Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-11-22

him.
A coalition Of Republican and
Democratic Senator's from north
ern and western states are expect
cd 70 vote 10 deny him the oath.
Republicans made "Bilboism" an
issue in the recent Congressional
elections. Some northern and west
ern Democratic Senators already
have denounced him for his in
suits to minority groups. They will
risk party harmony by voting 10
deny him the oath and 10 unseat
him.
II he Ia denied the oath, the
question Of his right 10 u seat
would then be referred 10 the
Senate Committee on Rules and
Administration. The Senator who
makes the challenge will be called
upon 10 present the case against
Bilbo before the committee.
Reports also would be asked
from the present Senate Campaign
Investigating Committee and the
special Senate War Investigating
Committee, both Of which have
been inquirinR into complaints
against BilbO ranging from charges
that he intimidnted colored voters
thereby keeping them from voting
In the Mississippi Democratic pri-
mary Of July 2 to charges that he
received a "slush fund" Of S25,0 900
from war contractors.
Taft Evasive
senator Robert A. Taft. Republi-
can, Of Ohio, chairman Of the Re
publican Senate Steering Commit
tee. told n news conference after n
meeting Of the committee last
Thursday that the question Of seat
ing Bilbo had been discussed. He
declined TO go into details Of the
discussion.
Senator Taft and Senator Eu-
gene u. Millikin, Republican. OF
Colorado. had been designated to
investigate procedures to be fol
lowed In any challenge that may
be made to pilbo's taking the oath
Of office.
The Republican Steering Com
mittce, said Senator Taft, definitely
committed itself TO go through
with the challenge. but wants to
find out what method should be
followed.
Bilho will be second In the line
Of newly elected or reelected Sen
Rtors appearing TO take the
oath on January 3, The roll h
called alphabetically. The first will
be- Senator elect Raymond + Bald
win. Republican, Of Connecticut.
The strategy Of trying 10 cx-
cludo Blbo rather than seat him
and then try To cxpel him appar.
entity was based on the belief that
his conduct has been such rs not
Ia warrant his being seated in the
first place.
Majority Vote May Decide
II the request that Bilho step
aside IL resisted by southern Demo
cratic Senators, tho issue will be
decided by simple maiority vote
II the test comes when he appears
10 take the oath Of office. only
twenty nine Republicans. including
Senator elect Baldwin, and thirty
twn Democratic holdovcrs will be
eligible to vote, despite the fact
that Republicans will hold fifty-one
~ the ninety-Six seats in the
Eightieth Congress. The other
newly elected or reelected Senators
will not have been sworn in.
II he should he seated and a
resolution Of expulsion later voted
upon, two-thirds vote would be
required for adoption.
Another source said that the
Republican members Of the senate
Campaign Investigating Commit.
tee Senators Styles Bridges 81
New Hampshire and Bourke II
Hickenlooper Of Iown-had been
requested 10 study procedures nee.
cssary for challenging Bilbo'S seat
ing.
After Senate Republicans ad
iourncd Motley talks last Friday,
Senator Taft announced that the
question of seating Rilbo had been
assigned TO n study group consist
ing Of Senators Bridges and Uick
'nloopcr with Senator Millikiu act.
ing as adviser on procedural mat
tiers
While these two Developments
were hcing disclosed, II also was
revealed that u fight was brewing
within the Senate Campaign In
vcstigating Committee Itself.
Charges Gloss Over" Attempt
Senator Bridges charged tina,
Senator Allen ]. Ellendcr, Demo
FRAT, Of Louisiana, committee chair.
man, was trying To gloss over"
'harges filcd with the Senate Cam.
paign Investigating Committee
against Rtlho.
The Senate Campaig On irvCsiivat-
ing Committee met last Saturday
to receive reports from four in
vest gators sent into Mississippi 70
check on charges that Rilho car
ried on a vicious campaign de
signed 10 keep colored voters from
'asting their ballots and as a result
u the suppression Of the colorcd
vote in the Mississippi Democratic
primary Of July 2 achieved his
nomination which is equivalent 20
election in Mississippi. and that a
war contractor gave Bilho $4,000
IN a Jackson, Mississippi, hotel Sep
tember 7, l942.
The War Investigating Commit.
tee also is inquiring into charges
that Btlbo obtained large construc,
ton contracts for Miss ssippi con
struction firms in connection with
key Field at Meridian and Kceslsr
Field at Biloxi, Mississippi. in re-
turn for which he received fees
'ggregating $4,000 and the con.
tractors built him an artificial lake.
with an island in the middle, and A
nice home on the island.
A democratic source close 20 the
senate War Investigating Commit.
tee said last Friday that since
Republican Senators are hell bent"
on investigating Rilho. why no,
\ give Il to them now >"
Tie predicted the committee would
vote for public hearings on the