Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1946-11-16
Negro Democrats Reelected To Congress
Despite Republican Landslide
Republican Victory Brings Little Hope
For Liberal Legislation Without
Change In Senate Rules

hepuDiICdH COHtIOl Ol OOlSTeSS
is not expected to work any mir
acles in SO far as legislation por-
ticularIy desired by minority
groups is concerned.
In the circumstances, however
probabilities Of the Senate's
fusing a seat to Senator Theodore
e. Bilbo, Democrat, of MiSsiss-
ippi, whose batting Of minori
groups contributed to the Repub--
lican landslide, were enhanced
by the election results.
If the Democrats had retained
control of the Senate by a slim
margin, Bilbo'S vote might have
been necessary to arganiZe that
body and maintain a Democratic
majority on administration mea-
sures. With the Republicans in
control, political considerations
should not weigh in his favor.
One thing is certain. AS a re-
suits of the Republican landslide,
Bilbo viii no longer be the chair
man OF the Senate Committee on
the District of Colu aba, which
made him quasi-mayor of Wash
ington. He will relinquish that
post to Senator Arthur Capper,
Republican of Kansas.
The S1-year old Senator Capper
is member of the Board Of Dir
cctorS of tic \a.t.nsl ASS, iation
for the Advancement or C;lor' d
People AMI has voted right on
every lsSIa affecting colorcd pco-
pie that has come before tie SEN
ate in !hf twenty-eight years he
has served in That body.
If Senator Cappcr should elect
to turn down the craftsmanship
of the District of Columbia Com
mittee and take the Craftsmanship
of the Senate Agriculture Com
mittee, the next in line to succeed
Bilbo is Senator Styles Bridges,
Republican, of New Hampshire,
Bridges record is spotty. In the
last session of Congress he voted
against cIoture on both the fair
employment practice and the an
ti-poll tax bills. But he is no Ne
srophobist, as. is Bilbo, and be
will give minority groups a res
pectful hearing on any matter
which they may wish to present.
Fefore there is any likelihood
of the passage of FEPC and anti
poll tax bills and revision of the
civil rights statue, Senate rules
will have to be changed so as to
make possible the closing of de-
bates and a vote on bills which a
Senate minority seeks to defeat
through endless talk.
Under present rules, Senate de-
bate may be limited only by I'M
animous consent Or through a clo-
ture petition. The petition re-
quires sixteen signatures to be
proposed and two-thirds vote for
adoption.
The Republican Steering Com
mittee last spring voted to seek
amendment of the Senate elo-
ture rule and authorized Senator
Leverett Saltonstall, Republican,
of Massachusetts, to draft a pro-
posal. Now that they are in
majority and prospects favor a Re-
publican President in 194S, Re-
publicans are almost certain to
press for a change in the present
cloture rule.
Senator Arthur Vandenberg of
Michigan, who was reelected with
negligible opposition, may succeed
Senator Kenneth Mcclellan, Demo-
crat, of Tennessee as president
pro tempore of the Senate, and
Senator Tom Connally. Demo-
crat, of Texas, as chairman of
the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee.
From the viewpoint of minority
groups, the displacement of Nc
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