this new voting pro-
cedure, predicting that use of a
Federal ballot might throw the 1914
election into a legal contest similar
to that of 1876.
Senator Guffey also asserted
there are some who are afraid to
let our colored citizens and poor
white citizens vote at all. - ="
Senator Guffey said there are
others who fear that if the simple
ballot is used some of the soldiers
may thereby cast a vote for Frank
lin D. Roosevelt"
Senator Green, Democrat of
Rhode Island, co-author of the Fed
eral ballot plan, placed in the rec
ord a letter from Mayor F. H. La
Guardia of New York, describing as
"a mess" the State ballot procedure
proposed by Gov. Thomas E. Dewey
of New York.
The Mayor said the Governors
plan was worked out after careful
study, but that 1t would necessitate
the handling of 7,350,000 pieces OF
mail to and from the 1,225, 900 New
Workers in the armed services.
Nozis Claim RepuIse