The southern news., 1946-11-09

I
ing that hearings would BE- held
Iii the near future"
The committee has received
numerous complaints gainst "The
Man" Bllbo since last June, Mr.
Flanagan said. The greatest num-
bel of these complaints, Nc.
Flanagan added. had to do with
his activities in connection with
his election, such as preventing
colored electors from voting and
his ideologies, FIR. Flanagan ex-
planned.
FIR. Flanagan added that the
national defense investigating
committee referred to the Senate
Committee on Privileges and
Elections, of which Senator Theo-
dore F. Green, Democrat, of K. l.,
is the chairman, the complaints al
lcging Irregularities in the Miss
lssippi primary and relating to
Bilbo's ideologies, but retained
those complaints concerning his
activities with war contractors.
This action was taken. Mr..
Flanagan, said, because the ma
tional defense investigating COM
nlittee has no jurisdiction over
matters dealing with irregulari-
ties in elections.
Mr.. Flanagan said great deal
of the material was gathered, by
Senator James M. Mead, Demo
crat of New York, before he re-
signed as chairman.
Dates for the hearings have not
been set, but it was indicated
that it would begin before Bilbo
takes his oath in the new Con-
gress which convenes in Janu-
a!y. Facts which may be develop
ed during the hearings will mos
likely be turned over to the Sen
ate Committee on Privileges and
Elections for its use in determin--
ing whether Bilbo is entitled to
a seat.
Charges that Bilbo carried on a
vicious campaign designed n
keep colored voters from casting
their ballots and as a result of
the suppression of the colored
vote in the Mississippi Democra-
tic primary achieved his nomina
ton have already been filled
with the Senate Privileges and
Elections Committee as well as
with the Senate Committee to In
vestigate Campaign Expenditures
Of which Senator Allen J. Ellen
der, Democart of Mississippi is
chairman.
The latter committee decided
on October % to postpone action
IN the case of Senator Bilbo until
some time after the election held
November S. Senator Ellender
said that three committee invest.
gators were still in Mississippi
and were not expected to report
here until four days after the
committee met.
The charges against Bilbo be
fore the committee investigating
campaign expenditures range
from complaints against his eff
forts to keep colored voters from
voting in the Mississippi Demo
cratic primary TO the charges thai
he received a "slush fund" ol
S25,0O0.
According to Mr. Flanagan. the
charges against Bilbo, which tn,
national defense investigating
committee will inquire into in
clude the allegation that Bilbt
received fees aggregating 5,00t
from three war contractors con
stituting the group which, under
q contract amounting to $11,500,
600, built the Army's Keeslel
Field at Biloxi, Mississippi, il
1a41.
Senator Bilbo got four check,
in all, Mr.. Flanagan said, thret
fCr $4,000 each and one for $40,
000 This payment, Mr.. Flanagan
added, was first charged on tht
contractors books as a cost iten
of the contract. 1t was repeatedly
changed later to show a $4,000
debt to Bilbo, with $4,000 contin
ued on the books as cost item
Senator Bilbo, the committee
counsel said, asserted that thf
funds were used in the campaign
of Wall DoXey, now sergeant-at
arms of the Senate, who was de-
feated for the Senate in 1912.
In addition. Mr., Flanagan said
one of the contractors on tht
keesler Field job, advanced
$500 to Senator Bilbo. This was
repeatedly associated with a con.
tract obtained for the construc-
ton of Key Field at Meridian
Mississippi. This sum, Senator
Bilbo has said, also went into the
Doxey campaign chest.
A third allegation is that Sena
tor Bilbo during 1943 and 1914
sent out some 200 letters-Somo
going to war contractors-solici-
ting funds for parsonage to be
tuilt in connection with the Juni-
pei Grove Baptist Church in Pop
larville, Mississippi.
Mr.. Flanagan said the commit
tee investigators reported that
$4,000 was collected and the par,
sonage built, but that Senator
Bilbo failed to turn the structure
over to the parson and his fam
lily.
In addition, Mr.. Flanagan said
that insurance policies held on
the parsonage had been used by
Senator Bilbo as collateral for 4
loan at the Federal Home Loan
Bank.
-V-
NJ G. PARENT TEACHER