Evening star., 1949-03-12
Fi|ibusterCurb
PressedDespite
Defeat in Test
Tydings Cites TongIe
Of World Affairs in
Urging Senate Action
(RoH Call on Page A-2D
By J. A. O'Leor

Administration sources went on
with their fight to curb Senate
filibustering today despite defeat
in major test last night.
Taking a new approach, how
ever. Senator Tydings, Democrat,
of Maryland, pictured the unset
tied condition of world affairs,
rather than civil rights, as a ma
jor reason why the Senate should
free itself from the possibility Of
being tied up by a filibuster.
When the Senate voted, As to Al,
last night to overrule a decision
by Vice President Barkley which
would have paved the way for a
more effective debate limiting
rule, most observers agreed the
administration lost nearly all
chance of changing the rules at
this time.
This Senate is in the horse and
buggy days as far as it's rules are
concerned for dealing with a pos
sible contingency in which the
Nations existence may be at
stake" Senator Tydings warned.
Lucas Announces Decision.
Majority Leader Lucas an
nounced the decision to continue
the fight after a strategy huddle
during the morning. He said ad-
ministration leaders would keep
on this afternoon and tonight.
At the same time, Senator Rus
sell, Democrat, of Georgia, told
his southern bloc is open
to ANY reasonable compromise"
Before crowded galleries at 10
o'clock last night. a coalition Of
% Republicans and % Democrats
overruled a decision by Vice Presi-
dent Barkley which would have
made it possible for two-thirds of
the Senate to shut off debate with
out waiting for permanent re-
vision of the rule.
Both major parties were badly
split on the issue, as 16 Repub-
licans went over to the admins
tration side in support of the
Barkley ruling.
Showdown Is Close.
The showdown was so close the
administration would have won If
three Senators had switched over
to the Barkley side.
Most observers at the Capitol
believe administration leaders will
abandon the anti-f1libuster fight
sometime next week and return
to fight another day.
On the surface, the pending
battle has been waged on the issue
of freedom of debate on any issue.
In the background, however, the
moving force behind the rule fight
has been the civil rights program.
which the South has always
blocked by extended debate.
At the climax of the fight last
night, Senator Lucas sought to
make the roll call test of the
civil rights issue, and Senator
Myers. Democrat, of Pennsylvania
joined in by asking his floor lead
er if this might prove to be the
only chance the Senate may get to
vote on civil rights at this session.
Senator Lucas said that is "a
very good possibility"
Republican Plank Is Read.
Just before the roll was called
Senator Lucas turned toward the
Republican side of the chamber
and read the plank on civil rights
adopted at the Republican con-
vention in Philadelphia last sum-
mer.
After recalling the Republican
plank was adopted unanimously.
Senator Lucas observed that I'VE
didn't get unanimous indorse-
ment at our convention, but we
won just the same"
He told the Republicans this
would be their first opportunity
since the last campaign to support
their platform by supporting the .
Barkley decision on rules.
AS soon as the vote was over
Senator Baldwin of Connecticut.
(See FILIBUSTER, Page AID