Evening star., 1949-03-15
Byrd Joins G. 0. P.
In Vote to Reject
Trumun's Friend
BY the Assoeioted Press

4IutHdIl 1OtIlIldIlON Oh mon T..
Wallgren TO be chairman OF the
National Security Resources Board
The vote was 7 toe.
The action has the effect OF
finally buryinR the nomination
unless some committee member
changes his mind or the Senate
itself calls II up by discharging the
committee.
That procedure would require
only q majority vote. But It is
rarely used
Senator Byrd. Democrat. OF Vir-
einia Joined with six Republicans
on the committee TO tip the scales
aeainst Mr. WallRren, a former
Senator and q close friend OF Mr.
Truman.
Chairman Tydings told report
ers about the action after q closed
committee meeting.
lie said all the Republican
members voted for the motion 70
table and all the Democrats ex.
cept Senator Byrd voted against
u.
Found Lacking Experience.
The motion adopted by the com.
mittee said no evidence rejecting
on Mr. wallgrens loyalty had
been filed. but stated that the
former Washington Governor
lacks suf'icient "economr and In.
dustrial experience
Senator Cain. Republican. OF
Washington. who led the fight
against the nomination. had &C.
cused Mr.. Wallgren in public
hearings OF beinp soft toward
communism. He also called him
UNIT. He said. the Resources
Board chairmanship Is cne of the
four most important Jobs In the
world.
Senator Byrd had indicated his
stand before the committee met.
The vote TO table was an even
sharper setback than a simple
vote In opposition to the appoint
ment would have been.
II the committee had simply
rejected the nomination and so
reported. the Senate then could
have acted on whether to confirm
Mr.. Wallgren. Now Senate action
requires a discharge petition to
take the matter away from the
committee.
The motion to table was made
by Senator Gurney. Republican,
of South Dakota and was seconded
by Senator Saltonstall, Repub-
lican, of Massachusetts,. :
No Reflection on Integrity.
The text of the resolution:
THE committee has found no
evidence rejecting on the loyalty
to his country of the nominee,
Senator Mon Wallgren. to be
chairman of the National Security
Resources Board.
We believe him to be a loyal
patriotic citizen.
The committee found no evi-
dence to support any allegation
that he was lacking in his in
tegrity.
THE majority of the commit
tee felt that a man of wider eco
nomic and industrial experience
and competency should be the
chairman of the National Security
Resources Board. and for that
reason motion was made to table
the nomination of Mr.. Wallgren."
In advance Of today's meeting.
Senator Byrd issued q statement
saying that he is opposed TO hav-
ing Mr.. Wallgren take over q post
carrying tremendous RESPONSE
bilities."
Il have reluctantly reached the
conclusion that Mr.. Wallgren does
not possess the administrative
qualifications from the standpoint
OF training. experience and COM
potency TO perform the extremely
important functions devolving
upon him should his appointment
be confirmed" Senator Byrd said.
Cites Aides ON Payroll.
Senator Byrd said he was not
swayed In his decision on Mr..
walisren by any unsupported
charges made against him"
But he said he doesn't like the
idea that three OF Mr.. Wallgrens
waShlnRton State assistants al
ready have been put on the boards
pr"roll at $50 q day.
Scnator Byrd said Mr.. Wallgren
hrA been defeated for recollection
o. Governor In what amounted 20
o Democratic landslide In Wash.
ington.
yet Immediately after they
we're given q vote Of no conf
dence In their own State" Sena.
cor Byrd said. ''it IN proposed 10
move Gov. walieren and three of
his principal assistants 10 WASH
ington at the head Of O critical
Government agency"