Evening star., 1947-01-03


tee probe Of the Mississippian's re-
lations with war contractors.
The Louisiana Senator protested
that there has been no talk Of
filibuster, but it was proposed If
necessary to spend few days to
develop the law and precedents."
Senator Ellender said then 1t may
be possible "after a reasonable de-
bate has been had that we may ask
for a vote on substitute motion
to seat Senator Bilbo without
prejudice"
He did not say definitely. however,
that there would be vote after
two or three days.
Message Poses Problem.
Asked by reporter what would
happen to plans for President Tru-
man to deliver his message to Con-
gress Monday, Senator Ellender
snapped back:
"Ask Senator White" Senator
White is the Republican floor leader
and is scheduled to offer the stand
aside resolution.}
Later, Senator Ellender said he
would have no objection to an
agreement to lay the Bilbo matter
aside long enough to hear the Presi-
dent, but was wondering how the
Senate could do that since it would
not be organized for business until
the swearing in of new Senators
have heer, connnleted
Senators Hatch, of New Mexico.
and Thomas, of Oklahoma, were
the only members from outside the
solid South who attended the
strategy meeting. Senator Hatch
made it clear to reporters that he
never takes part in fllibusters but
indicated that he would oppose
stopping Senator Bilbo at the door.
on the ground that the Senator
ought to have chance to be heard
on the charges against him.
Others who attended the meeting
we're:
Senators Maybank. of South Caro-
lima; Johnston, of South Carolina;
Mcclellan, of Arkansas; Russell and
George, of Georgia; Overton, Of
Louisiana, Connally, OF Texas:
Hoey, of North Carolina; Stewart.
of Tennessee, and Senators-elect
Robertson, Of Virginia, and Holland.
of Florida. -.
The opening move is not an at
tempt to render a final verdict on
Senator Bilbo. 1t is merely motion
to keep him from being sworn in
until the Senate has time to debate
and pass on the two sets of charges
against him.
Accused of Accepting Money.
These are that Senator Bilbo ac-
cepted money, gifts and services
from war contractors and that he
whites in Mississippi to
keep Negroes from voting.
The full Republican membership
of 81 voted late yesterday to OPP
pose the seating Of Senator Bilbo
today.
Senator Taylor said he had been
assured that "a very substantial
number" of his party would vote
to bar Senator Bilbo.
Senator Maybank left no doubt that
a fllibuster would be attempted in
Senator Bilbo's behalf If he is chal-
lenged. The South Carolina Senator
said he would begin by reading every
word of Senate committee investi-
CATION records concerning Senator
Bilbo. He declared various other
Southern Democrats were ready to
debate the issue "a week or longer"
Could SnarI COP Schedule.
This could snarl Republican ef-
forts to organize the Senate on the
opening day, but would not neces-
sarily defeat the COP effort to deny
Senator Bilbo his seat at this time.
It also could interfere with the
reading of President Truman's an
nual message Monday Senator Bilbo
told reporters he wouldn't like to
stand in the way Of the message;
but he would not voluntarily stand
aside for that or any other reason II
it meant being barred from taking
the oath.
Republicans at least could let me
take the oath without prejudice and
then make charges later II they
wanted to-" he declared. Every
man Is entitled to his day in court.
If am not sworn In, have 40
right to talk. I should be repre-
sented - by myself - to answer
charges"
=. The Republicans, however, have
taken the position their action today
is not to pass judgment on the merits
of charges heard against Senator
Bilbo but to see that he does not take
the oath until such time "as the full
matter can be put before the Senate"
Senator Millikin of Colorado,
chairman Of the Senate Republican
conference, explained last night
that nothing will be finally decided
as to the Senate's ultimate action
in the Bilbo case"
COP Claim Necessary Votes.
He and Senator Taft, chair
man of the Republican Senate
Steering Committee, described the
Republican approach as non
partisan and unbiased. They and
other COP members indicated GER
tainty that they have sufficient
Democratic votes and all Republican
votes to block Senator Bilbo.
Several Democratic members COM
mented privately after yesterdays
party conference that enough DEM
ocrats would side with Republicans
to prevent Senator Bilbo from being
sworn in today. The Democratic
conference discussed the whole situ-
alton but took no action on pro-
posal by Senator Ellender that they
go to bat for Senator Bilbo.
Before the Senate met, each
member and prospective member
received from the National Lawyers
Guild a brief contending there Is
ample legal evidence to support the
right of the Senate to exclude Sem
ator Bilbo." The basis for such ex-
clusion, the brief contended. is even
stronger than those found sufiicient
to exclude Frank L. Smith, Of Illi-
nois, and William s. Ware, Of PENN
sylvania. Those two Senators-elect
were excluded from the Seventeen
Congress on charges OF excessive
campaign expenditures.
Senator Bilbo's Office did not get
a CODY of the brief, but the Senator