Evening star., 1944-01-25
Attempt 10 Amend
Service Vote Bill
Planned Tomorrow
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

With the Senate adjourned
out of respect to Senator Var
Nuys, Democrat, of Indiana, who
died this morning, advocates oi
State-controlled servicemen vot-
Ing postponed until tomorrow an
attempt to amend the new Fed
eral ballot proposal to make
State laws supreme in counting
servicemen's votes.
The two branches of Congress are
engaged in parliamentary tug oil
war to see If the Senate will re.
verse its stand before the House
can act on the States rights bill.
Senate hackers of the uniform
Federal ballot provided for in the
new Green-Lucas bill were hoping
to get 1t through the Senate before
the House has a chance later In
the week to pass the Eastland-
Rankin bill, requiring use of regu-
lar absentee State ballots by serv-
icemen, which won Senate approval
in December.
Fourth Term Issue Flares Up.
Meanwhile the fourth-term issue
flared up in connection with the
servicemen's voting issue late yes
terday when Senator Taft, Repub-
lican, of Ohio, accused Secretary of
War Stimson and Secretary of the
Navy Knox, both Republicans, of
being partial to the Federal ballot
plan because they want to remain
in office after the next election.
He made the charge during a
debate over repeated warnings from
the War and Navy Departments
that it would be difficult, if not i'm
possible, to transmit the ordinary
large ballots of 48 different States
to servicemen all over the world.
THE truth Is that from the be-
ginning the Army and Navy have
been determined to have Federal
ballots" Senator Taft declared
They have been determined not to
have State ballots. Every statement
they have made has been to that
effect. I do not wish to call it a
partisan statement, but it is a state
ment in favor of one kind of meas
ure before. Congress as opposed to
another kind being considered by
the House.
I'm my opinion, Secretaries Knox
and Stimson are today running for
fourth term. I say that in the most
kindly spirit. 1t is only natural that
men who have the responsibility
which they have are convinced that
their continuance In Office after the
lst of next December is essential to
the welfare of the world and of this
country"
Lucas Rushes to Defense.
Senator Lucas, Democrat, of Illi-
nois, co-author of the simplified
Federal ballot, hastened to defend
the two Republican Secretaries,
whom President Roosevelt appointed
to his cabinet in 1910. Senator Lucas
called them patriots" for coming to
to serve the Government
in period of emergency.
Senator Taft asked if it was an
insult to accuse any one of wanting
a fourth term. Majority Leader
Barkley interjected that it was not
an insult to say person wanted a
fourth term, but he believed Senator
Taft meant it to be.
Senator Lucas added that if the
opponents of the uniform ballot for
servicemen continue to fight it they
will guarantee the reelection of Mr..
Roosevelt.
Even If the Senate debate con-
tinues until the House has acted on
the States rights bill, that measure
will have to 60 back to the Senate
for final approval of House changes,
and that would offer another oppor-
tunity to insert the uniform Federal
ballot provision.
Although Senators Lucas and
Green, Democrats, of Rhode Island
modified their new Federal ballot
bill in committee to let local pre-
cinct officials determine the validity
of such votes, two further amend
ments have been proposed on the
floor by States rights advocates.
One, by Senator Overton, Demo-
crat, of Louisiana, would make the
Federal ballots valid if they con-
formed to State law.
The other, put forward by group
Of Democrats. had the same objec-
tive, set forth in greater detail. It
declared the War Ballot Commits
sion's duties would be purely minis
terial, and that nothing in the bill
should be construed to nullity or
set aside State law