Evening star., 1944-02-04
{ Roll Call on Page A-12.J
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

The administration's last
chance to save even a part of its
Federal ballot plan for service
men rested with the Senate to-
day, following a smashing vic
tory for State control of voting
laws in the House last night.
Accepting President Roosevelt's
challenge to stand up and be
counted" the House first defeated
the Federal ballot by a recorded
vote of 224 to 1853.
State Control Approved.
1t then went on to pass, 1923 to
50, the Eastland-Rankin bill, de-
signed to encourage the States to
make regular absentee ballots avail
able to the armed forces, and re-
qulrlng the military authorities to
give such ballots mail priority.
CAT his news conference today,
President Roosevelt declined to
be drawn into discussion Of the
House action in rejecting the bill
sponsored by the administration.
He said simply that the problem
was more of a responsibility of
Congress than his OWN
Both chambers are now on record
Tor leaving election machinery in
the hands of the States, the Senate
having passed the Eastland- Rankin
bill before Christmas. It comes
back to the Senate today, however,
because of minor House changes.
Danaher Compromise Adopted.
Even before the House voted. ad-
mlnlstratlon leaders in the Senate
began to give ground late yesterday,
when they hastily joined in adoption
OF the Danaher compromise, 70 to
IL, IN the hope it would halt the
more drastic substitute drafted by.s
coalition of States rights Demo-
Gratis and Republicans.
The Danaher proposal would give
the short Federal ballot to all sery-
Ice men and women overseas, but
only to those in this country who
make affidavit they have not re-
ceived State ballot.
Having won this concession, ths
States-rights coalition Immediately
prepared to seek a final showdown
today on the substitute that would
prohibit the sending of a Federal
ballot to any one in uniform, either
abroad or at home, unless his State
1alls by June to make provision for
lightweight State ballot.
This substitute also carries all of
the teeth" in the Eastland and
Overton. amendments to make State
laws supreme in the counting of
either Federal or State ballots.
Taft Predicts Passage.
The vote on this remnant of thu
Federal ballot plan is expected To
be close. Senator Taft, Republican,
OF Ohio, one of the authors of the
substitute, predicted it would carry
by a slight margin.
Administration leaders still hoped
to beat it, and thereby bring about
another House vote on the Danal1er
compromise, which is now tenn.
porarily in the Senate bill. The
decisive action of the House last
night, however, is likely to stiffen
Senate opposition to any general
use of the Federal ballot.
In his sharply-worded message
last week, Mr.. Roosevelt called
the States rights bill fraud" on
servicemen. Some of his friends at
the Capitol have been predicting he
would veto it. IT. however, the Sen
ate should save limited degree OF
Federal control, to protect those
servicemen whose States fail ia
make a suitable ballot available, il
may prove more difficult for the
President to reject the bill.
1t is doubtful if the record now
made in both houses could be re-
versed following a veto. That would
leave on the books only the 1942
law. which also puts soldier voting
In the hands of the States.
Sending of Applicat tions Demanded.
Following the House vote last
night. Republicans began to de-
mand that the Army and NAVY
send out Immediately the II 900 0Oo
post card applications for absentee
tsee SERVICE VOTE, Page A-I2J
President Underqoes