Evening star., 1960-12-03
BYRD
BYRD
Measures Viewed
As Peril to Nation
Continued From First Pare

AVsM 1855 ~oS
this so you can prepare your
case against me with full
knowledge Of what my position
will be. And. at the outset, 1t
should be. clearly understood
that I have always refused to
be bound by q caucus as to
my votes in the Senate.
II have served on the Finance
Committee % years and. by
reason Of seniority, became
chairman six years ago Am
I to be purged as chairman Of
the finance committee because
I refused to support measures
which I believed to be dangerous
to the Republic I pledged my
self 10 serve faithfully and to
the best Of my ability?
MY allegiance is to Virginia
where the people have elected
me six times to the United
States Senate. I have what is
to me the supreme honor of
having served In the Senate
longer than any other Virginian
in history. I recognize no con-
troll over my votes In the Senate
from any outside influence,
including the National Demo-
cratic Convention and q caucus
Of my Democratic colleagues in
the Senate.
Il think it would be very
wholesome II you would bring
your proposal to the floor of
the Senate because many fun
damental principles are in
volved. Southerners frequently
have been threatened with loss
Of committee assignments or
other prerogatives unless they
support measures obnoxious to
them and th,ir constituents.
Personally. recent this.
The Democratic Party was
founded by Thomas Jefferson
on the principles Of . system
Of representative government
sound and frugal. with author
ity divided between Federal and
State governments to prevent
coercive. II not despotic CEN
tralization Of power. Democrats
In Virginia adhere to these
fundamental principles and
yield to none in their dedication.
"As. q member of the Senate,
I am under oath to support
the Constitution Of the United
States. This / have done. Every
President of my time has had
my full support when there was
need for strong national defense
and when there was need for
unity in international crises.
Beyond this, my unqualified
allegiance to the people Of
Virginia has been preserved,
and 1t will be. I know their
principles. I have confidence in
their judgment as to what is
good for the country. I have
followed their will as I under
stood 1t In the past, and I shall
conform to 1t in the future.
ITO make my position very
clear, specifically some of my
objections to declarations in
the platform are as follows:
Il. I am opposed to any po-
liticai manipulation of the
Federal Reserve System in Or
der to influence interest rates,
or for any other purpose.
%. I am opposed to repeal of
right-to-work laws which, by
Federal legislation, are permis-
sive in any State desiring such
laws. The effect Of the platform
pledge would be to nullify
right-to-work laws In 20 States
where they have been enacted,
and constitutional provisions
which have been adopted by
eight States.
q. I am opposed to the rec
ommendation in the Democratic
platform for forced integration
In every school district by 1853.
Such shotgun action would de-
stroy public education systems
in many communities.
"a. I am opposed to. estab-
lishment Of a Fair Employment
Practices Commission FEPC)
which would give bureaucrats
in Washington power over who
Is to be employed or who can be
dismissed In private business.
This is q field which should not
be invaded by the Federal
Government.
IS. I am opposed to the plat
form recommendation for COM
pulsory medical service and
disqualification under the social
security system. I am convinced