Evening star., 1944-02-03
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

day trying to save, the Federal
ballot for servicemen from a
strong coalition of Republicans
and Democrats, who held the
upper hand in their fight for
State control.
In the Senate a substitute de-
signed to unite the greatest number
OF States rights advocates was of.
fered by Is Senators-nine Demo-
Gratis and six Republicans. It would
permit use of the short, Federal ball
lot only by servicemen whose States
fail to provide compact State bal
lot, but in all cases the qualifications
OF voters would remain in the hands
of the States.
The Is Senators are: Democrats,
Mcclellan, Reynolds, Mcclellan,
Bailey, Bankhead, Eastland, Over
ton, O'Daniel and Smith; Republi-
cans, Taft, Robertson, Buck, Brew
ster, Revercomb and Ball
In the House there were cloak
room reports that some similar sub
stltute may be proposed in that
chamber to soften the effect of the
Eastland-Rankin bill, which is an
outright State ballot plan, with no
form Of Federal ballot in it.
Agree to Limit Speeches.
Although both sides agreed last
night to limit speeches in the Sen
ate to 20 minutes on the bill and
20 minutes on any amendment after
z pm. today, the first decisive vote
may come in the House late today or
tomorrow.
The coalition substitute is intend
ed to require State ballots wherever
possible, and at the same time meet
the administration argument that
some States cannot, and others may
not. furnish an absentee ballot under
regulations that would enable men
in remote war theaters to vote.
State Fighters believe they have
a majority for the coalition substi-
tute, but concede the vote will be
| close. Administration spokesmen
promptly called the plan meaning
less"
1T would do no more for the SOL
diers than would the States rights
Dill now pending in the House." said
Senator Lucas, Democrat, of Illi-
nols, referring to the Eastland-
Rankin bill, which passed the SEN
ate in December, AZ to 81.
Veto Difficulty Seen.
Some Democrats, without claiming
TO know what the President will do,
have predicted he would veto the
Eastland-Rankin bill as it passed
the Senate. Some observers sug-
gested today it might be more diff
cult for him to reject a substitute
that contained a combination of the
State and Federal ballot proposals.
The substitute is built around the
plan of Senator Ball, Republican. Of
Minnesota. which would make the
Federal ballot available only to serv-
ice men and women from States
which fail by June / to do these
three things: % Eliminate registra-
ton; CD reduce the weight of the
State ballot to IL ounces to make
it easier to mail them abroad, and
CD have the ballots ready As days
before election.
Added to the Ball formula. how
ever, are the essential provisions
OF the Eastland-Rankin bill. pre-
serving State procedures. It also in
cludes the Overton amendment. de-
claring that "the qualifications Of
voters shall be determined in ac-
cordance with State law" This
proposal, when presented separately
yesterday, was beaten, 68 to %.
Other Major Changes.
The substitute makes other major
changes in the administrations
proved Green-Lucas bill, namely:
Requires those using the short
Federal ballot to write in the names
OF their choice for President, Sena-
tor and Representative. CThe Green
Lucas bill allows either the names
OF candidates or a party designa-
ton to be written in.)
Cuts out sections directing ths
Army and Navy to set aside voting
days in each military area, and di-
recting commanding officers to "as-
sumo general responsibility for as
lSurlng That every person has
an opportunity to vote"
Senator Byrd, Democrat, of Vir-
ginia charged late yesterday that
under the Green-Lucas bill men and
women in the armed forces would
be marched up to the polls in
military formation" He argued
that a general order fixing a voting
day in camp might be construed by
soldiers as "a military order in
time of war"
Clark and Lucas Take Issue.
Senators Clark, Democrat, of Mis-
souri, and Lucas took issue with
Senator Byrd. Senator Byrd con-
ceded there was nothing in the bill
suggesting that soldiers be told how
to vote. The Virginian argued, how
ever, that servlcemen would be con-
fronted with the question of voting
fSeo CEpVTCE1 VOTE Dee oN-