Evening star., 1944-01-27
Senate Action SOUGHT
Today on Soldier
Ballot Measure
Presidents Criticism
Of State Control Plan
May ProIone Debate
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

Administration forces will try
to obtain a decision in the SEN
ate today in their second at
tempt to pass a simplified Fed
eral voting law for servicemen,
but the heat engendered by
President Roosevelt's sharp mes
sage may prolong the debate.
If vote on the new Green-Lucas
bill, authorizing the Federal ballot,
is not reached today the whole sub
ject may be put off until next week.
More than a dozen Senators will
leave Washington tonight, some to
attend the funeral of Senator Van
Nuys in Indiana, others to attend
the launching of the battleship Mis-
souri, III New York. 1t is not likely
that Senate leaders would risk a
showdown with that many members
away
Verbal darts began to fly back
and forth across the political aisle
Yesterday as soon as the clerk had
finished reading the Presidents mes
sage in which Mr.. Roosevelt labeled
"a fraud" the bill passed by the
Senate and approved by a House
committee. to require the Army and
Navy to carry regular State ballots
to servicemen, rather than the pro-
posed simplified Federal ballot.
Taft Calls Message Insult"
Senator Taft, Republican, of Ohio
called the message an insult" to
Congress and charged the admin
istration is seeking to line up the
soldier vote ''in much the same
manner we used to see WPA work
ers lined up" The fourth-term
issue also was injected into the
discussion.
Administration leaders believe
they have the votes now to pass
the new Federal ballot plan, which
has won over some of the States
rights Senator's from the South,
because the new bill makes local
precinct officials the judges of the
validity of the Federal ballots.
Some advocates of the States
rights plan admitted the revised
Federal ballot proposal may pass
in its present form, but indicated
they will press for adoption of
pending amendments to throw
further safeguards around State
voting requirements.
Meanwhile, in the House sup
porterS of the Federal ballot have
rounded up more than a hundred
pledges behind a move to force a
roll call in that branch next week
on the Federal ballot substitute.
Teller Vote Assailed.
The Senate-approved States right
bill has the right of way in the
House, starting Tuesday, and, as
the rules now stand, only an un-
recorded teller vote is likely on the
Federal ballot substitute. Mr.. Roose-
velt struck out bluntly at this pro-
cedure in his message, suggesting
that members should stand and be
counted on the issue. The pledges
are being obtained in an effort to
amend the special rule, issued by
the Rules Committee.
The political heat generated by
the issue was revealed in the Senate
debate yesterday. Senator Bridges,
Republican, of New Hampshire
pointed out the Republicans will
name their presidential ticket in
June, and called on the Democrats
to meet in the same month, so
that the names of the candidates
could be placed before the service
men overseas.
Barkley Replies to Bridges.
Majority Leader Barkley replied
that Senator Bridges should not COM
plain if the soldiers have more time
to find out who is on the Republican
ticket.
II want the Democratic candidate
to be Official" Senator Bridges re-
torted. I'VE all know who he is
going to be-"
"The Senator says he knows who
the candidate will be, and I have no
doubt that the soldier will find out
in due time ALSO" Senator Barkley
responded.
Disagreeing with other members
of his State delegation, Representa-
tive Sparkman, Democrat, of Ala
bama announced he will vote for the
Federal ballot.