1944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1003 OKLAHOMA THE LATE HONORABLE THOMAS W. HARD­ APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE Ed Whiteaker, Panama. WICK, OF GEORGIA BOARD OF VISITORS TO THE UNITED PENNSYLVANIA Mr. VINSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, STATES COAST GUARD ACADEMY FCR Frank C. Davis, Alum Bank. I ask unanimous consent to address the THE YEAR 1944 Charlotte E. Capwell, Factoryville. c House for 1 minute. The S.PEAKER laid before the House Bertha M. Fiesser, Farm School. The SPEAKER. Without objection, it · the following communication, which was James A. Donahue, Heilwood. is so ordered. read by the Clerk: Walter W. Gilmore, Hillsville. Olive K. Floyd, Hookstown. There was no objection. JANUARY 22, 1944. Ralph M. Pearce, Hyde. Mr. VINSON of Georgia. Mr. Speak­ The SPEAKER, · Charles M. Brubaker, Intercourse. er, it is my sad duty to announce to The House of R epresentatives, W. Herbert Pearsol, Kunkletown. the House the death of the Honorable Washington, D. C. Charles C. Duck, Lewistown. DEAR MR. SPEAKER: Pursuant to the act of Thomas W. l!ardwick, of Sandersville, April 16, 1937, as amended (Public, 38, 75th Martha M. Stamm, Lincoln-. Ga. As many of the older Members of Thomas F. Melody, Locust Gap. Cong., 1st sess.), I have appointed the fol­ Ella R. Bradley, Mahanoy Plane. this House will remember, Mr. Hardwick lowing members of the Committee on the Mer­ Alexander J. O'Reilly, Mayview. served in this body for 16 years. He was c~ant Marine and Fisheries to serve as mem­ Marie Sterrett Smith, McKean. my predecessor in representing the old bers of the Board of Visitm:s to the United Basil W. Bradley, Middlebury Center. Tenth Congressional District of Georgia, States Coast Guard Academy for the year Lucy M. Labuski, Morris Run. and resigned in 1914 to take a seat in 1944: Han. FRANK W. BOYKIN, Hon. HERBERT George P. Kratzert, Neffsville. the United States Senate, to which he C. BONNER, Han. FRED BRADLEY. Mary F. Wilson, Newportville. was elected in that year, and in which As chairman of the Committee on the Mer­ Agnes Susan Whisdosh, Norvelt. chant Marine and Fisheries, I am authorized distinguished body he served until 1919. to serve as an ex-officio member of the Board. In 1920, he became Governor of Georgia, With kindest personal regards, I am in which capacity he served until1923. Yours very sincerely, ,. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES No one from Georgia has had a more S. 0. BLAND, Chairman. distinguished career. He was a brilliant The SPEAKER. Pursuant to the pro­ lawyer, an outstanding orator, and a TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1944 visions of Public Law 183, Seventy-sixth political leader without peer. In Con­ Congress, the Chair appoints as members The House met at .: 2 o'clock noon. gress he engaged in some of the most of the Board of Visitors to the Umted The Chaplain, Rev. James Shera controversial debates of the day. He States Coast Guard Academy, the follow:.. Montgomery, D. D., offered the following was not afraid to speak his mind and ing Members of the House: Mr. FoRAND, prayer: always had the courage of his convic­ Mr. McWILLIAMS. tions.. He was my warm personsJ friend Our Father in heaven, Thou art not of many years, and I am deeply grieved EXTENSION OF REMARKS simply a God of might and wisdom; in at his passing. I am sure that his many Mr. MANASCO. Mr. Speaker, I ask the temple of our souls we discern Thee friends in this body and. in the Senate unanimous consent to insert in the REc­ and in the wonder and deeper life of the will share in my grief, and will join with ORD a newspaper article appearing in this spirit we acknowledge Thee. Thy out­ me in extending our sympathy to his be­ morning's Washington Post. ward works are most glorious, but we reaved widow and daughter. The SPEAKER. Without objeetion, it would truly know Thee in our hearts. The SPEAKER. The time of the gen­ is so ordered. Against every desire, every temptation tleman has expired. and disappointment is our Lord and There was no objection.' Master meeting us at the altar of the WAR CRIMINALS SHOULD BE DENIED Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask soul; with but feeble knowledge of the SANCTUARY IN .NEUTRAL TERRITORY unanimous consent tp extend my re­ magnitude of our God, we come in · marks in the RECORD and to include Mr. KELLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask therein an editorial from the Mining humilitY. unanimous consent to address the House We linger in ou_· thoughts: How soon Record, of Denver, Colo. for 1 minute, and to revise and extend The SPEAKER. Without objection, it we are weak and weary; how often we, my remarks. whom Thou hast loved, are fatigued by is so ordered. The SPEAKER. Without objection, it There was no objection. reason of the infirmities of the flesh, yet is so ordered. how patient Thou art and waiting to be Mr. PRIEST. Mr. Speaker, I ask gracious. Grant that everything that is There was no objection. unanimous consent to extend my re­ unlike Thee, we, may count as unworthy· Mr. KELLEY. Mr. Speaker, not since marks in the RECORD ·and to include an of ourselves. We pray for the spirit that the days of Genghis Khan and Tamer­ editorial from the Observer. diligently seeks the stimulation of the lane has there been such cruelty in­ The SPEAKER. Without objection, it Divine mind. Though the many ways of fiicted upon defenseless people and pris­ is so ordered. humanity are straying hither and > oners of war as that perpetrated by the There was no objection. thither, may we be kept steadfast in the beasts of the Mikado. We should not Mr. KUNKEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask faith that·our God is, and evermore shall have been surprised. Beneath the veneer unanimous consent to extend my own be. Blessed Lord, without Thee we are of civilization- there. was the savage and remarks in the RECORD on the subject of no more capable of saving this world the barbarian. What we witnessed was mustering-out payments. a reversion to type. than we wer~ capable of creating it; each The SPEAKER. Without objection, it day may we be led to use our station and Every American hopes and prays for is so ordered. ~ifts to hasten the advent of the·parlia­ the day when justice will be done to these There was no objection. ment of man. When our labors are em­ criminals. But it will not be done if they Mr. TAYLOR. , Mr. Speaker, I ask ployed to remind men of the "Eternal are allowed to seek refuge on neutral soil. unanimous consent to extend my own Goodness" and when our country makes This cannot be permitted. To forestall remarks in the RECORD. its power a bulwark of liberty and jus­ such attempts I yesterday introduced The SPEAKER. Without objection, it tice, Thy kingdom, 0 God, is on its way; :aouse Resolution 427, calling upon the is so ordered. all hail America in Thy name. Through President to enter into an agreement There was no objection. Christ. Amen. with .our allies to prevent war criminals Mr. ANDERSON of California. Mr. The Journal of the proceedings of yes­ from finding sanctuary or safety on neu­ Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to ex­ tral territory. This resolution is before tend my own remarks in the Appendix terday was read ~nd approved. the Foreign Affairs Committee. I hope of the RECORD and to include therewith EXTENSION OF REMARKS it will be given speedy consid'eration. a memorandum from the Navy Depart­ l:v!r. DIES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unani­ The American people certainly want ment. moug consent to insert in the Appendix of some provision to prevent the escape of The SPEAKER. Without objection, it the RECORD a short article by George E. those responsible for crimes committed is so ordered. Sokolsky. upon American men and women. There was no objection . . The SPEAKER. Is there objection? The SPEAKER. The time of the gen­ Mr. ELLIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unani­ There v;as no objection. tleman has expired.. mous consent to extend my own remarks 1004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-- HOUSE FEBRUARY 1 REPORTS OF CASUALTIES He's not so keen for standing guard, a lonely in the RECORD and to include an editorial vigil keeping, . from the Parkersburg News. Mr. LANE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unani­ "But when I must," he writes to us, "they'll The SPEAKER. Without objection, it mous consent to address the House for 1 never find me sleeping. is so ordered. minute and to revise and extend my re­ I hear a lot of boys complain about the tasks There was no objection. marks. they set us, And there's no doubt that mother's meals can SOLDIERS' VOTING LEGISLATION BY THE The SPEAKER. Without objection, it is so ordered. beat the ones they get us, STATES But since I'm here to do my bit, close to the There was no objection. job I'm sticking; Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unani­ Mr. LANE .. Mr. Speaker, the Nation I'll take whatever comes my way and waste no mous consent that I be permitted to ad­ recognizes that the D,epartments of vyar word in kicking. r ) dress the House for 1 minute and that I and Navy give swift and accurate reports may revise and extend my remarks. on casualties to the next of kin. · I ad­ "I'd like to be a captain, dad, a major, or a colonel, . The s·PEAKER. Without objection, it mire, particularly, the solicitude of these I'd like to get my picture in some illustrated is so orderEd. · otherwise .ster~ agencies, in the instruc­ journal; . There was no objection. tions they issue t.o the telegraph com­ I don't exactly_fancy jobs that now and then Mr. HILL. ' Mr. Speaker, the State of panies not to deliver distressing news at come my way, Colorado called its legislature in extraor­ .a late hour. · · · Like picking bits of rubbisl,l up that <;lesecrate dinary session last Friday to provide bal­ . · However, one case came to my ·atten­ the highway. · · lots for the soldiers across the sea .. I call tion recently, which indicates thafthere But still I'll ·do those menial tasks as cheer­ is some room {or improvement. On Fri­ fully a.S could one, your attention to the message the Gov­ For while I am a private here I'm going to be ernor sent to the legislators as they met . day, January 14, 1944, the family of a a good one. in that session on Friday. I hope every ,Greater Boston man was notified that one of the Representatives in Congress . their son had been kiUed in action at his "A soldier's life is not the way I'd choose to Alaskan post. Several days elapsed be­ · make my living, will read what the· Governor of Colorado But now I'm in the ranks to serve, my best did and had to say to the members of the fore they were further informed that · · to it I'm giving. Colorado State Legislature. he died from asphyxiation after being Oh, ·I could name a dozen joJ:>s that I'd con- :caught .in a sriowslide. . sider- finer, . EXTENSION OF' REMARKS A family bereaved experiences keener : But since I've got this one to do I'll never Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unani­ suffering if it does not know the circum­ be a whiner. ' mous consent to revise and extend my re­ stances surrounding the death of a loved I'm · just a private in the ranks, but take it marks. one. If the members of the family. could from my letter, but know the full story at once, they They'll never fire your son for one who'll do The SPEAKER. Without objection, it his duty . better." is so ordered. would be saved the added agony of un­ There was no objection. certainty. EXTENSION OF REMARKS Mr. BURGIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask From the combat areas, it is impossible Mr. JUDD. Mr: Speaker, I ask unan- unanimous consent to extend my re­ to observe all the amenities governing· a , imous consent to extend my remarks in marks in .the RECORD and include an . civilized nation. There is so much of a two instances, in one to include a letter excerpt from a pamphlet issued by Food military nature to be done and so little from a soldier in Italy, and in the other for Freedom. time in which to do it. to include a resolution passed by the The SPEAKER. Is there objection? I suggest, however, that from a non­ Associated. General Contractors of Min­ combat zone, like Alaska, we should ex­ nesota, advocating a definite labor policy, There was no objection. pect the War and Navy Departments to Mr. WRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I ask The SPEAKER. Is there objection? include the specific cause of death in the There was no objection. unanimous consent to extend my remarks original report to the next of kin. · in the RECORD and include therein an Mr. SHORT. Mr. Speaker, I ask In the over-all'picture of war, this may unanimous consent to extend my re­ editorial from the Boston Herald. seem to be a small detail. It is not too The SPEAKER. Is there objection? much to ask if it saves those waiting at marks in the I Appendix of the RECORD There was no objection. home even this small measure of .an- and include an editorial on Willkie's ob~ vious decline, from the Daily Argus SOLDIERS' VOTE guish. ~ . I recommend that we request the War Leader, of Sioux Falls, S.Dak. Mr. WRIGHT. Mr. Speaker,· I ask and Navy Departments to give this sug­ The SPEAKER. Is there objection? unanimous consent to address the House gestion their never-failing, courteous, There was _no objection. for 1 minute and to revise and extend my and efficient attention. (By unanimous consent, Mr. HARTLEY, remarks. Mr. Sm:ES, and Mr. SADOWSKI were The SPEAKER. Without objection, it A GOOD SOLDIER granted permission to extend their own is so ordered. Mr. BRYSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask remarks in the RECORD.) There was no objection. unanimuus consent to address the House Mr. MONKIEWICZ. Mr. Speaker, I Mr. WRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, today we for 1 minute and to revise and extend my ask unanimous consent to extend my re­ take up the servicemen's voting bill. I remarks,. and to include therein a poem. marks in the RECORD, and to include do not intend to make any charges or The SPEAKER. Is there objection? therein a· translation of a letter written insinuations. as to any motives which There was no objection. . .bY a mother to the editor of a New York may activate any Mem}ler of this House, Mr. BRYSON. Mr. Speakei, as we newspaper. consider pending legislation which seel~s The SPEAKER. Is there objection? no matter which way he votes, or no There was no objection. matter which bill he votes for. How­ to provide just, equitable, and legal meth­ ods whereby our servicemen may cast INVESTIGATION OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT ever, I should like to call the attention their ballots regardless as to where they of the House to the fact that I under­ OF ALBERT W. JOHNSON AND ALBERT may be serving, my thoughts revert to a L. WATSON stand a considerable number of Members poem by Edgar A. Guest, which is as fol- of this House will seek to defeat the pre­ lows: · Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. Speaker, by di­ vious question on the rule, for the sole rection of the Committee on Accounts, I purpose of providing machinery by which A GOOD SOLDIER submit a privileged resolution (H. Res. He writes to u~ most every day, and how his a roll-call vote may be obtained, wherein letters thrill us! 407), and ask for its immediate consid­ the issue is the uniform Federal ballot, I can't describe the joys with which his quaint eration. which its sponsors believe is the only way expressions fill us. The Clerk read as follows: to get an effective vote to the soldiers, He says the military life is not of his selec­ Resolved,· That the expenses of conducting and' the other bill which has been re­ tion, the investigation authorized by House Reso­ ported out of the committee, which would He's only soldiering today to give the flag lution 406, authorizing the Committee on the protection. Judiciary to investigate the official conduct rely upon the voting machinery of the But since he's in the Army now and doing of Albert W. Johnson and Albert L. Watson States. · duties humble, district judges of the United States District The SPEAKER. The time of the gen-: He'll do what all good soldiers must, and he Court for the Middle District of Pennsyl­ tleman from Pennsylvania has expired. will never grumble. vania, including such printing and bindini 1944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-I-IOUSE 1005 and the employment of such clerical, st:mo­ SOLDIERS'· VOTES Rees, Kans. Smith, Ohio Wasielewski graphic, and other assistance as the commit­ Robinson, Utah Snyder Winter tee may deem necessary, and all other ex­ Mr. HOFFMAN. Mr. S:?eaker, I ask Scanlon Stockman Wolcott penditures, shall be paid out of the contin­ unanimous consent to proceed for 1 min­ Sheridan Sumner, ni. gent fund of the House on vouchers author­ ute and to revise and extend my remarks. · The SPEAKER. Three hundred and ized by the committee signed by the chair­ The SPEAKER. Is there objection? eighty-six Members have answered to man thereof and approved by the Com..Tnittee There was no objection. on Accounts, but shall not exceed $2,500. their names, a quorum. Mr. HOFFMAN. The gentleman from Further proceedings under the call The resolution was agreed to. Pennsylvania [Mr. WR!GHT] without were dispensed with. questioning anyone's motives-and he A motion to reconsider was laid on the EXTENSION OF REMARKS tabl~. never does-stated awhile ago that there EXTENSION OF REMARKS was ~m inclination on 'the part of some Mr. FURLONG. Mr. Speaker, I ask of us to vote for the previous question unanimous consent to extend my own Mr. HARRIS of Virginia. Mr. Speak­ when the rule came out, and thus avoid remarks in the Appendix of the RECORD er, I ask unanimous consent to extend a stand-up-and-be-counted attitude on and include therein an article from the my remarks in the Appendix of the the Worley bill. I would ask the gentle­ Stars and Stripes of December 30, 1943, RECORD in two instances and to include man if it is not true that if we vote for with respect to the request of the sol­ therein newspaper clippings. the previous question when the rule diers for voting by a Federal ballot. The SPEAKER. Is there objection? comes up, that is an indic9.tion that we The SPEAKER. Is there objection to There was no objection. are against the Worley bill. the request of the gentleman from Penn­ SHORTAGE OF NEWSPRINT PAPER Are we not standing up and being sylvania? Mr. CANNON of Florida. Mr. Speak­ counted then? There was no objection. er, I ask unanimous consent to address Mr. WRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, will the VOTING BY MEMBERS OF THE LAND AND the House fm 1 minute and to revise and gentleman yield that I may answer the NAVAL FORCES question? extend my remarks. Mr. SABATH. Mr. Speaker, I call up The SPEAKER. Is there objection? .Mr. HOFFMAN. I yield. Mr. WRIGHT. If I were opposed to House Resolution 412, and ask for its im­ There was no objection. the Worley bill I believe I would be will­ mediate consideration. · Mr. CANNON of Florida. Mr. Speak­ ing to vote against the previous question The Clerk read the resolution, as fol­ er, we are told quite frequently through­ because I would want my vote recorded lows: out this land that there is indeed a short­ on a roll-call vote. Resolved, That upon the adoption of this age of newsprint paper. I might remind Mr. HOFFMAN. When I vote for the resolution it shall be in order to move that you that one of the big dailies in Flor­ previous question, as 1 E"hall, am I not in­ the House resolve itself into the Committee ida, located in my home city, is now told of the Whole House on the state of the Union dicating unmistakably that I am against for the consideration of the hill ·(s. 1285) to they cannot have enough paper on which the Worley bill? Am I not standing up to print advertisements for the delin­ amend the act of September 16, 1942, which and being counted? Am I not being provided a method of voting, in time of war, quent tax rolls, which is mandatory recorded? I think I am. by members of the land and naval forces under the Florida Law. Yet I have in The SPEAKER. The time of the gen­ absent from the place of their residence, and my possession two papers, one of which tleman from Michigan has expired. for .other purposes. That after general de­ is called the Heart Mountain Sentinel bate, which shall be confined to the bill and of Heart Mountain, Wyo., and the other , CALENDAR WEDNESDAY continued not to exceed 4 hours, to be equally the Rohwer Outpost of Rohwer, Ark. Mr. McCORMACK. Mr. Speaker, I ask divided and controlled by the chairman and Those papers are printed by Japanese unanimous consent that the Calendt~,r the ranking minority member of the Com­ Wednesday business in order on tomor­ mittee on Election of President, Vice Presi­ internees, Japanese prisoners. They are ctent, and Representatives .in Congress, the permitted to print those papers. They row, February 2, may be dispensed with. bill shall ba read for amendment under th'e are internees, but still they can run their The SPEAKER. Without objection, it 5-minute rule. It shall be in order to con­ papers and solicit ads for their news­ is so ordered. sider without the intervention of any point papers and American businessmen con­ There was no objection. of order as a substitute amendment fo"r the tribute to their support. EXTENSION OF REMARKS Senate bill the provisions contained in H. R. 3982. At the conclusion of th2 reading of I might suggest to the goverhmental Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. Mr. Speaker, the bill for amendment, the Committee shall agencies that that practice be discon­ I ask unanimous consent to extend my rise and report the same to the House with tinued if there is such a shortage of news­ own remarks in the RECORD and to in­ such amendments as may have been adopted, print. and the previous question shall be considered clude therein an editorial from the Bos­ as ordered on the bill and amendments there­ The SPEAKER. The time of the gen­ ton Traveler. tleman from Florida has expired. to to final passage without inte!"vening mo­ The SPEAKER. Without objection, it tion except one motion to recommit. EXTENSION OF REMARKS is so ordered. There was no objection. Mr. SABATH, Mr. Speaker, I yield Mr. LARCADE. Mr. Speaker, I ask myself 4 minutes. This resolution unanimous consent to extend my re­ CALL OF THE HOUSE makes in order for consideration S. marks in tne RECORD and include two The SPEAKER. The gentleman from 1285. The rule is an open one and pro­ short newspaper articles. Illinois [Mr. SABATH] is recognized. vides for 4 hours' general debate. Un­ The SPEAKER. Is there objedion? Mr. SADOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I make der this rule, the Senate bill, as amended, · There was no objection. a point of order that a quorum is not will be taken up under the 5-minute rule Mr. FULBRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I ask present. · for amendments. I regret that there unanimous consent to extend my re­ The SPEAKER. Evidently no quorum was a great deal of information dissem­ marks in the RECORD and include an ed­ is present. inated to the effect that an application itorial. Mr. McCORMACK. Mr. Spealter, I was made to the Committee on Rules for The SPEAKER. Is there objection? move a call of the House. , a gag rule. There was no application There was no objection. . A call of the House was ordered. for ·such a rule and a majority of the Mr. RANKIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask The Clerk called the roll, and the fol­ members of the committee voted for the unanimous consent to extend my re­ lowing Members failed to answer to their rule now before us. The only unfortu­ marks and include an editorial fr~om an names: nate part is, so that we may all under;. Arizona newspaper. (Roll•No. 15] stand, that tlie proponents of the legisla­ The SPEAKER. Is there objection? Baldwin, Md. _ Gamble Kennedy tion who wanted the members of our There was no objection. Bell Gifford Lambertson armed forces to have a real opportunity Mr. HOFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask Bradley, Mich. Hebert Luce to vote urged that the rule provide for Carh:on, Kans. l!ess Maas unanimous consent to extend my re­ Celler Hobbs Magnuson two motions to recommit instead of one. marks in the RECORD and include a news­ Cole, N.Y. Jackson Morrison, La. Under the rules of the House the first paper article. Cullen Jarman Morrison, N.C •. motion to recommit a bill is given to the Domengeaux Jennings Norton The SPEAKER. Is there objection? Douglas Jones O'Leary Republican minority but, unfortpnately, · There was no objection. Durham Jonkman Patman from my standpoint, in this instance 1006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 1 they are for the Rankin bill which pro­ Mr. Speaker, I have in my possession Mr. Speaker, in accordance with the vides for cumbersome and conflicting thousands of telegrams and letters from jnstruction of my committee, I shall State control. Consequently, those business, labor, church, and social organ­ move the previous question; and I shall members appearing before the Commit­ izations, from outstanding men and not deviate from that obligation. I shall tee on Rules and some of the committee women, from servicemen and service­ make the motion for the previous ques­ members themselves who favored legisla­ women, from ex-service men, and from tion, but I hope that such motion will be tion providing a Federal ballot that the families of those now in our armed defeated. Those who desire that the would positively assure our servicemen · services, demanding that the servicemen servicemen and servicewomen may have and servicewomen an opportunity, urged and servicewomen be given the privilege actual opportunity to cast their votes will that a rule be granted including a pro­ to cast their votes. I say; Mr. Speaker, vcte down the previous question, and vision which would permit a second mo­ that if they are good enough to brave t-hen the rule will be open to amendment tion to be made to recommit the ·bill in the bullets of our enemies, surely· they and a record vote will be in order for the order that a record vote could be had on are good enough to cast election ballots. membership. . Why are the opponents of the simplified Worley or Lucas-Green · Mr. Speaker, I know that the gentle­ the Worley bill afraid of a record vote? Federal ballot bill. · This I sought to man from Mississippi [Mr. RANKIN] and Surely, my colleagues on the Republican ·bring about in the Committee on Rules the Republicans will, later on, as they side cannot be against giving the boys but, unfortunately, I did not succeed. have heretofore, endeavor to make cap­ the right to vote in view of the report of Therefore, the only procedure by which ital and criticize the President for urging Chairman Spangler of the Republican ·a record vote may be had on the Worley Congress to .provide a method that will National Committee, who claims, ac­ bill is to vote down the previous question, assure the greatest number ·of those in cording to press advices, having received which motion. I will be· obliged to make, our armed forces, who, as I stated before a report from four officers that a major­ which then would give the membership are not only in camps in the United ity of the boys will vote the Republican an opportunity to amend the rule to pro­ States but on ·nearly every battle front ticket. Yes; that may be true of some of vide for a second motion to recommit. throughout the world, an opportunity to the officers, but surely is not true of the This procedure has been followed with cast their votes·. In answer to them I rank and file of our armed forces. respect to other legislation considered by say that their criticism is unjustified and Mr. Speaker, as someone stated to me: the House. -unwarranted and solely made, as usual, "Our boys are standing by and why Mr. Speaker, I presume we will hear in for political reasons. The Constitution should we not stand by them?" I repeat, the discussion to follow that the Worley definitely provides that the President t am ·for the Worley bill be·cause it pro­ bill will deprive the States of their States' shall communicate his views to the Con- yides an opportunity for the greatest right. I say it does not. The States . gress and I quote -article II, section 3, number in our ·armed forces te cast their· will retain such rights, and at the same -thereof, as follows: votes. Everyone familiar with the yard­ time, under the Constitution, a part of He- long ballots of cities and counties must which I shall read to you, ·congress has The President- know that it will be humanly impossible jurisdiction to legislate in connection to forward in time and to obtain com­ with Federal election. I now read sec­ shall from time to time give to the Congress pliance with State requirements from ;information on the state of the Union, and tion 4 of article I of the Constitution. recommend to their consideration such meas­ the boys overseas, and the return of the Mr. RANKIN. Mr. Speaker, will the ures· as h~ shall judge necessary and ex­ State ballots in time to be placed in the -gentleman yield. pedient. · ballot boxes on election day. If time Mr. SABATH. I am sorry I cannot would permit, I would like to give the Mr. Speaker, that is what he has done absentee voting requirements of the 48 yield, I have only 4 minutes. I shall read in his message to Congress pertaining to -article I, section 4, and I am not going States, but shall take leave to give the to change it. this legislation and he had an absolute requirements of some of the States and ·right to criticize a bill which he believed general absentee voting information per­ Mr. RANKIN. I hope not. -would not afford the members of our Mr. SABATH. It reads as follows: taining to most of the States. armed services, of which· he is Com- Twenty-five States require official ap­ The times, places and manner of holding mander in Chief, the opportunity to vote 'plications. This requires five mailings elections for Senators and Representatives, which he believes they should have. The shall be prescribed in each State by the leg­ and the· filling out and affixing of oaths President has the interest and welfare to two affidavits, as follows: islature thereof; but the Congress may at any of the servicemen and servicewomen at time by law make or alter such regulations, First. Request for application for bal- except as to the places of choosing Senators. heart, and these unjustified attacks, in the face of this constitutional provision, lot. Mr. GEARHART. Mr. Speaker, will show to what extent those opposed to Second. Application sent to voter. the gentleman yield? his policies and to. the administration Third. Application returned by voter. Mr. SABATH. I regret I haven't the will go in attempting to discredit him in Fourth. Ballot sent to voter. time to yield. the eyes of the brave members of our Fifth. Ballot returned by voter. Mr. Speaker, I am of the opinion that armed forces. The number of days allowed by State those of you who vote against a record The statement of the gentleman from law to make the above mailings vary in vote will regret it later on, b.ecause the Mississippi [Mr. RANKIN] that under the all the States, but.they range from 22 to 2 civilian voters demand that the service­ short-form Federal ballot the servicemen days before the election and· from 90 'to _men and servicewomen, too, be given the and servicewomen will be deprived of the 3 days before the election. right and the privilege to cast their votes, opportunity to vote for their city, county, I cite a few of the requirements of sev~ which is practically impossible under the and State officials is not justified, be­ eral States to .show the difficulties and provision-s of the bill before us now. This cause the Worley bill provides for the .time-consuming actions attendant to has been testified to by the Secretaries State ballot and also ·stipulates that if .voting an absentee ballot under State of War and Navy, and others, and I fear the State ballot cannot reach the mem­ law. that only a .very few of the men who are bers of the armed· forces in time, or if it In Montana the ballot is approximately in , service at various fighting fronts cannot be returned in time, then they 28 by 38 incpes and the ballot envelope throughout the world will be able to ob­ will at least have the opportunity to vote must· be sealed with two applications of tain their. ballots in .time. Mr. Speaker, ·the Federal ballot for President, . Vice sealing wax, with a notary or other of­ regardless of what the Republicans who Presid-ent, Senators, and Representa- ficial'~ ~eal affixed. follow me may say, I maintain that a tives. . . In Arkansas a sm~ll ballot is provided, vote for the Rankin bill is to deny to the The SPEAKER. The time of the gen­ but it is a duplicate ballot requiring car­ members of our armed forces the sim­ tleman from Illinois has expired. bon paper for the second ballot. Both plest and most positive medium to ex­ Mr. SABAT~. Mr. Speaker, I yield ballots. are returned to the election offi­ ercise their voting privilege. The ques­ myself 1 additional minute. - .cials and one r'etalned in case of chal­ tion is, Are we for giving them the right Mr. RANKIN. Mr: Speaker, will the lenge. or are we against giving it? If we are gentleman yield? In Connecticut the absentee ballot is for giving them the right, we should vote Mr. SABATH. -I am sorry, -I cannot an eight-page booklet that has no names for the Worley or Lucas-Green bill. yield. - of -candidates or-parties printed therain. 1944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1007 The ns,mes of the ·party or the candidates Mr. Speaker, many Members from Mr. SABATH. Mr. Speaker. Will the are written in by the voter. Southern States who are followers of gentleman yield? In South Carolina, Arkansas, and Thomas Jefferson, and believe in State ~. rr. FISH. I yield. Texa:; the absentee voters scratch their rights, and in State sovereignty, and . Mr. SABATH. Is it not a fact that ballots, t:1at is, the names of all the against the concentration of power in the heretofore we have provided for two r:-:o­ candidates are given, but the voter draws Federal Q;)vernment, are now standing tions to recommit and that it will not lines through or scratches out the names with their backs against the wall. For violate the rule at all? of all candidates for whom he does not years they have seen State rights vanish, Mr. FISH. I have just stated that wish to vote. one after the other under the New Deal. not for 10 years has the Rules Committee In Oklahoma an absentee voter re­ Today one of the few remaining State provided for two motions to recommit. turns h~s voted ballot to an agent who rights, the main one of all-the control of The last one was on two soldier bonus deposits it with an election inspector. their own election machinery and the bills. at the recommendation of the Com­ Twenty-six States have consolidated qualification of their own voters-is in mittee on Ways and Means. ballots. serious jeopardy. I hope this whole question is clear and Thirty States have ball-ots with party The House recently received a message that the rule which your committee has columns. from the President. In my humble opin­ brought into the House will be sustained. In· Georgia the voter sends his request ion that message was dictatorial, intem­ I realize full well that the Committee on for a ba!lot by registered mail, and the perate, · and insulting to those Repub­ Rules is the servant of the House, wh ~ c l1 ballot is sent both ways by registered licans and Democrats in the House who in the last analysis, is the master of all mail. wanted to provide a full ballot, a com­ procedure. However, we brought in a In seven States elections are not under plete ballot, for our armed forces, with wide-open rule in accordance with the the supervision of secretaries of state, the help of the States. It was also an in­ established precedents of the House and but under the jurisdiction of boards of sult to the Governors and State legisla­ I hope that rule will be sustained. election C·r election commissioners. tures of · the North and the South who The SPEAKER. The time of the gen­ Mr. Sp eeJ~er, I shall not detain the want to cooperate. Furthermore, I be­ tleman has expired. Hous3 longer but hope that the informa­ lieve that the President's political and Mr. SABATH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 tion which I have given will show the demagogic message tended to impair the minutes to the gentleman from G3orgia impracticability of the members of our morale of our armed forces and to under­ [Mr. Cox], and I understand that the armed forc~s voting through the medium mine the faith of the veterans in their gentleman frcm New York [Mr. FISH] of the election machinery of 48 States. representative, constitutional form of will also yield 5 minutes to the gentleman Millions will be disfranchised if the Fed­ government, and in the Congress itself, from Georgia. eral short-form ballot is not provided. because it virtually charged that Mem­ Mr. FISH. Mr. Speaker, I also yield The SPEAKER. The time of the gen­ bers of Congress, Republicans and Demo­ 5 minutes to the gentleman from tleman from Illinois has again expired. crats alike, were in a conspiracy to de­ Mr. SABATH. Mr. Speaker, I now Georgia. fraud the veterans, their own sons, out of The SPEAKER. The gentleman from yield 30 minutes to the g~ntleman from a vote. Such implications were pre- New York [Mr. FISH]. , posterous and utterly false. Georgia [Mr. Cox] is recognized for 10 Mr. FISH. Mr. Speaker, I .yield myself The truth is that all the Members of minutes. · 5 minutes. this House want the veterans to vote, Mr. COX. Mr. S;,Jeaker, th;:;re is Contrary to what has been said by probably a majority :want them to vote nothing extraordinary or unusual, about some of th e radical newspapers this is an a State ballot, including Governor and the pending rule. The two gentlemen open rule. It has no part of a gag in it. right down to constable. preceding me stated correctly that the No Member of the House ever suggested Mr. Speaker, this issue will be decided Rules Committee granted the ruJe that any form or semb~an<~e of a gag rule. right at the outset, under this rule. For the legislative committee handling the It is the ordinary, usual, wide-open rule, the gentleman from Illinois, the chairman bill requested. It is an open rule. I so that the Members of the House in of the Committee on Rules, when the hour have the confidence that your Commit­ Committee of the W.hole may offer is consumed, under the rule, will move the tee on Rules did the r .t ght thing. It is amendments, and if they are in the ma­ previous question and the issue will come the kind of a rule for which the commit­ tee was importuned by people all over jority they c~n amend the bill in any on sustaining the previous question. way they desire. The SPEAKER. The time of the gen­ the country by letters and telegre.ms, Not for 10 years has this House sought tleman has expired. chain letters and telegrams, cf cJurse, to have a special rule. Mr. FISH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself which came in great waves. The com­ The last time that that was tried was 2 additional minutes. mittee, however, out cif a very friendly when the Vvays and Means Committee consideration for the fine qualit'es and Those who want special pdvilege; those the fine disposition displayed by our reported O\lt two soldier-bonus bills. The who want a special vote in defiance of young and brilliant C;)lleague the gen­ Rules Committee thought that having the general ru!. es of the House and in voted out two bills that there should be a tleman from Texas [Mr. WoR :L. EY] d ~ d ga accordance with the dictatorial orders of one step further than it ordinarily does vote on each. the President of the United States, who and made the offering of his bill as a Mr. McCORMACK. Mr. Speaker, will is Commander in Chief of our armed substitute in order. the gentleman yield for a correction? forces, but who is not commander in chief Mr. FISH. Yes; for a correction. of the legislative branches of the Govern­ Mr. Speaker, why all this effort to ms..ke Mr. McCORMACK. They did notre­ ,ment, and who has ordered that there the soldier think that he is being chee.'~ ed port out 2 bills. They reported out 1, and must be a record roll call, if they are in out of his ballot? Is this morale building the other was defeated by a vote of 13 a majority can vote the previous ques­ and does it contribute anything to war to 11, but they did request that both bills tion down and amend the rule to provide effort? Can any necessity ever b3 great be voted on. for a record vote on the Worley bill. If enough, in times of universal stress, to Mr. FISH. I stand corrected to that there is one reason above any other for justify the employment of artifice and extent. The Ways and Means Commit­ voting to sustain the motion that will be deceit in whipping up a public frenzy tee requested that both bills be consider­ made by the gentleman from Illinois when with which to drive the people away from ed and that the rule provide for a sepa­ he moves the previous question, it is that the truth and ·force a public opinion rate vote on both bills. In this particu­ we ought to repudiate this brazen at­ founded upon misinfon:J.ation? lar case the proponents of the Worley tempt by the President of the United When did the Constitution become a bill are asking for a special rule. They States to issue orders and commands to monstrous thing, and when did its ob­ are asking for four strikes instead of Congress 11nd to tell us what kind of rules servance becoine a fraud upon the pub­ three, and if the House supports any we shall have and thus interfere with the lic? If it is out of date, and if it is a procedure of that kind, then it will be orderly legislative and constitutional pro­ fraud and a monstrous thing, then .why destroying minority rights, which will cedure of the House. Let us take this op­ are we fighting to pr::serve it? plague us from now on, no m~tter which portunity to rebuke this dictation from Mr. Speaker, it should never be con­ party is in charge of ·the House, and we the President and serve notice on him sidered as in bad taste or offensive to will have votes on every conceivable kind to keep_his hands off Congress and the public morals or private rights to invoke of legislation in the future. ~rules of the House of Representatives. the Constitution as the guide for men anQ. 1038 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 1 women who must work together in the · of the privileges they exercised during ' yet today he comes here and lectures to solution of problems of public interest. the normal times of peace. us from the South as to the maintenance I.f people are to live in an ordered society Mr. Speaker, I wish there were no ran­ of States' rights. and to find happiness under a Consti­ cor or emotional upheaval in this mat­ Mr. Speaker, I have tried to consider t'ution made by them, then is it not in­ ter of providing a method for the vote this question just as objectively as I pos­ sanity that Congress, under the pressure of our armed forces. There need be sibly can. I think it boils itself down of public clamor, should even consider none. I would preserve that form of to a simple question, Do we want the peo­ making of it a blank piece of paper? government that has made us great ple in the service to have the right to Does the necessity of the moment demand among the nations of the world. vote? Personally, I want them to have that the people, including the soldier, I believe we can retain it. I know we that · right. I have studied these bills be hoodwinked out of their principles? can retain it if we will keep within con­ and I am convinced that the Worley bill · Mr. Speaker, where resides the power stitutional limitations and restraints. is the one which holds out the best to fix the qualifications of the voter? But, sir, I know alse that we shall lose it promise of any bill that has been pre­ That is the question before us now. Sec­ when we cast aside those limitations and sented to us to give our servicemen a tion 2 of article I of the Constitution restraints and yield to the pressure of practical method of casting a vote in the reads: expediency. · elections this year. The House of Representatives shall be com­ · There have been many changes in our Therefore I shall vote against the .pre­ posed of Members chosen every second year constitutional way· of life, Mr. Speaker. vious question. by the people of the several States, and the During recent years those changes have The SPEAKER. The time of the gen­ electors in each State shall have the qualifica­ come with startling and unexpected sud­ tleman from Alabama -[Mr. SPARKMAN] tions requisite for electors in the most nu­ has expired. merous branch of the State legislature. denness and rapidity. In many instances they have overtaken us unawares, they Mr. FISH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 The seventeenth amendment of the have crept upon us insidiously. Unless minutes to the gentleman from Michi­ Constitution reads: we stand alert and constantly on guard gan [Mr. MICHENER]. The Senate. of the United States shall be it may be possible that we shall find that Mr. MICHENER. Mr. Speaker, let us composed of two Senators from each State, ,we have suffered an even greater and cut through the maze of confusion, ar­ elected by the people thereof, for 6 years; anq more far-reaching invasion of our con­ gument, misinformation, and misunder­ each Senator shall have one vote. The elec­ ·stitutional way of life than is apparent. standing, and arrive immediately at the tors of each State shall have the qualifica­ question now before the House, which is: tions requisite for electors in the most nu­ Mr. Speaker, let us proceed to the en­ merous branch of the State legislature. actment of legislation that will enable "Shall the House consider under the gen­ the men and women of our armed forces eral rules of the House a bill the objec­ So it must be apparent to ~veryone that 'to vote. But; let that legislation provide tive · of which is to permit those now in .it is not within the competency of the ·for constitutional procedure and the pres­ the service of the. country to cast their Congress to enact the so-called Federal . ervation of our constitutional way of votes in the November election?" ballot bill. life. This question must be answered in the Mr. Speaker, I am concerned about the Mr. RANKIN. Mr. Speaker, will the affirma.tive by a majority of our Members constitutional integrity of our institu­ ·gentleman .yield? on a roll-call vote, if such is desired, be­ tions. I would not deny a single soldier, :fore it is time to argue 'the merits of the sailor, or marine his constitutional right Mr. COX. I yield to the gentleman committee bill, the Worley bill, or any to vote. I am sure also that neither from MissisSippi. ·proposed amendments to either of these would any other Member of this House. Mr. RANKIN. Let me say to the gen­ bills. I want them to vote, but without destroy- . tleman from Georgia, in answer to the We must all realize that first things ing the constitutional rights of the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. SABATH], come first. If this rule is adopted, then States, and without the insidious fed­ that under the Senate bill S. 1285, as the next step is 4 hours' general debate eralizing of one of the few of the rights amended; a far greater number of men on the whole field of soldier voting. At not already annihilated by the Federal and women in our armed forces will vote the conclusion of that debate, then the . Government under the guise of require­ than would vote under the Lucas-Worley committee bill will be read for amend­ ment of war. The bill which the pending , bill. ment under tl:le 5-minute rule. At the rule is intended to make in order would ' Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I yield back to conclusion of the reading of the first sec­ . make possible and would facilitate vot­ the gentleman from New York [Mr. FisH] tion, the rule makes it in order to offer ing on the part of our armed forces. the part of the time unused, and thank the Worley bill ·as a substitute for the For years we. have seen the rights of . him for the time he yielded me. committee bill.- The Worley bill will then the States vanish one by one. Under The SPEAKER. The gentleman yields be subject to any germane amendments the pressure of war more have gone. back 30 seconds.· proposed by any Members. And now we are asked to surrender one Mr. SABATH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 After the Worley bill is perfected, then of the most fundamental of those rights. minutes to the gentleman from Ala­ there will be a vote between the com­ On all sides we hear that we are emerg­ bama [Mr. SP.~RKMAN]. mittee bill and the Worley bill; that is, ing into a new world order, and that even Mr. SPARKMAN. Mr. Speaker, I do if the majority of the Members voting in our domestic post-war order will be un­ not yield to anyone in my feeling for Committee of the Whole want to sub­ like anything we have known in the past. States' rights. I am for the preserva­ stitute the Worley bill for the committee If that be truth rather than purpose, Mr. tion of States' rights. I listened with bill, that will be done. Speaker, let us take it in our stride. Let much interest to the remarks of the gen­ Under this open rule the Members can us await the eventful day and the event­ tleman from New York [Mr. FisH], when be required to stand up and be counted ful era. But let us, in the name of this he was lecturing to us about States' for or against the Worley bill. If it is troubled Republic, wait at least until the rights. I could not help but think about desired by the House, then those favor­ day arrives and they who are to be most the vote he cast on the antilynching ing the Worley bill will be required to affected shall have returned from the bill, striking at the very heart of States' march down the center aisle, pass wars and have opportunity to say rights. I could not help but think of through tellers, and be counted. The whether they want a new order and what the vote that he cast to deny to the number so voting will be announced to kind of order it shall be. various States the right to determine the the Speaker. Then those favoring the Mr. Speaker, the men and women in qualifications of their voters, when he committee bill will proceed in like man­ our armed forces have not been disfran­ helped to pass the anti-poll-tax bill. I ner, and like announcement will be made. chised from voting because they are in remember, if I am correct in my recol-' If a majority of the Members voting fa­ the armed forces; indeed, they are not lection, that only 2 years ago he voted vor the Worley bill, it will be reported disfranchised at all. Each still possesses for another bill which I opposed, the back to the House for final consideration and retains the qualifications he or she Ramsay bill, which sought to have the and, under the rules of the House, a roll­ ever had. It is war and war alone that Federal Government rather than the call vote will be had if it is so desired. has dislocated them from their homes State governments give the right to these This is the usual open-rule procedure and from their communities, and made servicemen to vote without the payment and no Member will in any way charge -it impossible for them to exercise many of poll tax and without registration, and that this is a gag rule. 1944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-I-IOUSE 1009 Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, will the tiona! burden will be placed upon the ord vote on the Worley bill is by voting gentleman yield? Speaker as to whom he shall recognize. down the previous question and then Mr. MICHENER. No; not now, but Whomever he does recognize will of voting to amend the rule. later if my time will permit. necessity be recognized for at least 1 · We are met with the argument that Mr. DINGELL. Just f-or a short ques­ hour, during which time the person so this is an unusual procedure. Granted. tion. recognized will control the measure on Remember, however, that the circum- • Mr. MICHENER. . No; I would rather the floor. If this Member does not move stances surrou~ding the consideration of not at the moment, because there are the previous question before the end of the bill are unusual in that the minority many short questions. the hour, then another will be recog­ members of the committee who, under ·At the conclusion of the present hour, nized in like manner, and so on ad the rules., hold a priority on making such following the rules of the House, the infinitum. a·motion, are in favor of the committee chairman of the Rules· Committee will In short, Mr. Speaker, well-thought­ bill. · And also remember that the pro­ move the previous question, which, if out and time-tested parliamentary pro­ cedure we have adopted to force a record carried, will close debate on the rule and cedure will yield to chaos and confusion. vote, while unusual, is in strict accord- · brinG the resolution before the House to Mr. CLARK. Mr. Speaker, will the ance with the rules of the House. Under a vote. gentleman yield? the rules we have a perfect right to vote Mr. DINGELL. Can we get a roll call?. Mr. MICHE~ER. My limited time has down the previous question and then vote Mr. MICHENER. Yes; there will be a made it necessary not to yield to others. to amend the rule so as to provide for roll call on the previous question, if a However, I do yield to a member of the a· record vote on the Worley bill. And, majority of the House so desires. In my committee. due to the. impertance, of this question, opinion, the roll will be called ~nd we will Mr. CLARK. I will·not interrupt. ' we are justified in pursuing any course all be permitted to say whether or not Mr. MICHENER. I do not believe that permitted by the rules of the House in the House wants to consider the general the Members of Congress are cowards. I forcing a record vote. subject of soldier voting at this time. have too much confidence in and respect The eyes of this Republic are upon us. Personally, that time· cannot come too for the courage and integrity of our They want to read with their own eyes soon and, as one Member, I am not only membership to concede for one moment where we stand. And if we fail to ob­ willing but anxious-to be recorded on this that on this important question Members tain a record vote on the Worley bill, be and any other question in which my con­ are going to attempt to deceive their not deceived, no reason assigned for our stituents are interested. constituents as to how they vote. I ex­ failure will keep them from thinking and · Mr. Speaker, as we all know, the pur­ pect my constituents to know exactly saying we were afraid to stand up and pose of the rules of the House is to per­ how I vote and why. ~ My conclusions vote. mit the House to work its will at all may not agree with· some of my col­ Our boys are standing up like men and times and at the same time to give ade­ leagues. I may·be wrong. Nevertheless, fighting, and, in my opinion, they expect quate and ample protection ~o the mi­ I shall be sincere, and do not want to us to stand up like men and vote. While nority. That is exactly what this rule impute to any other Member less cour­ they may overlook what they consider an does. These rules are the considered re­ age and less sincerity. adverse vote, they will never overlook sult of 150 years of study, improvement, Every one of us wants to provide the what they consider an adverse dodge. and experience. They are not political. method whereby the greatest number · Mr. SABATH. Mr. Speaker, I yield They have been adopted, developed, and of service people possible may have the . 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ten­ established during Republican adminis­ privilege of voting, with the assurance nessee [Mr. GoRE]. trations and Democratic administra­ that the votes so cast will be counted in · Mr. GORE. Mr. Speaker, as the gen­ tions. There is no reason for abandon­ the respective voting precincts to which tleman from Michigan said, the bill itself ing them at this time. they are delivered. I regret that my is not before the House. There is be­ Mr. WHITE. ·Mr. Speaker, will the time has expired and, in conclusion, I fore the House a rule, a resolution, to gentleman yield? . want to appeal to the membership to provide the method by which we shall Mr. MICHENER. I regret that I only vote to sustain the orderly procedure of consider the biB. It is an ordinary rule, have such a short time and it is about the House and accomplish the objective a rule which has served well for many, gone. I expect to discuss the merits of in which we are so vitally interested. Iliany years. It is ·not a rule for an un­ - these bills when such discussion is in This can best be done by voting for the usual. situation which is now presented. order, and I shall then be pleased to previous question, voting for the rule, I regard the Committee on Rules as one yield to the gentleman from Idaho. and proceeding without delay to a free of the truly great committees of this We were advised the other day by the and open discussion of the whole sub­ House; but, frankly, I have thought for gentleman from New Mexico [Mr. AN­ ject matter, with the privilege of chang­ some time that provision should be made DERSON], and the country has been ad~ ing and amending any bill brought be- · for a division vote on bills having impor­ vised throug:B the press and over the fore the House under the rules: tant dual character. For instance; we radio, that another minority group in For one, I do not want to be a party recently passed a bill to extend the life the House will attempt to vote down the to creating a parliamentary situation of the Commodity Credit Corporation previous question in an, endeavor to that will do violence to orderly procedure and also to prohibit the payment of sub­ amend the rule, changing the general and accomplish nothing, unless it be to sidies. There was no individual·roll-call rules of the House for the alleged pur­ make a laughing stock of the Congress. vote on either the subsidy question or the pose of having additional roll calls. So This is a very serious matter and must extension, as such; there was only one far as the House working its will is con­ be decided on its merits and not upon roll-call vote and that was on the final cerned, nothing can be gained by such prejudice, politics, or emotion. vote in which Members, however they procedure. The SPEAKER. The time of the gen­ stood, were placed in the attitude of hav­ Now we know that we are not all tleman from Michigan has expired. ing to vote against extension of the Com­ agreed as to all of the provisions in Mr. SABATH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 modity Credit Corporation in order to either the committee bill or the Worley minutes to the gentleman from Virginia vote in favor of continuing the food-sub­ bill. I cannot believe that those advo­ [Mr. FLANNAGAN]. sidy p;rogram. This is an important cating voting down the previous ques­ Mr. FLANNAGAN. Mr. Speaker, the question, a national issue; it is an un­ tion realize just what this would mean Representatives of the people should, at usual circumstance. The rule before us in the general consideration of legisla­ - all times, welcome the opportunity to is not sufficient to meet the demands of tion in the House. If the policy were register on the proceedings of the House the situation or the people's desire; and pursued to its logical conclusion, it would their approval or disapproval of all ques­ may I say to the gentleman from Mich­ be physically impossible to pass the nee- . tions vitally affecting those they repre­ igan and the gentleman from New York essary legislation in the Congress even sent. We all profess to entertain such that there is nothing unparliamentary though we were in constant session. If views. Then, is it unreasonable to ask about voting down the previous question. the previous question is voted down, the that we translate that profession into a · The resolution is brought in with the rec­ Rules Committee will lose control of the reality? That is all we ask. ommendation of the Rules Committee, resolution. Numerous Members will be Now, the parliamentary· situation is to be sure, but the House itself is to adopt clamoring for recognition and an addi- this: The only way we can obtain a rec- the· rules by which it will consider. this XC-- 64 1010 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 1 bill. The House can adopt, defeat, or On every bill that comes along some­ soldiers but striving, rather, for an un­ amend the resolution now before us. body who offers an amendment would fair advantage. I have worked 9 There is nothing chaotic or unparlia­ like to have a record vote. It is not years to make the people of my district mentary about following the parliamen­ lack of courage that has brought about know my name and I think I have a right tary rules of the House. rules that do not make that possible. to have niy name on the ballot so that The SPEAKER. The time of the gen- Rather is it a matter of necessary ·and when the boys from the Second District tleman from Tennessee has expired. - proper procedure. It is nothing more of Indiana get ready to vote they can Mr. FISH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 7 min­ nor less than ·the matter of procedure check my name if they want to. Who is utes to the gentleman from Indiana necessary to the carrying on of our there that will deny me that ·right? [Mr. HALLECK]. business. Mr. SABATH. That would be advan­ Mr. HALLECK. Mr. Speaker, it is un­ If this is not a good rule, change the tageous to all the sitting Members. necessary for me to reiterate-- general rules, but do not in particular The SPEAKER. The time of the gerr­ The SPEAKER. The gentleman from instances undertake to castigate every­ tleman has expired. Indiana will suspend. body who stands by the rules of the Mr. FISH. Mr. Speaker, I yield the The House will be in order; and the House. That is all we are doing in this gentleman 1 additional minute. · Chair desires to say a word about pro­ circumstance as far as this bill is con­ Mr. HALLECK. Mr. Speal,er, just a cedure in the House. When a Member cerned. final word. The States of this country rises and asks another if he will yield Only the demagogs will charge that under their able leaderships, and there and the other refuses, the· Member must there are any of us who do not want the are able State governments even as it is understand that that ends it. soldiers to vote. We all want. them to alleged there is an able Government in The gentleman from Indiana may vote because that is their privilege as Washington, are prepared to get the bal­ proceed. citizens. lots from their States to the men in the Mr. HALLECK. Mr. Speaker, I do I will tell you another reason why I service to the end th.at they can vote. not anticipate that it is necessary for want the soldiers to vote. I am right Anyone who charges otherwise is. not me to reiterate that this is a wide-open well convinced that my party and I are speaking tfhe trnth. I have in my hand rule. It is open wider than · usual in going to get a majority of those who cast here copies of telegrams that have been order that the so-called Worley bill will their votes under any fair and equitable received from upward of 35 Governors clearly be held germane when it is of­ system that may be devised, so I want of the commonwealths of this country, fered in the committee for the con­ to have_them vote, and what is more, I which have been received in the last day sideration of the Members. It has no want their ballots counted. or two. Some of them recite a few diffi­ part of any gag ru!e about which many But there are certain things in con­ culties, but they say they .are working on of us received telegrams. It permits nection with this matter that I think them and straightening them out. The the House of Representatives to work we ought to bear in mind. One of them others in almost unanimity of opinion its will under the time-honored Rules of is that if the soldier is entitled to vote state that their States will see to it that the House. he ~ought to be entitled to vote not alone their boys in the service have a right to An effort was made in the Committee for President, for Congressmen, for Sen­ vote and will vote if the Federal Govern­ on Rules to get something in the nature ators, but for the Governor of his State, ment will cooperate in getting the ballots of a special rule that would provide an­ yes; and for his brother or his buddy who out to the men and women in the service other motion to recommit. I have might be running for sheriff back home. and back again. checked the precedents a little. The This bill is not a fraud. This bill is The SPEAKER. The time of the gen­ motion to recommit is of long standing the only bill that will give the soldier a tleman has expired. in the House. It was designed to protect '\ZOte, a whole vote, and a vote that will Mr. SABATH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 the rights of the minority party and it surely be counted once he has gone to the n.inutes to the gentleman from North has served that purpose well. But as troubl~ to cast it. It does not fly in Carolina [Mr. ·BoNNER]. one motion to recommit ·is multiplied the face of the Constitution. Rather Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I have by two or three or more the value of does it follow the provisions of the Con­ the highest respect and regard for the the purpose for which it originally was stitution. Rules Committee and for the rules of intended is seriously impaired if not de­ . The amiable chairman of the Rules this House. _Yet these are extraordinary stroyed. Committee reads a provision of the Con­ times. No one can say that the request Let us get one thing clear. Talk stitution that refers to Senators and Con­ made on this occasion is out of order. about standing up and being counted. gressmen and certain authorities in re­ It is in order because once before there I am for the committee bill and against spect thereto. But has it ever occurred was a question swept the country and the Worley bill. There is no question to him that in the majority of our States attracted the interest of everybody per­ about my position and there has not we do not vote for President by name, taining to soldiers, and on that occasion been. we vote for an elector, an elector who the Rules Committee, recognizing the The suggestion is made here that we is as much a State officer as is any Gov­ sentiment of the country and the desire ought to go on record. I am sure we ernor in the land. Where can there be of the people in the country to have that all know that when we consider a bill found any reasonable constitutional issue settled, permitted two motions to in the committee under the rules, many ground for saying that that sort of a vote recommit. The request on this occasion amendments are offered that go to a can be legalized by the Federal Govern­ by those who appeared before the Rules teller vote; they do not go to a record ment? Committee involved identically the same vote. Why? For the simple reason We must maintain and protect the in­ thing. · that if we had any other rule we would tegrity of the ballot and the secrecy of I have no great dispute with the Rules be sitting here calling the roll in­ the ballot. We must prov~de that when Ccmmittee for the rule that it has cessantly. These rules have grown up a man casts his ballot it is as he wants brought in, but in my opinion the Rules out of the experience of years and years to vote, that once it is voted he and he Committee might very well have taken of parliamentary procedure in this alone knows how he voted. this into consideration as seriously as it House and I for one resent the Chief There is another thing we ought to took the request that was made before Executive throwing aspersions at the keep in mind. Let us not bring about when two motions to recommit were House of Representatives and its rules. a situation in this country under which granted by the committee. Certainly I cannot refrain from suggesting that the outcome of the election might well there is no issue that burns as deep into it may be coming from those who would be challenged by the threatened attempt the minds of the American fathers and like to see the Congress nothing but an to count votes that were cast in con­ mothers of this country as this issue. enacting committee or a debating so­ travention of the Constitution, leaving "Are you going to let my son have this one ciety. If the President wants to permit this country in turmoil and confusion at request that I am making of you through a bill to became a law without his sig­ a time when that is the last thing we the mail and that has been made of you nature that is all right with me. want or need. through the press?'' It is a fair request. Mr. VOORHIS of California. Mr. Who ever thought up this idea of send~ Certainly the House can work its will. Speaker, will the gentleman yield? ing out a blank sheet of paper without I believe in what the gentleman from Mr. HALLECK. I refuse to yield; I the names of the people ru.nning? Who Michigan said that the House does on have not time to yield. is it striving not to give a vote to the Olidinary occ£>.sions work its will, but this 1944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1011 is an extraordinary occasion and it ilege of knowing how the Members of for the Worley bill is a vote to give the should so be treated. The rule should be Congress each voted on this legislation. soldiers a piece of paper and call it a amended. . The SPEAKER. . The time of the gen­ ballot, but it is one that will not be The SPEAKER ~ The time of the gen­ tleman has expired. counted in a majority of the States of tleman has expired. Mr. SABATH . . Mr. Speaker, I yield 2. the Union. The right of a soldier to cast Mr. SABATH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North a ballot that will be counted is at stake minutes to the gentleman from Okla­ Carolina [Mr. FOLGER]. here. Let us not kid ourselves. We have homa [Mr. MONRONEY]. Mr. FOLGER. Mr. Speaker, I am an an intelligent Army and Navy. You Mr. MONRONEY. Mr. Speaker, not attorney at law, but I do not profess cannot give them a piece of paper and being a la\Vyer I am unable to find much to be a lawyer. I am not so very learned convince them that they have a ballot. substance, reason, or logic in the argu­ in the law. I am not minded, however, They know that as citizens of this ment on the legalistic mumbo jumbo to discuss constitutional and legal ques­ country they are entitled to a ballot such that some seek to use to defeat the Wor­ tions to too great an extent when I am as they would have at home. I shall ley soldier vote bill. Their strained line particularly interested in providing a support the committee bill to give the of reasoning, seekfng to find reasons in method and means by which the sol­ full ballot to our armed forces. the Constitution that would l~eep the diers, upon whom the Government has . Mr. SABATH. Mr. Speaker, I yield members of the armed forces in the uni­ laid its hand and whom it has told that 1 minute to the gentleman from Mary­ form of this c::mntry from voting do not' they must leave home and go to camps, land [Mr. SASSCERJ. . correspond with my idea of the Consti­ some of them beyond the seas, to fight Mr. SASSCER. Mr.Speaker,I hope the tution, nor with those of the average for this country, may have an actual, Worley substitute for the Senate bill, soldier fighting to protect that great bona fide opportunity to vote in this elec­ favorably reported by the House, will be document. But here I would like to tion. adopted. It is the surest, simplest, and address myself strictly to the rule be­ So far as I am concerned, there is ab­ most adequate procedure of affording fore the House and to our effort to se­ solutely no politics connected with this members of our armed forces, merchant cure a record vote of the membership subject. It makes little difference to me, marine, and so forth, an opportunity to on the Worley bill. so far as my conduct h ere is concerned, vote. Due to the number of men in the whether they vote one ticket or another. We ~ppeared before the Rules Com­ forces, their location all over the globe, mittee long before the Presidept's mes­ The particular thing is to give them the the inability of the States to get the bal­ sage was sent to the Congress asking opportunity· as well as the right to vote. lots to them, it is necessary that a Federal for a special rule so that these two vital I do not believe we are straining a plan be first adopted. As soon as a Fed­ issues, one the uniform Federal bal­ whole lot. or that we are in so much dan­ eral plan, to which the States may fash­ lot and the other the Vursell biP, both ger of a violation of States' rights and ion, is passed, Maryland, under the lead­ would stand a roll call in the House. State authority when we provide, as the ership of Governor O'Conor, who has al­ This was refused· us in the rule granted. Worley bill does, for a vote according to ready taken aggressive action in the the terms of that bill. To me, it simply Now we seek to amend this rule as is Council of State Gov~rnments, will, in the privilege of the House so that Mem­ means this: One bill \Vill provide the special session, pass necessary State leg­ bers may be recorded qn how they stand opportunity and the other will not. If islation for general use of the proposed on soldier-voting rights; I have an opportunity to do so, I am going soldiers' ballot. The obligation is so to vote for the· bill that will give to the I agree with my friend and colleague strong in this respect that I ·am confident soldiers at home and abroad this bona all other States will do the same thing. from Indiana [Mr. HALLECK] the Repub­ fide opportunity to cast their ballots. lican congressional campaign chairman, By the greatest stretch of the imagina­ . Mr. FISH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2% tion, the Worley substitute is no invasion who so ably opposes 'the Worley bill, that minutes to the gentleman from Ne­ the motion to recommit was and is of States' rights or violation of the con­ braska [Mr. CURTIS]. stitutional State prerogative of prescrib­ through tradition a motion that should Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, if there is go to the minority. I say to you now ing qualifications of voters because, after anything on trial in the world today, it providing the national machinery for the fact that the supporters of the Wor­ is the right of free people to govern ley bill were in the minority in the ·com­ getting the ballots to and from the mem­ themselves. The Constitution is a con­ bers of the armed forces, the merchant mittee; therefore they should have the tract among free people. We must up­ right to make an additional motion to marine, and others mentioned in the hold that contract if their right to gov­ bill, when the ballot is returned the de­ recommit since recommital was designed ern themselves shall continue. to protect the minority in fact rather termination of its validity is left to the The gentleman from Illinois read that States. than just the minority party. section of our Constitution dealing with I disagree with the argument of the . The Senate-House committee, or East­ the election of Representatives and Sen­ man-Rankin, bill, in substance, is but a gentleman from Michigan [Mr. MicH­ ators, but we are facing a Presidential ENER] who says that we must not break a recommendation on the part of the Na­ year. Let us see what the Constitution tional Congress to the State go,vernments precious precedent, and who says that to states: vote down the previous question would to provide means for absent soldiers' vot­ Each State shall appoint, in such manner ing. This reduces itself to the novel pro­ throw this House into chaos. Is prece­ as the legislature thereof may direct, a num­ dent so dear, so precious, that it must ber of electors, equal to the whole number cedure of the Federal Congress advising be preserved against the best interests of Senat ors and Representatives to which the States what to do, whereas the Wor­ of our Nation and its soldiers? Would the State may be entitled in the Congress; ley substitute, which I favor, provides the it create chaos? The Speaker of the but no Senator or Representative, or per­ machinery for getting the ballots to the House would then have control of the son holding an office of trust or profit under men whom the Federal Government took time if the previous question is voted the United States, shall be appointed an into service, and then returning them to down. I think he is entirely able to elector. the State governments for their determi­ prevent us from having chaos. I think Further, the Constitution states: nation as to validity. Anyway, the Fed­ he could handle the situation satisfac­ The Congress may determine the time of eral Government, by taking the men into torily. I do not think that would throw choosing the electors, and the day on which a national army, made it impossible for us into chaos or make us the laughing they shall give their votes; which day shall them to go to the polls and vote. It, stock of the country, as the gentleman be the same. througho';It the United States. therefore, cannot escape its obligation to aid in every way possible in effecting from Michigan [Mr. MicHE,NER] claims. Our authority to legislate as to the Finally, I would like to come to the manner of voting with respect to a suffrage for the armed forces. argument of the gentleman from New President is as to time only. The inadequacy of the bill passed in York [Mr·. FisH]. He says that we, who There is something involved here, the Seventy-seventh Congress has been ask for this roll call, this motion to. re­ however, besides the right of a State. It established, as only 28,000 servicemen commit on the Worley bill, are seeking is the right of a soldier, the ·right of a voted in the last election. With the pri­ special pri-v·ileges. I think that, since citizen soldier, to cast a complete ballot maries and election fast approaching, this vote so greatly r.ffects the rights of on precinct officers, county officers, State and the magnitude of the ta~k of dis­ the m€n wl1o fight overseas, they are cer­ officers, Members of the House and of tributing the ba ll o ~ s. p ra~ t ~ c a l and ::. rned.y tainly c11titled to h:::.ve this ·special priv- the Senate, and the ·President. A vote action is imperr..tive. · 1012" CONGR-ESSIONAL REGORD~HOUSE FEBRUARY 1

This Eastman-Rankin bill favorably and most direct' way this Federal Con~ done these things, who are we to say that reported by the House Elections ·commit-· gress could possibly give them to do it. the ballots· will not be handled -Properly? t.ee is an incoherent, illogical absurdity, Mr. SABATH. Mr. Spealcer, I yield 1 Who are we to now refuse to do every.:­ and full of insurmountable practical ob­ minute to the gentleman from Penn­ thing possible to give these men an op­ stacles which would prevent the service­ sylvania [Mr. BRADLEY]. portunity ..of voting? men from exercising the absentee-voting Mr. BRP..DLEY of Pennsylvania. Mr. No great cry of States' rights was raised privilege. It is nothing more than a dud. Speaker, I know of no quicker way to · by many who are going to vote against The members of our armed forces have destroy the rights and sovereigt1ty of the this measure when we eliminated the re­ fully demonstrated that they are a live ... States than to use that issue to retard quirement for regis~ration and poll tax blooded group, with live ammunition, progress every time legislation is being as a prerequisite of voting for service­ and they .are certainly entitled to a live considered·. They talk about prece­ men in September 1942. It is · strange ballot. Though spread all over the dents, in this day when we have initiated that many of those who voted for that world, they are still citizens of the United new precedents that were never thought measure have become so suddenly con­ States of America, and, amid hardship of in our history. Oui· soldiers are in verted to the dJctrine of States' rights. and danger, are living up to the highest far:-off India, on the islands of the South Congress, under its war powers, has traditions of valor and resourcefulness. Pacific, and over there on the Appian passed the Soldiers' and Sailors' Relief Their self-sacrifice and bravery have . Way, the road to Rome, built thousands Act. We have done many things under amazed the world. of years ago; American soldiers are to­ the War Powers Act-ce1~tainly, the least. Can Congress, in good conscience, pass day fighting for the liberty of the United we can do is to let the men in service a subterfuge bill which purports in its States. Yet when we try to facilitate know that we still want them to have an title to "provide a method of voting," voting by them, someone quibbles about opportunity to participate with us in and so forth, and then in the body of precedents. I should not like to give selecting their Federal officials. If we the bill require tbe soldiers to make it that argument to these boys when they want them to have the opportunity, we the hard way? come back. I am glad the President of should vate for the Worley bill. The_only The Worley substitute has uniformity the United States focused the attention way we can 'vote for the· Worley bill un­ and simplicity. The ot.."ler bill, at best, of ·the country on this House today, so der the rule presented today is to vote could only result in a diversity of pro­ that the people will know the real sit­ "no" on the measure. to order the previ­ cedure in the 48 States that would so uation, and hold responsible those who ous question. A vote in favor of that complicate the already overtaxed admin­ fail to take adequate action. measure -will be interpreted as a vote istrative processes of the Army and Navy Mr. SABATH. Mr. Speaker, I yield · against giving the soldiers . a · chance to as to destroy the availability of the bal­ such time as he may desire to t,he gentle­ express themselves in the ballot. A vote lot. man from Tennessee [Mr. KEFAUVER]. against the measure will make it possible There is · too much opposition to a Mr. KEFAUVER. Mr. Speaker, two to secure a separate roll-call vote on the simple and adequate bill through fear things are perfectly clear in connection Worley amendment. of how the soldiers are going to vote. with the matter we are to decide upon The people and the men in service Give them a simple, secret ballot, and today. The first is that under the com­ · know what the issue is. · Their eyes are however any man bearing arms for his mittee bill which leaves the matter of upon us today. country votes is the right vote. No voting up to the States, practically no Mr. SABATH. Mr. Speaker, I ask other American can have a higher right men in the service will have an oppor­ unanimous consent that all Members be to exercise his voting privilege. tunity of voting; In the 1942 elections, granted permission to extend their own America is determined to suppoFt them 89 voted in Mississippi; 87 in South Caro­ remarks il1 the RECORD on the rule now in every way possible to bring the war. to lina, and very few ~ore voted in. my under consideration. a speedy end. It is certainly not an in­ State of Tennessee. In Tennessee at . The SPEAKER. Is there objection' to consistent corollary to this dedicated present we have more than 250,000 men the request of the gentleman from Illi­ principle to provide the soldiers who are in the service. Following the percent­ nois? carrying the brunt of this objective an age of those voting in the last ele~tion, There was ho objection. adequate and simple means of express­ not more than 250 men will vote in the Mr. FISH. Mr. Speaker, I yield the ing their choice in an election at home ·coming election. If they do not vote, it balance of the time on this side to the which affects their Government. will be because we do not give them an gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. RAN-· Mr. SABATH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 opportunity of voting. KIN.] . minute to the gentleman from California The other fact which is clear from Mr. RANKIN. Will the gentleman [Mr. VOORHIS]. the discussion is that the substitute pro­ from Illinois yield me some of the time Mr. VOORHIS of California. Mr. posed by the gentleman from Texas · that is supposed to go to the majority? Speaker, to me, this issue is very simple. [Mr. WoRLEY] is a genuine effort to give Mr. SABATH. I do not have any time Days before the President ever sent a the men the opportunity to have an ex­ left. message or anybody knew he was going pression in the forum of democracy and, Mr. RANKIN. Mr. Speaker, this is the to ·send a message, a group of Democratic at the same time, it leaves the ultimate most unusual situation I have ever Members of this House, of whom I am decision as to the validity of the votes known. The Rules Committee reports a proud to have been one, convinced that in the hands of the State officials. This, rule, and the chairman of that commit­ we represented the majority opinion of it seems to me, is the very best answer tee [Mr. SABATHJ takes control of the time this Nation, met together for the purpose we can -make to ·this perplexing prob­ and gnmts it to the· opposition, so that of attempting to give the House an op­ lem. I, who reported the bill for the majority, portunity to have a record vote on one of The gentleman from Texas [Mr. WoR­ have to go to the other side to get time. the major propositions with rega1~ d to LEY] has studied and considered the mat­ Men who tell you that the soldiers will this matter, namely, the proposition of ter from every angle, and this is his not get the vote. under the Senate bill, providing a simplified, direct Federal bal­ conclusion: If the State officials are not as reported by the House committee, with lot to the men in the service. · We did it satisfied that the votes express the will amendments, what they call the Rankin 1 because we were impressed with the tes­ of the men who cast them, or if they bill, either do not understand the situ­ timony of the Army and the Navy about think 'the ballots· have been tampered ation, or they are misrepresenting it. the difficul'ty of carrying out the other with, they have the power and authority More meri and women in the service . program, because we knew that under the to refuse to accept the ballots as legal. will vote under this bill than will vote State absentee ballet system 2 years ago In time of war we must trust someone. under the Lucas-Worley bill. It will be only 28,000 soldiers voted, because we felt Congress voted to declare war. Con­ a constitutional vote, it will be a legal we ought to do a whole lot better than gress, by pl:l.ssage of the Selective Service vote, one that will be counted in every that, because we believed, on the basis of Act, has taken these_men away from their State in the Union, and it will not bring the evidence, that it w~. s possible to carry homes and placed them on foreign bat­ chaos and ·confusion in the election next out trus other program, and because we tlefields. We have placed them under fall. Gent lemen on the minority side of thought that an army drafted by Federal the charge and direction of able officers, this question talk about wanting to go law to fight a Federal war had a right to , and they are under the control -of able on record. They know that they are in vote for Federal officials in the simplest Secretaries of War and Navy. Having the minority. But they attack the Rules 1944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1013 Committee. I say to them, do not com- we can give them. I do not say that it Mr. MARTIN, of Massachusetts. Mr. plain, you have had your day in court. is perfect. Indeed, it is not, but it is Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and You are in a hopeless minority. A rna- our duty to give them that kind of a nays. jority of us are going to vote to sustain ballot, because it is the only kind under The yeas and nays were ordered. the previous question and we are going the Constitution that we can give them. The question was taken; and there to pass this bill. . That will enable them to say to us, were-yeas 233, nays 160, not voting 34, Some of you are saying that the ballots "Yes, you have done your best to give as follows: will be so heavy that they cannot be us an opportunity to vote." That type [Roll No. 16] got to the soldiers abroad. The Secre- of ballot will enable them to pass judg­ YEA8-233 tary of War and the Secretary of the menton us in the Congress of the United Abernethy Gillie · Mundt ·Navy both sent a letter to the chairman States, and to pass ,judgment on the Allen, Ill. Goodwin Murray, Tenn. of a committee on the Hill asking that President and Vice President as well and Allen; La. Graham Murray, Wis. - Andersen, Grant, Ala. Newsome the ballot be held down to eight-tenths of to say whether we have done things .that H. Carl Grant, Ind. Norman an ounce. I wanted to see what eight- those fellows abroad wanted us to do Andresen, Gritfiths Norrell ·tenths of an ounce meant. I went and for them and for the country. Today August H. Gross _ . O'Brien, N.Y. Angell Gwynne O'Hara took this piece of paper and put it in an .the voices of most of the men and women Arends Hagen O'Konski envelope and weighed it, and found that in the service are silent, silent in the most Arnold Hale Pace · ·it weighed only six-tenths of an ou..nce. important election to be held, not only Auchincloss Hall, - · Peterson, G'a. 'Here· it is, two pages of the ·New York in their lifetime, but in the history of Baldwin, N.Y. Erlwin Arthur Phillips Ban:ett Hall, Pittenger Times. Why you can print any ballot the United States up to- this time. As a Bates, Mass. Leonard W. Ploeser on earth·, with all of the instructions you Texan, and as one who believes in the Beall Halleck Pluinley ·want, on two pages of the New York rights and sovereignties of the States, Bennett, Mich. Hancock PoulEon B€nnett, Mo. , Hare Powers Times. I want the States to act effectively. I Bishop Harness, Ind. Pracht They have told you that the time ele._ want to enable every State in the Union, Blackney Hartley Ramey ment would deprive the boys of the right with the close cooperation of the Army Bolton Eeidinger Rankin Boykin Herter Reece, Tenn. ·to vote. I will show you in the debate and the Navy, to give their own ballots Brehm Hill Reed, Ill. · that we can get these ballots to every . to their men, but I tal{e .the position Brooks · Him:haw R€ed, N.Y. ·nook and corner of the earth and back that we should likewise do the best that Brown, Ga. Hoeven Riven: Brown, Ohio Hoffman R!zley in ample time. I am told that Mrs. WJ can for all the forces, no matter from Brumbaugh Holmes, Mass. Robertson ·Roosevelt, the First Lady of the land, in what State they hail. That is what my Buffett Ho:mes, Wash. Robsion, ·Ky. addressing the congressional women a bill seeks to do and that is all we can ex- Burch, Va. H:Jpe Rockwell Busbe3 Horan Rodgers, Pa . . few days ago, pointed out that she could pect to do. Butler Howell Rogers, Mass. fiy to the remotest portion of the earth Mr. Speaker, regardless of what sources Camp Jeffrey Rohrbough in 3 or 3% days. Don't you think if you outside might say as to the rules and Canfield Jenkins Rolph Carrier Jennings Rowe could take her, with all of her baggage, customs and the procedures of the House Carson, Ohio Jensen Russell and the attendants, to any point on earth of Representatives, I believe our. rules Carter · -Johnson, Schiffler in 3 or 3% days, that we can take these are fair and honest and just, and I shall case Anton J. ~chwabe Chenoweth Johnson, Scott ballots to the boys and back in 30 or 60 continue to believe so whether the House Chiperfield Calvin D. Scrivner · or 90 days? complies with my request or not. The Church Johnson, Ind. Shafer Another thing-we provide them an rules are formulated to protect the rna­ Clark Johnson, Short opportunity to vote for State and county jority and the minority. Heavens knows, c:ason J. Leroy Simpson, Ill. Clevenger Johnson, Ward Simpson, Pa. officers. we are on the spot every day, trying to Cole, Mo. Judd Slaughter The SPEAKER. The time of the gen- ·do the best that we know how to do. Go!mer Kean Smith, Maine · tleman- from Mississippi has expired. I do not want to put anyone on any kind · Compton Keefe Smith, Ohio C.)X Kerr Smith, Va. Mr. SABATH. Mr. Speaker, I yield of a spot. It is the principle of the rules Cravens Kilburn Smith, Wis. ·the remainder of my time to tlie chair- that the minority shall be protected. Crawford Kilday Springer man of the committee, the gentleman Now the minority members of my com­ Cunningham., Kinzer Etanley Curtis . Kleberg Starnes, Ala. from Texas [Mr. WoRIEYJ. mittee are the actual minority, but the Day Knutson Stearns, N.H. The SPEAKER. The gentleman from rules have been written and construed Dewey Kunkel Stefan Texas is recognized for 5 minutes. ' that the right of a motion to recommit Dies Landis · Stevenson Dirksen Lanham Sumner, Ill. Mr. WORLEY. Mr. Speaker, this is · shall go to the political minority. We do Disney Larcade Sumners, Tex. my third year in the Congress ·of the not ask you to take away their rights; we Domengeaux LeCompte Sundstrom · United States. During those 3 years I simply ask you to extend to us the same Dondero LeFevre Taber Drewry Lemke Talbot have learned to like, admire, and respect fair privilege that the political minority Dworshak L6Wis Talle the fairness and the integrity of every enjoys. We believe that we have the only Eaton McCowen Tarver Member of this House on both sides of efiective and constitutional way whereby Elliott McGehee Thomas, N.J . . the aisle. The one thing that I want most of the men and_ women of the armed Ellis McGregor Tibbott EllisQn, Md. McKenzie Towe the House to do is to work out the most forces in the United States, and espe­ Ellsworth McLean • Treadway effective system that we can which will cially overseas, can cast an effective bal­ Elmer McMillan Troutman enable us to say to the men overseas, and lot. And we believe, further, that it is Elston, Ohio McWilliams Vinson. Ga. Engel, Mich. Maloney Vorys, Ohio here at home, "You fellows are still · our solemn duty to exercise whatever Fellows Manasco Vursell partners in this Government, you are power we possess to see that the soldiers Fenton Martin, Iowa Wadsworth doing everything you can for us, and actually receive the best kind of a ballot Fish Martin, Mass. Weichel, Ohio Fisher :Mason West we want you to know we appreciate it." we can give them. The Army and Navy Fuller May Whelchel, Ga. Mr. Speaker, I do not want anyone to have officially stated they could carry out Gallagher Merrow Whitten let political questions enter into the the uniform Federal ballot plan and Gathings Michener Whittington Gavin Miller, Conn. Wigglesworth merits of this proposition at all. I do would offer every help to the State bal­ Gearhart Miller, Mo. Willey not care who they vote for. It makes no lots, too. It is the most workable and Gerlach Miller, Nebr. Wilson difference if they do not ehoose to exer- effective plan we can devise. And we Gibson Miller, Pa. Winstead ' cise the right to vote, but we must pro- hope the previous question can be voted Gilchrist Monl~iewicz Wolfenden, Pa. vide them with the opportunity. To me down so we can amend the rule td make Gillette Matt woodruff, Mich. it is the duty of the States, primarily, to our plan come up under a record vote. NAY8-160 change their own laws to make it easier· The SPEAKER. ·The time of the gen- Anderson, Calif. Bla!!.d Burdick Burgin v~te. Anderson, Bloom for their citizen soldiers to The tleman from Texas has expired. N. Mex. Bonner Byrne States offer the best kind of ballot, but Mr. SABATH. Mr. Speaker, by direc­ Andrews Boren Cannon, Fla. in the event they fail, I believe it is our tion of the Committee on Rules I move Barden Bradley, Pa. Cannon,Mo . . Barry Bryson Capozzoli solemn duty to exercise the constitu- the previous question on the resolution. Bates, Ky. Buckley Celler tional war powers that we do have, to The SPEAKER. The question is on Beckworth Bulwinkle Chapman give them the best kind of a ballot that ordering the previous question. Bender Burchill, N.Y. Cochran 1014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 1 ' Coffee Izac Pfeifer will rise and stand until counted. [After the general rules of the House? Let the Cooley Johnson, Philbin Cooper Luther A. Poage· counting]. Fvrty-three members have gentleman from , Texas yield the half Costello Johnson, Price arisen, not a sufficient number. hour to names furnished him. I feel Courtney Lyndon B. Priest Mr. SABATH. Mr. Speaker, I ask for sure the gentleman from Iowa. [Mr. Crosser Johnson, Okla. Rabaut 30 Curley Kearney Ramspeck tellers. LECOMPirE] will be glad to yield min­ D'Alesandro Kee Randolph The SPEAKER. Those whoc fa-vor utes of his time to names the gentleman Davis Kefauver Richards tal{ing this vote by tellers will rise and might submit. Dawson Kelley · Rogers, Calif. Mr. RANKIN. I may say to the gen­ Delaney Keogh Rowan remain standing until counted. [After Dickstein King Sab ath counting.] Thirty-three Members have tleman from Massachusetts that I be­ Dilweg Kirwan Sadowski arisen, not a sufficient· number. lieve, representing the majority in this Dingell Klein Sasscer So the resolution was agreed to. case, having filed the majority report, Daughton LaFollette Satterfield Eberharter Lane Sauthoff Mr. WORLEY. Mr. Speaker, I move that I ought to have some time to yield Engle, Cali!. LEa Scanlon that the House resolve itself into the to the Members on my side. Fay Lesinski Schuetz Committee of the Whole House on the Mr. MARTIN of Massachusetts. What Feighan Ludlow Sheppard Fernandez Lynch Sikes state of the Uni_pn for the consideration difference would it make whether the Fitzpatrick McCord Smith, W.Va. of the bill (S. 1285) to amend the act of gentleman from Mississippi yields the Flannagan McCormack Somers, N.Y. September 16, 1942, which provided a time or the gentleman from Iowa? Fogarty McMurray Sparkman Folger Madden Spence method of voting, in time of war, by Mr. RANKIN. It makes a great deal of Forand Mahon Stewart members of -the land and naval forces difference. You have the anomalous sit­ Ford Mansfield, Sullivan absent from the place of their residence, uation-- Fulbright Mont. Taylor Furlong Mansfield, Tex. Thomas, Tex. and for other purposes. Mr. SABATH. Mr. Speaker, the rule Gale Marcantonio Thomason Mr. RANKIN. Mr. Speaker, pending provides how the time shall be divided. Gordon Merritt Tolan that motion we would like to have a little The SPEAKER. We have the anoma­ Gore Mlils Vincent, Ky. understanding as to the time. lous situation as reported in the rule al­ Gorski Monroney Voorhis, Calif. Gossett Mruk Walt er The SPEAKER. The Chair has not ready adopted that the time shall be Granger Murdock Ward recognized anyone except the gentleman equally divided and controlled between Green Murphy Weaver the chairman and the ranking minority Gregory · Myers Weiss from Texas. If he desires to yield he Harless, Arl3. Norton Welch may. · member of the committee. If the chair­ Harris, Ark. O'Brien, Til. Wene Mr. RANKIN. Mr. Speaker, will the man and the ranking minority member Barris, Va. O'Brien, Mich. White want to make an unusual agreement that Bart O'Connor Wickersham gentleman yield? Bays O'Neal Wolverton, N. J. Mr. WORLEY. I yield. is their business. Heffernan O'Toole Woodrum, Va. Mr. RANKIN. I may say to the Chair Mr. RANKIN. It is not an unusual Hendricks Outland Wprley agreement, I will say to the Chair. Bach Patman Wright that there is an understanding between Holifield Patton Zimmerman the gentleman from Texas and myself. The SPEAKER. The Chair has noth­ Bull Peterson, Fla. Under the rule the time is divided equally ing to do with that. NOT VOTING--34 between the two sides. I represent the Mr. WORLEY. Franldy, Mr. Speaker,' on account of the peculiar circumstances Baldwin, Md. Hess Morrison, N.C. majority of the committee and filed the Bell Hobbs O'Leary majority report. The gentleman from _under which this bill was reported. I feel Bradley, Mich. Jackson Rees, Kans. Texas 'filed the minority report. I am that the gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Carlson, Kans. Jarman Robinson, Utah asking now that the gentleman from RANKIN] is entitled to a guaranty of suf­ Cole, N.Y. Jones Sheridan Cullen Jonkman Snyder Texas and the gentleman from Iowa [Mr. ficient time. Frankly, I would rather Douglas Kennedy Stockman LECOMPTE] who have charge of the time have it decided in· advance, because I am Durham Lamberston Wasielewski on the other side each yield me 30 min­ afraid . if it were left to my discretion I Fulmer Luce Winter Gamble Maas Wolcott utes that I may use it to yield to Mem· weuld yield him too much time. If some­ Gifford Magnuson bers on my side who hold my views, who one on the other side who is opposed to H~bert Morrison, La. represent the majority views on the bill. S. 1285 has an hour and I let the gentle­ So the previous question was ordered. Mr. WORLEY. So far as I am con· man from Mississippi have an hour that The Clerk announced the following cerned I want the time equally divided would make the division of time equal. pairs: so those opposed 'and those for S. 1285 Mr: MARTIN of Massachusetts. Mr. On this vote: ' will have 2 hours each. I shall be Speaker, I think we had better proceed . Mr. Stockman for, with Mr. Kennedy pleased to make any arrangements to in the usual way. against. that end with the gentleman from Iowa. The SPEAKER. The question is on Mr. Bradley of Michigan for, with Mr. Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, will the the motion of the gentleman from Texas. Jackson against. gentleman yield? The motion was agreed to. Mr. Lambertson for, with Mr. Magnuson Mr. WORLEY. I yield. Accordingly the House resolved itself against. Mr. DINGELL. I just want to make it into the Committee of the Whole House Mr. Maas for, with Mr. Wasielewski against. on the state of the Union for the con­ Mr. Wolcott for, with Mr. Robinson of Utah clear that, insofar as I am concerned, against. I think the proper and fair division of sideration of the bill S. 1285, to amend the Mr. Hobbs for with Mr. Cullen against. time is between those who are for and act of September 16, 1942, which provided Mr. Morrison of Louisiana for, with Mr. those who are opposed to the Rankin a method of voting, in time of war, by O'Leary against. bill. Unless there is some protection ih members of the land and naval forces that direction this thing is liable to go absent from the place of their residence, General pairs: awry. and for other purposes, with Mr. CooPER Mr. Fulmer with Mr. Jones. in the chair. Mr. Bell with Mr. Cole of New York. Mr. RANKIN. Let me say to the gen­ Mr. Hebert with Mr. Rees of Kansas. tleman from Michigan· that the gentle­ The Clerk read the title of the bill. Mr. Jarman with Mr. Hess. man from Iowa agreed to yield time to The first reading of the bill was dis­ Mr. Sheridan with Mrs. Luce. Members on his side who are opposed pensed with. Mr. Durham with Mr. Douglas. to the bill, and the gentleman from Texas Mr. LECOMPTE. Mr. Chairman, if I Mr. Morrison of North Carolina ·with Mr. would have the entire hour and a half understand the gentleman from Texas Jonkmaii. - left to him to yield to Members on his correctly, he will be glad if one of our Mr. Snyder with Mr. Gifford. side who are opposed to the bill. What speakers would speak first? Mr. Baldwin of Maryland with Mr. G a:ru.ble. I want is time, as the ranking Member Mr. WORLEY. Mr. Chairman, in view The result of the vote ~as announced who filed the majority report. I should of the fact tl1at we are in the majority as above recorded. like to have an hour's time to yield to I think it would be proper for those on The SPEAKER. The question is · on Members on our side. the minority side to proceed. agreeing to the resolution. Mr. MARTIN of Massachusetts. Mr. Mr. LECOMPTE. Mr. Chairman, I Mr. SABATH. Mr. Speaker, on that I Speaker, will the gentleman yield? yield 20 minutes to the gentleman from ask for the yeas and nays. Mr. WORLEY. I yield. Dlinois [Mr. VURSELL]. The SPEAKER. Those who favor Mr. MARTIN of Massachusetts. Why Mr. VURSELL. Mr~ Chairman, hav­ taking this vote by the yeas and nays would it not be better to go along under ing at different times spoken at length 1944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1015 on the proviSions of House committee same way with the exception that the (f) Middle East area: Day_s bill 1285, I shall confine my remarks to­ use of Army planes is unnecessary. Farthest_~earest------______,___ 2018 day to a brief explanation of the bill. I Secretary Stimson and Secretary Knox (g) Persian Gulf area______22 think it is very important that we un­ and others high in the administration (h) Far East area: derstand the provisions of this bill so have said that it would be very difficult ~earest______30 that we will be able to compare the to handle 48 different State elections un­ Farthest------46 soundness of our proposal with the Wor­ der our plan. This is a very misleading . (i) Mediterranean area: ley bill, which I understand, may be of­ statement. We do not want these offi­ ~earest: Long hauL______21 fered as a substitute. cials to handle any 1 of the 48 State Short hauL______18 Briefly, our bill directs and compels, elections. That is what we are trying Farthest: so far as not incompatible with the mili­ to keep away from. We simply want ' Long hauL______26 tary service, that the Army and' Navy them to distribute the postal cards and Short hauL______22 distribute post card applications for ab­ transport the ballots back and forth. In .(J) North Atlantic area: sentee ballots to the soldiers overseas their letter to the secretaries of state ~earest------14 and those connected with military serv­ they suggested several provisions that Farthest______24 ice not later than August 15, which is 82 would be helpful if th~y were written into Now, when the Secretary of War, the days before the· election is held. The our bill, among them was allowing for Secretary of the Navy, or anyone on the purpose of this early distribution is to longer time to get the ballots to and :floor of this House, undertakes to say give the soldier time to make certain that from the voter, stating they should have tha' they cannot get these ballots back ·h!.s application· for the absentee ballot at least 45 days before election for over­ and forth under these time-table limits, ·reaches the proper election official whose seas and 30 days before the election inside -I think they will be indicting the Army duty it is to issue the ballot so that the continental United States. This would -and Navy high commands witll either a will .one trip in on the application be give time enough, if necess~ry, to trans­ willful intent not to expedite the m~tter ·accomplished from 40 to 60 days before . port short-haul _ballots by boat. Pi.·ac­ or with the most gross type of ine:ffi­ the election. tically every State in the Union has or .ciency. Of course, there will be some AH the-soldier has to do is to place on . will comply with this provision which is outlying and some exceptional spots .that post card application in the blank , recommended by our b,ill. They .also ask · when·e they may find , it. difficult, and space his military address and his home , that the size of envelopes and ballots be under our plan some of those , serving address;stating he-is in the armed serv- reduced as much as possible in order to may not have an opportunity to .vote, -ice and desires an absentee ballot. · On .cut down the weight. We have provided ·but those who do vote -will have a chance the other side of the post card it is ad- 1 for this in our bill and, of course, all . ·to vote a r_eal ballot, and, in my humble dressed to the secretary of state of • States will attempt to cooperate. They , judgment, 98 percent of the soldiers --, meaning the State from which as!{ that the outer envelope be clearly • . overseas who comply with the provisions . the soldier hails. The' secretary of state 1 marked with "Official Election Ballot" so . ,of our bill signifying their desire to vote -of the various States is directed to, at ,as to give notice to censors of contents. will have an opportunity to vote the once, forward such postal card requests 1 We have provided for this. entire ballot which we provide. _ for ballots to the .proper county, city, or . Our bill calls upon the States to ac- . Mr. Chairman, under the short-ballot election official. The applications will . cept post-card applications and to waive . plan, which carries. no names on the bal­ then be -waiting with such various offi­ ·registration for all men and women in the lot, the .same situation will arise, and it cials all over the. United States so that . . military service who may not be regis- , . is my QPinion that when the soldiers who such election officials may mail the bal­ tered. have heard so much talk that they were lot with a qualifying oath as to his legal Now, I want to place in the RECORD . going to have a chance to vote in the right to vote in that precinct immedi- · . again the timetable that Qolonel Cutler, election receive this blank ballQt-such ately upon receipt of the ballots to the ·representing Secretary of War Stimson, a hollow gesture of an attempt to give soldiers'·military address. The envelope ·submitted, which timetable is agreed to them the chance to vote-the majority carrying the ballot will have printed on as being correct by the Secretary of the 1 of them will resent such a move and will . the outside "Official Election Ballot" ·Navy. I want to give you the following throw them on the ground and refuse to which, under our bill, will give it not only , .figures, bearing in mind that these fig- , become a party to such a deception upon free air carriage, but priority air rights ures allow 2 days for the soldier to vote the men and women who are fighting to and prevents cens&ship. 'the ballot overseas and 2 days for the defend this country. The larger envelope carries the official clerk or local official to get the ballots Mr. Chairman, now I want to call your ballot and qualifying oath to the soldier. attention to what is now termed the It has, enclosed, a returned ballot ad­ properly placed with those who will count ·them. Colonel Cutler testified that this Worley bill. I think it is the third re­ dressed back to the election official which vision. The first bill, the chairman of has the same identification on the out­ is the average time required by air and our committee, the gentleman from side of the ballot, giving its transporta­ does not take into consideration any re­ Texas, presented was the first and origi- tion home the same air priority rights. duction in time when the Army and Navy . nal Green-Lucas bill. He was then all All the soldier has to do is to open his would take hold to ·expedite these bal­ for a Federal war ballot commission with mail like he would a letter from home, lots back and forth. Certainly they will all of the trimmings. A bill in open and vote the absentee ballot, swear to the be able to reduce these timetables by flagrant violation of the .Constitution, qualifying oath before an officer with at least 25 per~ent. Even though they without any restrictions as to govern­ ·the ranlc of sergeant up, enclose the bal­ are not able to reduce them they would mental propaganda, a bill conceived in lot ~nd qualifying oath in the· inner en­ have adequate time under their own fig­ politics for the purpose of controlling the velope and drop it into the post office. ures, which are a~ follows: election-come what may. This bill was On the way o1,1t commercial airways Location of soldier desiring to vote and aver­ defeated in our ·committee. Then an­ carry the ballots to San Francisco, if it is age air-carriage time to Springfield, Ill.- other bill came along and finally the bill going to the southwest Pacific. These 1 round trip that will be offered as a substitute to the ballots are picked up at San Francisco (a) Alaskan area: Days committee bill, which now throws out · and expedited across to. the various post ~earest------14 the ballot commission, throws out prac­ offi c:es of the South Pacific by Army Farthest------17 tically everything except its unconsti­ planes. Army planes carry the ballots (b) Pacific area: ·"' tutional provisions which it can never back to San Francisco and from the San ~earest------18 get away from, and stresses of all things Francisco Post Office they go direct, by Farthest------30 now the importance of the fact that they commercial airways, to the various (c) Canal Zone______13 also provide for the absentee ballot, not­ (d) Caribbean area: precincts o.f the Nation. In the .United ~earest______12 withstanding the fact that their position States the same type of post-card ap.pli­ Farthest_"'" ______.:.______16 has been, from the beginning, that the cations is placed in the hands of the . (e) South Atlantic area: absentee ballot was impractical, un­ voters later, September 15, 52 days be­ Nearest------14 workable, and coul-d not be administered fore election. .They are handled in the " Fartl:lest-,..----,---.,--:-----~------_ ~6. by the Army and Navy. 1016 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 1 Mr. Chairman, this bill is before this certain inspired groups which have If you approve the Worley bill you will House today, in my judgment, for one threatened to defeat Members-before and be flooded with telegrams, threats, and purpose-to weaken the proponents of are threatening to defeat you now if you intimidation that you must support the the House committee bill 1285 with their fail to do their bidding and support the Green-Lucas bill with the war ballot chief aim to put over the short ballot. short ballot. You know arid I know· 90 commission. I hold a telegram in my One must be amazed at the right­ percent of the letters and telegrams·you hands now from the c. I. 0. which has about-face and the change that has sud­ have receiv~d have been inspired and already started this pressure. denly come over the gentleman from have been sent by people who know little The thinking people of this country are Texas and those who are now claiming if anything about the provisions of the demanding decentralization of govern"!" that title 2 of the Worley bill meets all two bills in question, and care less. · ment rather than the building up of a of the provisions of the committee bill I have a notion that if you allow this greater bureaucracy. The thinking peo­ 1285. They now say we will give them crowd to cause you to vote for the short ple of this country will condemn this all a chance to vote the full and com­ ballot that will cheat the soldiers out of Congress if it votes for the ·building up· of plete ballot and are expressing a great a real chance to vote that you will find another bureaucracy for the purpose of interest in trying to get the whole ballot that you have made a very bad political invading and controlling the election now to the soldiers overseas. Ten days move, whether 'you be on one side of this rights of the States which were written ago when the gentleman from Texas aisle or the other, and, it is my firm con­ into the Constitution in the formation of wrote the minority report, possibly in viction that "if we who have opposed the this Government and which have been cQoperation with Colonel Cutler of- the short ballot divide our forces and allow respected from that day. until now. Army, most of the pages of that report the Worley bill to be approved by this I have only received one letter from provided for and signed by the gentle­ House that the next move will be that my entire district asking me to vote for man from Texas were filled with rea­ we will be called upon to vote for the the Green-Lucas or the Worley bill. On sons why ·the absentee ballot provisions Green-Lucas bill, which is as bad now the other hand I have received many let­ of the House committee bill 1285 were as it was when it was first hatched out ters from my district, many from fathers not and could not be made effective of the political incubator. You may and mothers of men and women in the under our bill. . find yourselves later placed in a position service, commending those who were Now they are placing most of their which you will find very awkward to supporting the House committee bill urg­ stress on this splendid provision when explain to your voters back home. ing that this election shall not be turned they have found that the Members of I wonder if any. of you believe that a over to the Federal Government. this House would not think of. passing majority of the sound-thinking people I have received letters and telegrams his bill on the demerits of the short of this Nation wants this Congress to from nearly every State in the Union ballot. set up another bureau of any kind. from thinking, patriotic people opposing I have little or no faith in this death­ I wonder when you have been back this bobtailed ballot provided for in the bed repentance on the part of those who home on your vacations if you have Green-Lucas and Worley bills and the have, for the past 2 months, opposed found any strong sentiment for giving war ballot commission and urging that these provisions "in the House committee the Government greater centralization the committee bill be fin~lly passed. I bilL and greater power. Do you think your want to-give you just one instance of the Mr. ·chairman, are you going to cheat people back home want the Federal hundreds that have come to me-may I the soldier who is fighting in the swamps Government to step in and set up a new read this telegram received yesterday and fox holes for $50 a month by sending and untried ballot scheme, want the from Portland, Oreg.: Federal Government to intrude into him the short ballot, and give the whole PORTLAND, OREG., January 30, '1944, ballot to the men in the munition fac­ and override the election machineries Congtessman.CHARLES W. VmtSELL, tories who are making· from $10 to $20 of the States? You know that when you congressional Office Bu{lding, a day? vote for increasing the power of the Fed­ Washington, D. C.: Are you going to serid General Mac­ eral Government over the election ma­ Tonight we heard your radio address in chineries of the States that you are reference to the soldiers' vote bill, We have Arthur the short blank ballot and give going contrary to the will of the sound­ three sons in service. More power to you Philip Murray, at the head of the C. I. 0., est thought of the people of this country and those working with you. the complete ballot? today. E. G. FELKER. Are you going to send General Eisen­ Practically all of the States of the Na­ Mr. Chairman, in closing let me say, hower the blank short ballot and give tion are anxious to give their soldier shall we surrender to these inspired pres­ the complete ballot to Harry Bridges and boys a chance to vote and want to give sure_groups who are constantly trying to Sidney Hillman? Can the Congress do them a chance to vote the full and com­ break down the confidence of the people this to our fighting heroes?· God forbid plete ballot as laid .down under House in the Congress of the United States, or such a travesty. committee bill 1285. shall we pass this bill that is an honest Mr. Chairman, it will be a great mis­ The proponents of the Green-Lucas workable approach to this problem, de­ take to attempt to use two types of bal­ bill have been, for days, trying to rush feat the proposed ballot-box· bureaucracy lots. Running true to New Deal ineffi­ that bill through, which will prevent bill, and serve notice to the p€ople of this ciency, it will set up the machinery where the States from giving their sons and Nation that the Congress of these United one thing can be talked about and the daughters the fullest opportunity to cast States cannot be bluffed, browbeaten, and other thing done. In my judgment, it a full and complete ballot in the regular intimidated by the radical element, or will wreck and nullify .the getting of the American way. from any other source in this country? complete ballots to the soldier as pro­ · The Congress' is on trial today, as it Can we not P,o this and send to the people vided under the committee bill 1285. often is on major pieces of legislation. of this Nation a message that a Congress I believe it is safe to sa-y that a ma­ Courage of a high degree is necessary with common sense and courage still jority of the Members of this House firm­ among the Members of this body in rules on Capitol Hill in the heart of the ly believe that the soldier is entitled to considering this bill. The C. I. 0. lobby, Natipn? That representative constitu­ the full ballot like we vote at 'home and the Communist Daily Worker, Earl tional _government is growing st1·onger just as firmly believe that the Army and Browder, that vicious newspaper PM, and still lives to guide the destiny of this Navy will have very little difficulty in regarded as the up-town edition of the great Republic? getting these ballots to and from the Communist Daily Worker, and the C. I. 0. Mr. KUNKEL. Will the gentleman soldiers in plenty of time-to be counted. have all been inspired to defeat House yield? There is no question but the Army and committee bill 1285. Are you going to · Mr. VURSELL. I yield to the gentle­ Navy, if they exert half the efficiency stand ,with them? Are you going to be man from Pennsylvania. that the officials of -those departments intimidated by them? Are you going to Mr. KUNKEL. Will the gentleman expect of the men in the ranks, but that give away your sacred rights here and explain to me the mechanics by which the job can be done and will be done with shirk your responsibility as a member the precinct officials are kept from see­ a minimum of effort. of a fr~e government and be driven away ing how the soldier voted when they I know the pressure has ~en very from the duty that has devolved ~ upon detach the sworn statement from the strong against many of the Members by you? ballot? 1944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1017 Mr.-VURSELL; The election clerk will fronts, and this short ballot will be given ballot, would not be voted, because it know how the soldier votes, I presume, to the soldier. When the soldier votes does not comply with the State law. when the sworn statement comes back. the short ballot he will figure he has dis­ Mr. VURSELL. I cannot yield any Mr. DONDERO. Mr. ·Chairman, will charged his obligation; he will not know further. the gentleman yield? there is any other ballot coming. In my Mr. CHURCH. Just this one question. Mr. VURSELL. I yield to the gentle­ judgment, they do not want him to know The short ballot would not merely add man from Michigan. there is any other ballot coming. to the tonnage and the unconstitution­ Mr. DONDERO. Did the gentleman's Mr. HINSHAW. I want to know what ality of the ballot--- committee at any time take the position the meaning of this word "official" is. Is Mr. VURSELL. There is no question that the Federal Government through that supposed to mean that that is the about that. tl:e Congress can pass any law to super­ ballot and all other ballots are unoffi­ Mr. Chairman, I yield back the sede the election law of any State of this cial and not to be counted? Or what remainder of my time. Union? does that word mean? The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman . Mr. VURSELL. We have never be­ Mr. VURSELL. It might mean that. yields back 1 minute? lieved that the Federal Government can I do not know. . Mr. LECOMPTE. Mr. Chairman, I pass any law to usurp the rights of the Mr. HINSHAW.· What would it mean yield 15 minutes to the gentleman from States. That has been· the position of to the soldier? Oregon [Mr. ELLSWORTl!]. our committee. Mr. VURSELL. I cannot yield further. Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Chairman, Mr. DONDERO. Mr. Chairman, will Mr. BONNER. Mr. Chairman, will the this entire issue should not have been the gentleman yield further? · gentleman yield? · He has made one aQ issue at all, and I for one regret that. Mr. VURSELL. I yield. statement that I do not think he wants it has become such an all-out crusade· Mr. DONDERO. Suppose the Worley to leave in the RECORD. and campaign over the country. I re­ bill becomes law and the ballot provided Mr. VURSELL. I yield briefly. gret the lack of knowledge that lies be­ under that bill is sent to the soldier and Mr. BONNER. The gentleman says hind a great deal of the effort that has lie votes it; and it comes back to his State there was no member of the committee been made to smear the Members of and the State officials say it does not who reported out the Worley bill who Congress who in full sincerity have en­ comply with the law of that State, and, ever thought they would vote under any­ deavored to work out a way and who therefore, it is not counted, will we have thing but the ·short ballot. That is not are now endeavoring to work out a plan done anything for the soldier by voting correct. The gentleman does not want to allow all the men in the armed forces that kind of a bill? to leave that impression? to cast a ballot on election day. So I · Mr. VURSELL. You will have done · Mr. VURSELL. I mean those who feel I can best contribute to this debate· nothing but deceive the sol~ier and his brought the Green-Lucas bill into being. today by simplifying, and clarifying as· relatives, and disfranchise him, take That is no reflection on the Members·,_ best I can, not only the issues, but the away from him his opportunity to vote. and I do not" question the good inten- understanding of the bill itself. In t~e The information I have from many tions of the Members. · · first place, all that the bil1 we are now States is that those ballots cannot be Mr. BONNER. The · gentleman just considering proposes to do, is to assist counted. In my judgment, on the best said the Green-Lucas-Worley bill. There the States by recommending to them cer­ authority I can get from the State of tain procedures which the Committee's are two provisions under which they can 1 lllinois, we take a chance· on disfran­ vote. investigation has revealed will enable the chising 700,000 men and women in Illi­ Mr. O'HARA. Does the gentleman voters from the several States to cast nois if this short-ballot measure is placed · agree with me that the right to vote absentee ballots under State laws and on the statute books. It opens up the means more than the right to vote for have them counted. The only thing possibility that this election · may be two or three people, but means giving that the Federal Government does in thrown into the Supreme Court, prob­ connection with this problem is to pro­ ably bringing chaos to this country, the men the right to vote for all of the vide transportation, and priority of when we should have the question ·finally people he would vote for, if he was resi­ transportation, of the ballots. On the settled on November 7. .dent of the district at the time? other hand, the champions of the Wor­ Mr. HINSHAW. Mr. Chairman, will Mr. VURSELL. I think the soldier ley bill, have proposed a Federal hallot, the gentleman yield? has that right. I think the short bill with no names on it, no constitutional Mr. VURSELL. I yield to the gentle­ cheats him out of that right. That is authority for the Congress to pass such man from California. one of the reasons I have opposed the a baliot that I know of, and no oppor­ Mr. HINSHAW. On yesterday the short bill in addition to the fact that I tunity for the men in the armed forces Legislature of the State of California · doubt the constitutionality of it. to· cast their ballots for any more than passed a measure providing for moving Mr. MO'IT. Suppose under the Wor­ three Federal officers-the President the primary election up to May 16, si­ ley bill_a soldier should get one of those and Members of Congress. In other multaneous with the election of delegates short ballots and vote it, and suppose words, the men who use this ballot will to the several national conventions. It also, he has sent in one of his State be in fact denied the right to vote for also provided, I believe, for 50 or 56 days ballots, that he has voted both of them, the rest of the ticket. before the final election as the time the which one would be counted? Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chairman; absentee balloting should be held, and Mr. VURSELL. I think under the will the gentleman yield? provided 16 days after the election in Worley bill the whole ballot will be Mr. ELLSWORTH. Yes. which the ballots might yet be counted. counted, but you get into confusion, as I Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Is it not true I note that in the Worley bill the Fed­ have explained befoTe, and they will that under the Worley bill, every sitting eral ballot is referred to as the "Official hold the elections early overseas in order Member of Congress would have a dis­ Federal War Ballot." Is that for the pur­ to get the use of these short ballots, and tinct advantage over his opponent, •in pose of making the absentee voters of my there will be a lot of waste time in car­ that the soldiers would know his name, State who may be in the armed services riage to the soldier overseas, with those and have no way of learning the name believe that this official Federal war bal­ short ballots. I am against two ballots of his opponent? lot is the only ballot on which they can anywhere under the law. We have Mr. ELLSWORTH. Unquestionably vote, and that the State ballot is unoffi­ enough confusion without two ballots. the Worley bill is weighted in favor of cial, and therefore not to be counted, or Mr. HOFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, will the incumbent in Congress. what does it mean? the gentleman yield? V/hy do we have to consider this Mr. VURSELL. It is part and parcel Mr. VURSELL. Yes. · measure, this bobtailed ballot, this piece of the whole fabric. There never has Mr. HOFFMAN. In answer to the of paper with no names on it, this vote been any intention in the minds of the question of the gentleman from Oregon for only three officers, in the Federal authors of the Green-Lucas-Worley bill [Mr. MoTT], in Michigan, of course, the ·Government? Why is it necessary that to allow the soldiers to vote anything but election board would count the ballots, we contemplate adopting such a drastic the short ballot. They will hold the the board of canvassers, and that ballot measure, when we know by reading the elections early on the various battle which comes back, that is, -the short Constitution that it is at least forbidden 1018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 1 so far as the election of electors is con­ be sent to him and he can send letters Mr. BONNER. Mr. Chairman, will the cerned? Is it because there is no other back, why cannot an envelope containing gentleman yield? way to provide the ballot? No; that is the ballot from his State be sent to him Itiir. ELLSWORTH. I yield. not true. We shall prove during . the and, after he sits down and votes it, be Mr. BONNER. I would like the gen­ course of this debate, that there is not.the sent back to the proper election commis­ tleman to explain to the House what will slightest question about the ability of sioner to be counted? take place in the following situation. the States to forward our ballots to the Mr. ELLSWORTH. I think the gen­ Your bill provides these postal cards shall men in the armed forces and get them tleman has stated the crux of the matter. be mailed by the soldier in Europe back back in time to be counted legally. If Why do we have to consider only the to America as an application for an there is no necessity for passing such a bobtailed, streamlined ballot where the absentee ballot; is that correct? radical, unsatisfactory voting bill, why soldier would only be voting for three Mr. ELLSWORTH. That is correct. in the world do we ever consider it at all? officers? Why is it necessary to do that Mr. BONNER. What would happen Let me say with reference to the trans­ when we can give them a ballot on which if the airplane bringing those post cards portation of the ballots to and from the they can vote for a candidate for every over here was lost? armed forces, it has been argued that office, Federal, State, and local? Mr. ELLSWORTH. Exactly the same the Army and the Navy cannot admin­ Mr. WORLEY. Mr. Chairman, will thing that would· happen if the airplane ister the laws of 48 States. The Presi­ the gentleman from Oregon [Mr. ELLS­ bringing home the Federal ballots was dent made that statement in his message. WORTH] yield for an answer to that ques­ lost. I am sorry to have to say at this time tion? Mr. BONNER. In that instance, then, that the President of the United States Mr. ELLSWORTH. I yield to the if that is so, would it not be a double . was completely misinformed when he chairman of the committee. security to let the post cards come on as made that statement. The Army and Mr. WORLEY. The reason is because is provided in the Worley bill and then the Navy have not the slightest thing to mos.t of the States have tried, and many if anything happens so that the absentee do, in any sense, with the administration of them have tried diligently to make ballot does not get back, you would have of the laws of the several States in con­ their law better, but in spite of their best a second chance of voting the short bal­ nection with these State voting ballots efforts they have not been able to trans­ lot? as provided and discussed and advised in port that ballot to a point overseas and Mr. ELLSWORTH. Well, I think the S. 1285. They have nothing to do with back in time to be counted. gentleman ·is making a lot of assump­ it. The only thing in the world they Mr. ELLSWORTH. Let me ask the tions. I believe it is more likely if the have to do is to transport those ballots gentleman if he does not believe 45 days' Federal ballot is voted that the Army and they would not even know when they time will be sufficient in which to do that? authorities will see that the Federal bal­ have been mailed. All they do is to give Mr. WORLEY. That is what we pro­ lots are voted, because it is more con­ priority to envelopes that contain ballots. vide in the bill. venient for them to do so. Mr. BATES of Massachusetts. On the Mr. ELLSWORTH. Yes. Mr. ROWE. Mr. Chairman, will the question of transportation, which is the Mr. WORLEY. We provide a mini­ gentleman yield? all important question of the States bal­ mum of 45 days. Mr. ELLSWORTH. I yield. lot, what has the Army and the Navy to Mr. ELLSWORTH. That is right. Mr. ROWE. Has there not been some say with respect to the ability to trans­ Mr. WORLEY. That is not a maxi­ question about the ability of the Army port? That is the question. The whole mum. and Navy to transport one ballot, let thing hinges on the ability to get the Mr. ELLSWORTH. That is the mini­ alone two? ballots there and to get them back. mum time which we recommend to the Mr. ELLSWORTH. Well, yes. I think Mr. ELLSWORTH. The answer to States to allow for in their laws so that I see what the gentleman means. The that question is this: The committee, in the-ballots will be counted. A minimum gentleman means it might be a little less reporting out this S. i285 with the of 45 days. difficult for the Army and Navy merely amendments, had a representative of the Mr. WORLEY. There is the point. to move the State ballots in the normal Army before it and he recommended 45 The gentleman's bill carries a recommen­ way as provided in the committee bill . days. That was considered adequate dation. Our bill carries the specific au- than to carry both the Federal and State · time for the ballots to be taken overseas thority of law. · ballots as provided for in the Worley to any place where the soldiers are, and Mr. ELLSWORTH. May I point out bill. brought back; of course, a few men in to the gentleman that in the case of our Mr. ROWE. What I mean is this, that the far corners might not be reached. bill, a few States will have to change very argument has been used many times But the representative of the Army, Colo­ their laws in order to meet the require­ in the other House and probably will be nel Cutler, gave us to understand that ments. But in the case of the gentle­ used here, the argument of the inability 45 days would be sufficient time for that man's substitute bill, in my opinion 48 of the Army to handle the regular ballot. purpose. States would have to change their laws Mr. ELLSWORTH. I will say with Mr. BATES of Massachusetts. That is to ·conform because it infringes on the reference to the question of the inability on the State ballot? Constitution of the United States. of the Army to handle the regular ballot, Mr. ELLSWORTH. On the State bal­ Mr. BATES of Massachusetts. Will it is plain poppycock and bosh. They lot, under this bill, S. 1285. the gentleman yield, Mr. Chairman? can· carry that mail the same as they Mr. HALLECK. Mr. Chairman, will Mr. ELLSWORTH. I yield. carry any other mail. They are adver­ the gentleman yield? Mr. BATES of Massachusetts. May I tising on every screen and every theater Mr. ELLSWORTH. I yield. in the United States and in the car cards, ask the chairman of the committee this urging people to send mail to our troops. Mr. HALLEC:K. Is it not elementary question? Section 32, title 3, provides Now, if that is the case, they can carry that if the Army and Navy can take a transmission of all communications shall the mail. And if they can carry the mail - Federal ballot to a man to be voted on, be free of postage. Does that include the they can sidetrack a letter for a day or they can also take a State ballot to him? State absentee ballot? two and put through a ballot, because Mr. ELLSWORTH. I will say to my Mr. WORLEY. That includes the we have been told repeatedly that the colleague, under the Worley bill they not ·State absentee ballot for the State pri­ men want the ballot and I am sure they only have to carry a Federal ballot but mary and general elections. It includes can get it that way. they have to carry 48 State ballots of all the transmission of cards and all other Mr. ROWE. My statement was with the 48 States as well. This is not a sav­ communications to get both parties on reference to the double security suggested ing of transportation. The Worley bill · the ballot. We do that to encourage a by the. gentleman from North Carolina doubles the transportation. man to vote the State absentee ticket in that they could carry both ballots. Mr. HALLECK. There is not a man in the primaries in all instances. , Mr. VORYS of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, the armed services today who is not car­ Mr. ·BATES of Massachusetts. That will the gentleman yield? rying on correspondence with his people word "communications" includes, in Mr. ELLSWORTH. I yield. back home and who is getting mail, he your opinion, t:Q.e absentee State ballot? ·Mr. VORYS of Ohio. I have searched hopes, every day. Many of them are in Mr. WORLEY. That was certainly the through the bill. I can find no prohi­ far parts of the world. Now, if letters can intention. bition against censorship of the ballot 1944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1019 on its way back from the soldier. We in Washington a few weeks ago, passed thought about that as strongly as you all know that officers do a great deal of a resolution endorsing the Senate bill, do. But I say as to the manner of hold­ censoring of the. mail of enlisted men S. 1285, the bill now under consideration ing the election, under the clear-cut lan­ and that there are other censorships by the House. guage of the Constitution we could en­ which are gone through. Was there any The CHAIRMAN. The time of the act this legislation without Vi'Olating discussion in committee which would gentleman from Oregon [Mr. ELLS­ that provision of the Constitution. make it impossible or unwise, or abso­ WORTH] has expired. Mr. RANKIN. But this Worley bill lutely forbid, censorship of a man's bal­ Mr. WORLEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield ts tied in to that Public Law No. 712 and lot? It seems that is a very important 10 minutes to the gentleman from North into those very unconstitutional pro­ part of giving the soldier a real vote, and Carolina [Mr. MORRISON]. visions to which I referred and would that is not to have his officers able to Mr. MORRISON of North Carolina. nullify the election in every State in the open his ballot and know how he voted. Mr. Chairman, I think the only thing Union. Mr. ELLSWORTH. I agree with the tha,.t this Congress would not have the Mr. GORE. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman. There was some discussion power, under our Constitution, to · do gentleman yield? of that point. The Army representative, about soldiers voting is that it would not Mr. MORRISON of North Carolina. as I recall, raised the question of whether have the power to change the qualifica­ Yes; I will, but I have very little time. or not that would be wise in the inter_est tions for voting. I am sure everything Mr. GORE. Despite the very learned of security, and apparently it was left else about it can be done without violat­ opinion of the gentleman from Missis­ out of the bill. I should say, if the gen­ ing the Constitution of the United States. sippi [Mr. RANKIN], Public Law No. 712 tleman wants to put in such an amend­ Time will not permit me to attempt a has not yet been declared unconstitu­ ment, I personally see no objection to it. formal argument to establish that prop­ tional by the £upreme Court of the Mr. WORLEY. Will the gentleman osition, but I think you will see the truth United States whose duty it is to pass from Oregon yield for an answer to that of that statement and the soundness of upon it. question? it when you think about it. . Mr. MORRISON of North Carolina. Mr. ELLSWORTH. I yield. The Constitution expressly provides And in toto never will be. Mr. WORLEY. That question was that the time, the manner, and the place Mr. RANKIN. Will the gentleman taken up with the War Department be­ of holding elections, except the place for yield? · fore either bill was reported. They is­ electing United States Senators, may be sued a regulation or a directive which changed by the Congress. But I am not Mr. MORRISON of North Carolina. provides no ballot and no envelope going to rest my ·support of the Worley I am obliged. to. I was trying to make marked "Official War Ballot," of either substitute on that power but under the a serious argument, and there is no time the State or the Federal Government, is welfare clause, as we have come to call to do that. subject to censorship. That is a direc­ it, of the Constitution, coupled with the Under what is commonly known as the tive. It is not necessary, unless the gen­ power to enact all laws necessary to carry general welfare clause of the Constitu­ tleman would like to put that in. O\lt sue~ legislation. This Congress, in tion of the United States, this Congress Mr. VORYS of Ohio. Since there is its wisdom, may have the necessary can do anything t:hat the welfare of the no objection from the War Department, power and is ex;pressly granted that United States requires it to do. Under and I should think there could conceiv­ power. that welfare clause-and it may have ably be none, would it not be well for the Mr. RANKIN. Mr. Chairman, will been much abused, but it is one of the committee to prepare such an amend­ the gentleman yield? great provisions of our Constitution­ ment which would make sure that a Mr. MORRISON of North Carolina. I the power is expressly granted to enact man's ballot would be secret? yield. all law necessary to carry those powers . Mr. WORLEY. That would· be per­ Mr. RANKIN. The gentleman says into execution or all laws enacted under fectly acceptable from my standpoint. that this Congress does not have the the welfare clause. It was under that · Mr. ANGELL. Mr. Chairman, will the constitutional right to fix qualifications clause that Jefferson made the Louisiana gentleman yield? for voters. Purchase. It was under that clause Mr. ELLSWORTH. I yield. Mr. MORRISON of North Carolina. I that our waterways were built up, all Mr. ANGELL. I would like to ask the think that is clear-cut. under controversy. gentleman what would take place in my Mr. RANKIN. That would be uncon- Many things have been done under it State under the Worley bill if the ballots stitutional? · that ought not to have been done, but if were sent ·to a soldier and he sent them Mr. MORRISON of North Carolina. I there ever was the question with which both back. There would be no record of think so, sir. this country ought to deal for the wel­ the voter in the office where the votes are Mr. RANKIN. Now, this Worley bill fare of the United States and its defense, to be counted and no way t o.,. determine is tied in to such an unconstitutional law it is the question before us. We ought whether that man has ·voted already on passed last year, that will be set aside by not to be so technical about this matter, a regular ballot, because there is no reg­ practically every court in the country, because that welfare clause, it seems to istration, and back in my district there and if the Worley bill is passed, tied into me, fits this situation better than any are about 200,000 voters. such a law, it will be unconstitutional. situation under which it was ever in­ Mr. ELLSWORTH. It is pretty clear, Mr. MORRISON of North Carolina. voked in all the past history of our coun­ under the Oregon law and constitution, ''Sufficient unto the day is the evll there­ try. Here are these soldiers of ours in that the Federal ballot would be illegal. of." I did not have anything to do with the combat forces everywhere, all over My guess is that if both ballots came back that. I was not here. If it is enacted the globe. \Ve l:now as a matter of com­ there would be no question as to which into law I think the gentleman will find mon sense that it is going to be very one would be counted. that that would probably be true as to difficult to help them vote successfully I want to make one additional point. some of the States. I think I would agree at all. Ought they to vote? Is the wel­ All of us have had considerable pressure with him that there was some part of fare of our country involved in it? brought to bear upon us, and I want to that law unconstitutional. The part that Mr. Chairman, I doubt if a question draw a distinction here between the kind was not would have life and vigor. ever confronted the Congress of the of influence I think is being exerted on Mr. RANKIN. Will the gentleman United States in all our history which so the side of the Federal ballot and the yield further? clearly involved the welfare of our coun­ kind of influence and opinion being ex­ Mr. MORRISON of North Carolina. I try. The utter absurdity of saying that pressed on the State ballot plan·. On the yield. under the great Constitution of our coun­ one hand, so· far as I know, the news­ Mr. RANKIN. But the point I am try, that has fitted in the past all of our paper PM in New York and certain radio speaking about, the unconstitutional part difficulties, under this great grant of c·ommentators who love to stir things up of it, fixed the qualifications of electors power, we cannot see to it that the men and a few organizations whose character in violation of section 2, of article I, and who are suffering and dying everywhere I personally consider unwholesome have in violation of the seventeenth amend­ all over the earth to ke~p this country been advocating a Federal ballot. ment. free, to keep its flag in the sky, can vote on· the oth€r hand, the Conference, of Mr. MORRISON of North Carolina. because it may be repugnant to some Women's Patriotic S.Jcieties, which met Section 2, of article I-I subscribe to your little State law somewhere that perhaps 1020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 1 ought not to have been enacted in the is offering his life in defense of my coun­ American privilege-the right to vote. first place. try to have a right to vote for the Presi­ The only question involved is how best Will it affect the morale of our Army? dent next time, and for the Members of to set up the machinery . . When our boys who are burying their Congress; and I scorn the suggestion that Of course we all know that vote ma­ dead, who are suffering everywhere, are there is one iota of partisanship or chinery must be within the Constitution told they are not going to be allowed to politics about it. Why are we afraid so there would be no question of the votes vote because it would be unconstitutional about it? Uninformed, you say. There being counted. Devising such a method to enact any law under which they could is not anybody so well informed about presents a real problem. vote, they will know it is nothing but what manner of government we really After careful study involving confer­ metaphysical nonsense when they are have as the boys in whose hands this ences with informed officials, the Army told so. We ought to stand up and brush Government now rests. Yes, they know and the Navy, and after careful analysis . everything out of our way and enact a it, they know what sort of government of the election laws of the several States, , practical law under which the vote can - we are having because it is all intended, the Presidential Electors Committee could be taken, and by the Government which or should be, for their protection, their not pass the so-called unconstitutional they are fighting. to keep alive, bririg that aid, and their defense. If there is any­ soldier vote bill, H. R. 3876, known in the ballot back and offer it to the officers of body who can enlighten us as to how suc­ House as the Worley bill. This was re­ the State. If, under the law, they are cessful it is, that person is the man in ' fused as an unworkable, controversial, qualified voters in that State, no State whose defense it is all done and for and unconstitutional proposal. Why pass will so disgrace and damn itself in his­ whom it is all about. legislation that we know will not be re­ tory forever as to refuse to take that I appeal to this House to rise above spected by the States because we are all ballot and count it, in my opinion. What party, rise above section; yes, rise above aware of the fact that the right to vote harm will be done? We will have the color.. I am a southern white ·man and and the conditions under which citizens highest class election officers the United a Democrat, but in my State I want any may vote are entirely within the control States ever had in its history t~ take that black man to vote who answered the of the States and regulated by State law ballot. Bi·ave men· who live true to lib­ drum tap of his country and stepped un­ under the Federal Constitution. erty and who are dying for it will take der that ftag to keep Old Glory in the Attempts to provide Federal voting laws the ballot. I scorn the suggestion that skies; and he will be qualified to vote have been challenged as representing foul, dirty politics would ever enter their· under the laws of my State if his ballot merely another attempt on t:P..e pai ~ of heart as they did this. They take the is presented to the election officers. the Federal Government to invade a field ballot. They bring it back. They hand The CHAIRMAN. The time of the recognized as strictly the province of it to the election officials of the State, gentleman from North Carolina has State governments. This fact is recog­ and if it is a qualified vote, they wiil have again expired. nized even by the members of the Su­ to count it. If it is not, they will not, Mr. LECOMPTE. Mr. Chairman, I preme Court who by no stretch of the under this law. Who is hurt? yield 10 minutes to the gentleman from imagination can be considered Repub­ Mr. CURTIS. What objection does Pennsylvania [Mr. GAVIN]. licans. the gentleman have to sending a full and Mr. GAVIN. Mr. Chairman, it must I now refer you to Document 57, Octo­ complete ballot to the soldiers? be evident to the Members of the House ber term, 1943, Supreme Court of the Mr. MORRISON of North Carolina. that the administration forces have United States in the case of Joseph E. · None in the world except the fact that­ reached a point of desperation in their Snowden, petitioner, against Edward J. we may not get it ready in time; that is frantic attempts to streamline the State Hughes, Louie E. Lewis, and Robert E. the only possible objection. election laws, by introducing what may Straus et al., in which l\1r. Justice Frank- _ Mr. CURTIS. Would it not be more be termed the short ballot in their ef­ furter states, on page 10, and I quote: convenient to send him two ballots? forts to bring about the first mass vot­ I should be silent even though it were Mr. MORRISON of North Carolina. I ing movement ever attempted in the avowed that such a constrained reading of the do not think so. Every man in the Nation. complaint reflected the most exacting atti­ United States Army, white or black, was This was indicated in another body tude against drawing into the Federal courts found ·to be able to read before he was several days ago by the administration controversies over State elections. Unless I ever allowed to enlist, and under the forces' efforts to bring out the Lucas mistake the tenor of the Court's opinion, the Constitution of my State that makes · bill for the immedrate consideration o{ decision is broader than mere inadequacy of him a qualified voter,,and this Govern­ that body before this House had had an pleading. ment cannot change that qualification; All questions pertaining to the political opportunity to consider the bill which arrangements of State governments are, no but even in the case of those whose de­ had been previously passed. doubt, peculiarly outside the domain of Fed­ sire to fight for their country was so As a new Member of the House, I can­ eral authority. The disposition of State of­ strong they got by the officers who not understand this procedure. Why· fices, the ~nner in which they should he wanted them to know how to read and they should be permitted to have two filled and contests concerning them, are solely write, he would have the aid of the fair­ chances at soldier vote legislation before for State determination, always provided that est, squarest, and the bravest men to read the House has had an opportunity to ­ the equality of treatment required by the for him that any voter ever had in all even consider one. I might say for the Civil War amendments is respected. And so I appreciate that there are strong considera­ the sweep of time. benefit of the' Members of this House, tions of policy which should make Federal The CHAIRMAN. The time of the that for several weeks we tried to have courts inhospitable toward litigation involv­ gentleman from North Carolina has ex­ Chairman WoRLEY call a meeting of the ing the enforcement of State election laws. pired. Presidential Electors' Committee of the Mr. WORLEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield House; however, little consideration was Then, too, I state •the opinion of Mr. 2 additional minutes to the gentleman given our request and for 6 weeks, from Justice Douglas with whom Mr. Justice from North Carolina. the latter part of November until Janu­ Murphy concurred and I quote: Mr. MORRISON of North Carolina. ary 12, we were unable to have a meeting My disagreement with the majority of the The general welfare of this country we to discuss the soldier vote legislation. Court is on a narrow ground. I agree that the equal protection clause of the four­ love and that we have bound ourselves to The members of the committee knew teenth amendment should not be distorted support and sustain by oaths adminis­ the administration forces were franti­ to mal{e the Federal courts the supervisor tered to us in every possible way de­ cally building up propaganda through of the State elections. That would place mands that we banish politics and little­ various organizations trying to black­ the Federal judiciary in a position ''to super­ ness from our hearts about this matter. jack the committee into accepting the vise and review the political administration Let us stand up and above party. Oh, so-called Worley bill which was, and still of a State government by its own officials my God! How much party we are hav­ is, a vest-pocket edition of the Lucas­ and through its own courts" (Wilson v. North ing in this country in this awful day and Green bill, polished up with the name of Camlina (169 U. S. 586, 596) )-matters on time. Party! Whom will it help and the distinguished gentleman from Texas, . which each State has the final say. - whom will it hurt? I testify to you that GENE WORLEY, whom I greatly admire. Mr. CURTIS. Will the gentleman . I do not care whom it helps or whom it Every Member of the House and Sen­ yield? hurts, I want every voter qualified under ate is anxious to give every soldier the Mr. GAVIN. I yield to the gentleman the laws of any State of this Union who fullest oportunity to exercise that sacred from Nebraska. 1944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1021 Mr. CURTIS. Does the gentleman officials, is certainly not adequate soldier I do not think the Congress should be know of any reason why a soldier or any voting. high-pressured into any hasty, unsound member of the armed forces should not The armed forces have just as much legislation which would oermit the States have a full and complete ballot just like interest in the office of sheriff as they to either count the votes or · cast them he would have at home? have in a Member of Congress; in fact, out. The arguments that would ensue Mr. GAVIN. No; I do not, and I intend some personal friend may be running for over such unsound legislation would to discuss the matter further along in the office of sheriff and the soldier would bring about a condition in these United my remarks. rather vote for him than anyone else. States during a period of war that might Now, there, my friends, is the opinion1 So to ·treat voting for Federal officials cause us to regret our actions. of the Supreme Court and both the Sen­ as a superior function and voting for Mr. LECOMPTE. Mr. Chairman, I ate and the House have recognized the State officials as of no consequence just .yield such time as he may desire to the fact that Federal laws for this purpose is not good, sound common sense and gentleman from Indiana [Mr ..SPRINGERJ. will not pass State or Federal court tests ·is just another step in the bypassing - Mr. SPRINGER. Mr. Chairman, I ask and will prove entirely unlawful in the of the States. I think it is a recognized unanimous consent that the gentleman absence of constitutional amendments fact that the States have been bypassed from New York _[Mr. CoLE] may be per­ specifically providing for such legisla­ to such an extent that it has become .mitted to extend his own remarks at tion. serious--,everything seems to be central­ -this point in the RECORD . . To allow the Federal Government · by ized here in Washington; and God help The -CHAffiMAN. Is there objection law to determine who can vote, even for ·America when the election laws are con­ · to the request of the gentleman from In­ Federal officials and within the limita­ trolled in the Federal Government. The diana [Mr. SPRINGER]? tion that the persons availing themselves States do have a right to handle their There was no objection. of this privilege must be in the armed own elections and the Federal Govern­ Mr. COLE of New York. Mr. Chair­ services, would still leave the persons ment does not have the right to usurp man, whatever doubts there may have voting in the position where their bal­ any further the rlghts of the States. been in my mind regarding the soldier­ lots would be subject to challenge to the I know that it is a problem that public vote bill have been completely resolved extent they fail to meet the requirements opinion overwhelmingly demands must by the President's message on this sub­ of their local ·State ·laws. Should the ·be solved, but unless the solution is a ject. FrankneEs compels the admission operation of such laws render invalid correct one the validity of-the service­ that I inclined toward Federal control any considerable portion of the votes men's ballot will be attacked in the of soldier balloting so far as the limits cast in the forthcoming election, as might courts on constitutional grounds and the ·Of the Constitution would allow. How-­ well be the case, the entire election might ·entire election thrown into confusion and ever, the message was so palpably a po­ be jeopardized and become highly con­ disorder. · What kind-of hodgepodge leg­ ·litical document, designed to appeal to troversial, where it might be impossible islation does- the Worley bill represent the prejudice of the soldiers and to those to determine who would be elected and wherein it states that it is up to the· who are anxious for the soldiers to vote end up in the courts. States to decide whether or not to recog­ for Federal officers, irrespective of the In any event serious consequences ' nize and count the soldier ballots? Why legal aspects involved, that the conclu­ could arise in connection with the elec­ have him vote if you readily admit it is sion is inescapable that the President tion which might very greatly impair questionable whether his ballot will be wants this Federal control so that it can the progress of the war or the national counted? Any legislation must be posi­ be exerted to his own political advantage. security. tively definite so when the election is It must be remembered that it is the Perhaps more objectionable than all of over we will know who is going to be same Senator GREEN, sponsoring the vote the other unsound features of the pro­ the next President. The American peo­ bill which the President recommends, posed soldier vote bill is the fact that ple want legislation enacted that will who prepared and offered the fourth­ when the so-called Federal ballot is used, give every man and woman· in the serv­ term resolution adopted by the National it completely disenfranchises servicemen · ice -an opportunity to vote, votes that · Democratic Committee · at its recent in the State and local elections. Gov­ will be counted. meeting in Washington without objection ernors in 34 States will be elected in the We have heard a lot of cries about or protest. 1944. general election, but no person who the inability to deliver the ballots. To To be sure, the men and women of filled out a Federal ballot could partici­ my way of thinking this is greatly over- · America are fighting on all the fronts of pate in election of a Governor or of any emphasized. I think you will quite agree the world for the right to vote, but shall State, county, or city official. I believe with me that it is just another attempt that right be exercised in our customary soldier voting means voting for all offi­ to confuse public thinking. Because just constitutional manner or in the ja-nein cers, from President down to county recently, during the holiday season, every way so typical of the Axis countries. sheriff. It means voting for all Federal serviceman received from every member German people have the right to vote and offices, President, Vice President, and of his family, his aunts and uncles, and do vote, but it is quite a different kind of Members of Congress and also for State kinfolk, Christmas packages. Some re­ vote than the one to which we Ameri­ and local offices--Governor, members of ceived five, ·six, and seven packages, and cans are accustomed. - Any election su­ the legislature, mayors, and school direc­ all were delivered and received many pervised, directed, and controlled by the tors. days before the holiday season. So when Commander in Chief, who himself is a We might cite the case of Wisconsin, we talk about the burden being placed candidate for public office, would be where they have the Progressive Party, upon the Army and Navy and postal nothing short of the ja-nein kind of bal­ represented by two distinguished Mem­ authorities to deliver a State ballot, pos­ lot, wherein the voter would be subject bers in this House, the gentlemen from sibly two envelopes, it does not sound to punitive action in case he did not mark Wisconsin, Representatives SAUTHOFF reasonable. the ja and thereby indicate his support and HULL. They represent 40 percent of In summarizing this situation, the men of the Commander in Chief or the leader. the vote of the State of Wisconsin. They in the service, I insist, have a right to Soldiers are just as interested in exer­ would not be on the ballot, and I am of vote; every man ought to be given the cising the right of franchise to the full the opinion that the State of Wisconsin opportunity to vote for the complete as they are in part, in fact more so; but would not recognize Federal ballots nor ticket; legislation should be within the the Federal ballot would give them a would they be counted, and it certainly borders of the Constitution; States' chance to vote for only Federal officers is true that the Progressive Party is not rights should be respected; and every and not State and local officials. The going to be run out of Wisconsin by any State in the Union should have as their fact that State legislatures would have Federal legislation that the Congress main objective the placing of State vot­ to convene to rearrange their own laws to might enact. ing machinery in: order· immediately, so accommodate State balloting so as to in­ Any proposal which would draw the that every serviceman will be enabled to clude State and local officials is an ab­ line between the two, which would give vote and have his vote legal when it is surd argument, since it must be admitted the soldier complete opportunity to vote returned. Thus far the States have in­ even by the Federal-ballot exponents for Federal ·officials but no opportunity dicated their wholehearted cooperation that some State legislative action by all whatsoever to vote for State and local in this matter. the States is essential to validate the 1022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 1 Federal ballot. The Constitution explic­ House of Representatives has a fervent Eacl:\_ State shall appoint, in such man­ itly states that "each State shall appoint desire to give to all of our soldiers and ner as the legislature thereof may direct, a in such manner as the legislature there­ sailors the right to vote, and I am certain number of electors, equal to the whole num­ ber of Senators and Representatives to which of may direct, a number of electors" who that it is the universal wish of the Mem­ the State may be entitled in the Congress. shall meet and elect the President and bers to extend that right to every ofilce­ Vice President. · This raises the very se­ National, State, county, city, and town­ Therefore, the Presidential electors rious question of whether Congress has ship. It is my often expressed desire are State officers; they are elected by authority to legislate on the manner of that every soldier and every sailor will and within the several States; their se­ electing the President. The constitu­ be granted the full right to vote .for his lection is expressly reserved unto the tional provision is clear and explicit and or her choice of the candidates for all several States, and by such means as the any Federal ballot designed to cover the offices· from the President of the United State legislature may determine. The election of the President and Vice Presi­ States to the smallest office in the town­ only control which is reserved unto the _ dent without State legislative ratifica­ ship where the service man or woman re­ Congress is · the "time of choosing such tion is a nullity and itself a fraud upon sides. Nothing short of this unlimited electors, an~ the day on which they shall the soldier electorate, the President to authority to vote will suffice. It. is the cast their votes for President, which day the contrary notwithstanding. My oath wish and the will of the people of this shall be the same throughottt the United of office to uphold and defend the Con­ Nation that those now serving in our States." stitution, even in time of war, requires armed forces-wherever they may be Mr. Chairman, if we pass any legisla­ that I observe the · plain, simple, and serving-no matter whether they are on _tion here which will bypass those pro­ direct mandates of that document, even , the battle fronts, or in the camps_as our ·visions of our Constitution-and. I am though I am exhorted not to do so by the reserves-be extended the same right to convinced the Worley bill will do that­ Commander in Chief himself. vote, and to vote for their choice of all we will have utter confusion and chaos His recommendation that a record vote candidates for all public offices, as is· ex­ following the next election. Contests be had by the Congress on this issue is tended to all of our people. If our boys will doubtless be the rule, and not the . an affront to the dignity of an independ­ and girls are sent forth to fight for our exception, if we attempt to flaunt the ent branch of our Government. By what country, in time of war, then they should C,onstitution ori this subject. right does the President, the Commander .have extended to them, without any lim­ I want the soldiers and sailors to have in Chief, undertake to tell the Congress itation, the right to vote for their choice the right to ·vote, and I want them to what parliamentary methods it should of the candidates for every public office have extended to them the right to vote use in any of its deliberations? No Mem­ in our Nation, State; county, city,_and for their choice of the candidates for all ber is afraid of a roll-call vote. In the township. That is my unqualified posi­ offices~but I want them· to cast their past, it has not hesitated to vote its ob­ tion ori ' this subject. Insofar as I am ballots at a legal and constitutional elec­ jections to the President's views on other personally concerned I am in favor of the tion. I do not want ·to give them the legislative matters, when his veto has committee bill, S. 1285. I want. to give right to vote in an illegal and unconsti­ been overridden, and it ,will do so again. the soldiers and sailors a vote for their tutional manner-in a manner which But whether the Congress will have a choice of all candidates. will create confusion thereafter, and record vote on this proposal or any other Mr. Chairman, I do not believe there whi~h might be the cause of untold num­ is for itself to determine without any is any vast difference between the two bers of contests, and which might be the interference or intimidation by the . philosophies respecting the extension of cause of overthrowing the entire elec­ Executive. the right to vot~ to those who are serving tion. It is my wish that the election Although it is expected that I will be in our armed forces. It is largely a mat­ be authorized to be held, and that the 0'4t of the country on official work at the ter of determining the proper method in soldiers and sailors may vote, in the legal time that the soldier vote is taken;I have order to reach the desired end. While we . and constitutional manner. We do not no hesitancy in announcing to the Presi­ study these methods, let us give consid­ desire to be confronted with election d~nt and to my constituency that, if eration to the Worley bill; H. R. 3982, · contests, based upon constitutional present, I would have voted for the rec­ which may come before the House. grounds, after the election is over. The ommendation of the House Committee Under this proposal-if this measure soldiers and sailors, and the people, do on Elections, which·is the·most effective should be adopted-the provisions of the not want any such condition to exist way of giving the men at the front a Constitution will certainly be bypassed following the next, or succeeding, elec­ vote in a legal and constitutional manner regarding elections. Under the clear and tions. · · so that their vote, once cast, cannot be unmistakable provisions of our Consti­ Under our Constitution the several questioned in any disputed election and tution the qualifications of voters for all States have the sole right to determine will be given its full force .and et!ect. offices, within the State, must be deter­ the qualifications of all voters within the Throughout the entire war period, I mined by the several States. State. That is an inherent· right guar­ have been most reluctant to condemn or Section 2 of article I of the Federal anteed under the Constitution. The se­ · criticize the President. Unity and co­ Constitution provides: lection of the Pr-esidential electors by the operation when the Nation iS in peril are The House of Representatives shall be com­ several States is made in conformance imperative; but these requirements do not posed of Members chosen e-Very second year with the determination by the State pave a one-way street-the obligations by the people of the severar States, and the legislature, and Senators and Represent­ are reciprocal. ' The Presidency is a post electors in each State shall have the quali­ atives must be selected by electors who of duty which should command the re­ fications requisite for electors of the most have the qualifications determined by spect and support of the entire country, numerous branch of the State legislature. . "the most numerous branch of the State especially in time of war. When those The seventeenth amendment to the legislature." We cannot turn our backs responsibilities are met by him in an un­ Constitution provides: upon those direct and positive constitu­ biased, impersonal, constitutional and The Senate of the United States shall be tional provisions. If that is done, we will proper manner, the Executive will have composed of two Senators from each State, then ~anction a method of voting which my unstinting loyalty. However, when elected by the people thereof, for 6 years, and is contrary to the provisions of our Con­ he ceases to be the President, ceases to th· electors in each State shall have the qual­ stitution, and which will be unconstitu­ be the Commander in ·chief of our armed ifications requisite for electors of the most tional. · · forces, Republican and Democrat alike, numerous branch of the State legislature. Mr. Chairman, the several States have and becomes the President, Commander As we pursue our investigation some­ a duty to perform in order to secure to in Chief, and candidate for reelection, . what further respecting the right and the soldiers and sailors the right to vote then my obligation of loyalty ceases and the duty of the several States respecting l~gally at the coming and suBsequent I am free to expose and condemn any the matter of elections we are con­ elections. The State legfslature has-al­ personal or politica,I partisanship such . strained to reflect upon the language ready met in several States and they as has been so evident in the last two contained in section 1, article II, of the . have amended their absent voters laws messages of the President to ·the-Con­ Federal Constitution, which specifically in order to make possible the right of our gress. · refers to the office of President, and the soldiers and sailors to cast their ballots Mr~ SPRINGER. Mr. Chairma:Q., I am manner of his election, and we find this . in a purely legal.and const ~ tutional man­ convinced that ever.y Member of the very potent provision: ner. May !,say that in my own State of

/ 1944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1023 Indiana our Governor is now preparing to fail those who bear the primary burden I know that we shall be beset with snares call our State legislature into special ses- of this war that has been thrust upon us. and difficulties. I know that the tech­ sion for the very purpose of complying Their passionate sense of justice, as nical problems may well overwhelm us with the constitution respecting . the my sense of responsibility, compels · me and that cautionary "ifs" and "ands" and holding. of elections, and to amend the to sp'eak before this House and to urge "buts" will hamper us on all sides. I am absent voters laws so that our · soldiers early and effective action. not unmindful of them and of the reality and sailors who are· voters may be able In the year just ended, we were able to of the problems that called them into to cast their vote in a legal manner un- greet the Christmas holiday and the being. But when that is said and, done, der our constitution. coming of the new year with the great- I still affirm what I believe to be the con­ Our soldiers and sailors want to vote est measure of hope that we have had viction of all Americans: That we must for their choice of all candidates for all in the past 3 years. leave no stone unturned to enable the offices. They do not want to vote for a Our great President and Commander men who fight for their country also to few of the offices, and to be deprived from in Chief had just come back from his­ vote fat their country's representatives. voting for other offices. Under the pend- toric meetings in Tehran and Cairo in How shall this be done? With every ing Worley bill, our soldiers and sailors which the precise plans for the defeat good intention in the world, the provi­ would be deprived from voting for a Gov- of our enemies were laid down and sions of the past have proven inadequate. ernor of their State, and they would be agreed upon. Gen. Dwight D. Eisen­ Nineteen hundred and forty-two demon­ deprived from voting for any State of- hower has spoken in the simple words of strated that unless procedures were fice; likewise they would be deprived a soldier holding out the prospect of worked out on a Federal basis that would from voting for their choice among can- peace in Europe before 1944 is- ended. ease the process .of balloting among sol­ didates for any county, city, or town- others of our military and naval com­ diers, there would be no balloting. Only ship office. Our soldiers want to vote for mand have also spoken· in the same ~nactment of Federal legislation can hope their choice of candidates among the optimistic spirit. They pledge to malte to contend with so formidable a task. people they know-those who are candi- 1944 a year of victory in the military and There can be no half measures in pro­ dates in their own township, or in the naval affairs which are their responsibil­ viding for those prepared to die for their city, or in their county-and this Worley ities. Can we do less? Can we fail to country the facilities to vote in the po­ bill would not extend to them the right make and to keep a pledge to insure vic­ litical. life_of t,heir country. to vote for their choice for any State, tory at home, to insure, in the first in­ Mr. Chairman, I wish. I could parade county, city, or township office. It would stance, victory for our democracy, for before you a stream of the typical Amer­ give them the right to vote only for their the basic American institution of the icans of my district whose boys and girls choice of candidates for P.i'esident, Vice ballot box? are now wearing Uncle Sam's uniform President, United States Senator, and ' I come from one of the most con­ and who would plead with you not to let Representative in the Congress -of the glomerate districts of the United States. them down. In that procession you wili ·United States. My constituents are from all origins and fin.d men and women of all faiths: Cath­ Mr. Chairman; I wish to emphasize · ·many religions. They have sent into plic, Jewish, Pr.otestant, native and f9r­ here and· now, that I desire that · our the armed forces· many thousands of eign born, old and young, all of them service men and women ·be extended the their most gallant young men, of their beset by one consuming determination: right to vote for their choice of all can- ·bravest and most cheerful young women. To win the war quickly, to sustain our ·ctidates for all public offices in a legal and Their absence is being felt every day, fighting men and to resume the pe-ace­ constitutional manner. Our service men every minute, in a multitude of homes. ful pattern of our American life. Were and women must be treated fairly and Their trials and their difficulties are re­ they here before you, were they asked honestly, and they must be extended the :fleeted in every home. Their needs are a question as to what they wish the Con­ • right to vote-by ·a simple and· easy the prime topic of conversation. gress of the United States to do, they ·method of accomplishment-so they IDa¥ They and their families at home be- would answer with one voice; they would take their places among all other citi- lieve and, very properly so, that we owe say to you with the fervent determination zens of our country, and so they may be them a paramount responsibility. The' of which Americans are capable: ••Mem• enabled to cast their votes for the.:r fathers and mothers, sweethearts and bers of Congress, we have sent you to choice of the candidates for all offices at wives, relatives and friends of our fight­ Washington during a period of great ali elections during their service in this · ing Americans, to all of whom the war is .crisis. · We have sent you to legislate for ·war. The duty which we face is simple. brought home in the most human terms, us in the co~ftdence that your legislation We must not fail to accomplish this· task. have a call upon us. ·They know that .will help win the war, will sustain our We must lead the way in this terrible the men and women on the fighting democracy, and will create the instru­ conflict bY giving our service men and fronts, in camps and bases, on ships and ments by which our future will be safe­ women the right to express themselves on planes, are sure to give without stint guarded. On all of these counts we turn in our governmental affairs at home, or hesitation all that is needed for the to you to legislate so that under Federal while they wear the uniform of our coun- winning of the war. authority and respopsibility, 11,000,000 try. This, Mr. Chairman, is the very There is never any uncertainty as to of our fellow citizens will enjoy the fruits least we can do for those who now fight just what men and women in uniform of our democracy, just as we hope to for the preservation of our Nation, and are ready to do. · I feel that we must give enjoy the fruits of their victory." the American way of life. · no reason to doubt as to an equal full- To meet this challenge adequately Mr. WORLEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield ness of effort by the National Legisla- means that we must get on the job now. such time as he may desire to the gen- ture. · It means that we must cope with it in a tleman from New York [Mr. KLEIN]. The people of my congressional dis- realistic fashion and not trust to diffi­ Mr. KLEIN. Mr. Chairman, I rise to trict are not unique in their reactions; cult, if not impossible, procedures. In speak in behalf .of our responsibility to we are of the pattern of all America. the last analysis it means Federal super­ our men and women in the armed forces, The same emotions, the same strength of vision over the balloting of our service­ our responsibility to do all in our power feeling, the same sense of profound love men. to enable them to vot9 in the forthcom- for, and obligation to, our fighting men This urgent need for legislation to en­ ing elections. pervade all congressional districts. Not able soldiers to vote has, however, been Our assumption of this responsibility for one moment must we forget this: challenged with the cry, ''Let the States will be a test of our concern for our sol- That the American people have made do it." If that were a possibility, we diers and sailors and marines. By the up their minds; they want the soldiers could all be for it, but it has been thor­ same token, it will be a test of our own to vote. They will not condone any de­ oughly demonstrated that it is -4mpracti- determination to strengthen the home lay or failure on our part to enable the . cable for the individual 48 States of the · front and to insure that our democratic soldiers to vote. And we, on our part, . United States -Of America to reach their institutions shall not be impaired; I shall -not let the American people down. voters scattered all.over the globe with know how many of my fellow Congress- I do not for a moment believe that the their·existing machinery or with the ma­ men share that profound feeling with me. task of providing · voting facili-ties fer chinery that they can individually rig I know, too. that my constituents are close to 11,000,000 men and women scat­ up between now and election day. The burning with ardor that we shall not tered all over the world is an easy one.· individual States may be left to handle 1024 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY · l the soldier vote, but to all practical pur- · We must make the necessary Federal 1,200 voted. That is less than 1 percent. poses that will mean the denial of the provisions to enlist the most efficient­ I think that is true all over the country. vote to millions of our men and women· Federal administrative machinery. We Mr. McCORMACK. Less than 700 bearing arms. . · are pledged to its non-partisan ch~rac- · men in the service from Massachusetts What are the actual racts about State ter. We shall keep that pledge. At a voted in 1942, and we have a pretty lib­ voting machinery? Four States have no time when we are considering the ,pros-· eral and progressive State. AI little less absentee voting laws at all; in 27 States pects for the returning soldier, we can­ than 700 voted for Governor and for the time available for providing an ab­ not be indifferent to an immediate need. United States Senator. Throughout the sentee ballot is 30 days or less. Within There is no better way for us to begin entire country about 28,000 voted. that limited time, a complex procedure· our program for the veteran. than to be­ Mr. LEONARD W. HALL. Mr. Chair­ must be followed, involving the soldier, gin that program now-by providing man, will the gentleman yield? the State official, and Army regulations; the machinery for the soldiers' vote. Mr. McCORMACK. I yield to tl;le gen­ A procedure so difficult will exclude full Our :fighting men and women haye asked­ tleman from New York. participation in the election. All of this for it; the people at home have spoken Mr. LEONP..-RD W. HALL. Our War has been more fully explained in the up, and we must not-we will not fail Ballot Commission stated that the reason President's message of January 25, 1944. them. they did not have a large vote in New It has been said that some States can Mr. WORLEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield York State last fall was that neither of held special sessions of their legislatures 10 minutes to the gentleman from the services in ·washington would coop­ to amend their election law. This-is, as Massachusetts [Mr. McCoRMACK]. erate with them to get the ballots to the yet, only ·a conjecture, but even if ...that · Mr. McCORMACK. Mr. Chairman, - soldiers and back again. were done, the complications of ai1~-mail no one has any dispute, certainly, with · Mr. McCORMACK. If tha:t is so, that traffic, of reaching the soldiers in their the desire of having every soldier pos­ is a justifiable criticism. I have said be­ infinite variety of units is such that the sible vote. for every candidate for public fore on the floor that I think that if the whole efie~t is calculated to bog down. office, not only Federal but State. The bill had passed early enough more than Let us not put too easy a faith in the -argument of those who want a complete 28,000 would have voted. I am not going speed of air mail. - ballot sent to the soldiers falls to the to make any statements that I do net · Testifying· for the Army, Colonel Cut­ ground when we review the practical honestly believe, but the difficulty with ler has said that- situation. the voting confined to State ballot is Even with the use of air mail and air Under the law reported out of the com­ that with 48 different State ballots; with priori-ty, the State absentee-balloting proce­ mittee if every State simplified its law, some States not having an absentee­ dures as provided by existing State laws the Federal Gov.ernment cooperating as voting law; and with some States hav­ would not allow any substantial nurp.ber of it should, there would not be more than ing the primary election in September, Votes cast by servicemen overseas to be ·500,000 soldiers and sailors vote. The many of-the soldiers will be disenfran­ counted in State primaries and elections. r.racticaldifiiculties prevent it. Twenty.; chised. If we confine this to State ab­ From time .to time the bogey o{ States' eight thousand voted 2 years ago out of sentee ballots, for all pTactical purposes rights has been raised, a bogey that I over 4,000,000 men in the Army and we are going to disenfranchise the great hoped had long been exposed. I do not Navy. There are 48 different systems in majority of those in the Army and the believe States' rights to be affected, but effect. As a matter of fact, three or four -Navy. more tpan that, I quote that farsighted ·states have no absentee voting law at all. Mr. KEEFE. Mr. Chairman, will the American and traditional champion of -· ·Those of us who are supporting the gentleman yield? St~tes' rights, the senior Senator from ·worley. bill absolutely agree with the Mr. McCORMACK. I yield to the gen­ Virginia, who said: argument-at least I do-that the State tleman from Wisconsin. I wrote with my own hand the suffrage ballots · should be distributed as exten­ Mr ~ KEEFE. The State of Wisconsin • clauses of the Virginia Constitut~on, but in­ ·sively as possible among those in the has provided an absentee voters' law asmuch .as the Congress, more than a year armed forces but where they cai_lnot ,get -which requires that a ballot be mailed to ago, in what is now known as Public Law the State ballot the members of the every person in the armed services with­ No. 712, specifically provided that no· mem­ armed forces should not be denied the out the requirement that an application ber of the armed forces was to be compelled ·right of voting at all. We should permit be made for it, and this applies to both either· to register or pay a poll tax in order all of them to have the opportunity of the primary and the general elections. to vote in a Federal election, I cannot see The only thing that will stop every per­ that the rights of the States are either jeop­ voting at least for the national offices. - ardized or in any way involved in the pres., Mr. WORLEY. · Will the gentleman .son in the service from my State from . ent controversy. yield? voting is to have the Commander in Mr. McCORMACK. I yield to the gen­ Chief direct-- The choice before us is very clear: We tleman from Texas. . Mr. McCORMACK. Is the gentleman can smooth the operations of Federal · Mr. -WORLEY. Is it not a fact that asking me a question or making a speech machinery to secure the vote for the the Worley bill provides the :rpeans and on my time? Which is it? service men and women, or we will, in methods of obtaining the State ballot Mr. KEEFE. I am asking the gentle­ actual practice, be disfranchising them. just the same as the R:;mkin' bill? man this .question. I do not propose to lend myself to such Mr. McCORMACK. Yes. The Wor- Mr. McCORMACK. What is the ques­ an abortion of justice, to such a denial · ley bill ·covers everything that the Vllr­ tion? of democracy to its staunchest defend­ sell bill covers, the Worley bill goes Mr. KEEFE. Would not the only ers. I do not for a moment believe that farther than the Vursell bill; the Worley ·thing that would stop the people from the American people will forgive and bill says that where we cannot get the my State from voting then be the refusal forget those who denied their deep wish. · State ballot into the hands of those in · of the armed services to transport those that . their own sons and fathers, · the armed forces we are not going to ·ballots to the peo:qle in the service? brothers and sweethearts, wives sisters deny them the. right of voting at all, we Mr. McCORMACK. No. I will an­ and daughters, join with them' in the -- are going to give them the power and , swer that emphatically-No. For in­ normal expression of our democratic the right to vote, or at least as many as -stance, the gentleman says. the ballot tradition. we can, for ·the candidates for national from Wisconsin has to be mailed. A We have had the bitter experience in :offices. -man· from Wisconsin might be in one the past 2 years of suffering from the Mr. EBERHARTER. Mr. Chairman, · camp today and another camp 2 weeks malady of too little and too late. That · will the gentleman yield? · from now. He might be in the Far East specter is rising before us again now. Mr. McCORMACK. I yield.to the gen- a month "trom now. A difficulty would If we approach this problem with hesi- ' tleman from Pennsylvania. arise fro·m that mail following that man tations, with myriad cautions and hem­ , ' Mr~ EBERHARTER.·. The State .Of around, and that ballot ·has to be back mings and hawings, we shall again have · Pennsylvania has what is known as a here by a certain time. With all the earned- this dread verdict: Too · little . model . voting act. . In the election in · simplification Wisconsin has provided, and too late. ·It must not happen. We 1942, out of 118,000 soldiers who . were · the great majority of those in the service must act at once in the broadest spirit. · citizens of Pe-nnsylvi:tnia approximately' from Wisconsint. relying upon the State 1944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1025 ballot, will be ·unable to vote,· even with ·know how many ballots to send to New ·our country, to give up their lives if Wisconsin doing everything it can-and :Guinea, for example? Assuming- the necessary, that our country might en­ I will concede that Wisconsin is a liberal Federal Government is to deliver the bal­ dure. It was our duty to do so, and we State. · lots, how does Massachusetts know how performed that duty. Mr. KEEFE, Mr. HALLECK, and _Mr . . many Massachusetts men are members As a result of war conditions, and in SCRIVNER rose. - of a particular division, or how do the the main the Selective Service Act, Mr. McCORMACK. I am yielding all other 4T States, or the other States that about 11,000,000 American citizens will my time, but I cannot resi_st the tempta­ have an absentee voting law, know how ·be in active service when the next elec­ tion to yield further to the g-entleman. many men from their States are in a tion takes place. Mr. KEEFE. The gentleman will un­ particular division? You have to go to All of this was done under the powers, derstand also that the Legislature of the each division and say to each man, ·expressed ·or implied, contained in the State of Wisconsin has moved ahead the "Where do you come from?" Then you Constitution. primary election 1 month, and has have to go further and, when you find And yet that same sacred document moved ahead every other requirement. that a man comes from Massachusetts, which called them into active service is Mr. McCORMACK. Wisconsin is to ask him, "What district do you come being u.sed by the Vursell bill to prevent be congratulated. ·from,'' because he is going to vote for the great majority of them from voting MI:. KEEFE. There is no reason under Congressman, and you cannot give a man for the very elective ofilcials of the Fed­ the sun why every State in the Union from the First District of Massachusetts eral Government who will conduct our but two or three cannot and will not do a ballot to vote for a Congressman from National Government for the nExt 2, 4, likewise. any other district-for me, for instance, and 6 years-2 years so far as every Mr. McCORMACK. I do not know when I am running from the Twelfth Member of the House of Representatives how my friend from Wisconsin is going District-or you have to ask these ques­ 'is concerned, 4 years so far as the Presi­ to vote on the Worley bill; but if he votes tions of each one, assuming the State ,dent is concerned, and 6 years so far as against it, relying on that, then the sol­ ballots are transported. If they are one-third of the United States Senate is diers and sailors from Wisconsin are mailed, of course we know it will be inef­ concerned. ·going to wake up after election day and fective and that the great majority of What a strange and inconsistent posi­ find out that the great majority of them those in the armed forces are not going tion some MembeFs place themselves in did not have the opportunity ·to vote. . to vote. of supporting a bill practically denying, Mr. KEEFE. They will not have it if What the Federal Government can do ·in wartime, opportunity of the great ma­ the President does not send the ballot is cooperate to the fullest extent possible jority of our heroes to vote. to them. with the States in getting as many State The bill reported is ineffective. Presi­ Mr. HALLECK, Mr. Chairman, will ballots into the hands of the men in the dent Roosevelt recently pointed out the the gentleman yield? armed forces as it can, and when the Fed­ simple and obvious fact that under legis­ M'r. McCORMACK. I yield to the eral Government cannot get the State lation of this kind the overwhelming gentleman from Indiana. ballots into their hands, then, rather majority of the members of our armed Mr. HALLECK. Of course, we all than disenfranchise them, we can say, forces will have no opportunity to vote. h::we a high regard for our majority , "We are going to give yvu the permission The present bill leaves the whole prob­ ·leader. He made the statement that if and the power and the right to vote for lem to the States. Both the War and the Worley bill is not adopted only the candidates that Congress can give Navy Departments have definitely stated 500,000 ballots will be cast. you the opportunity to vote for; that is, that such a procedure would be virtually Mr. McCORMACK. That is my ·the candidates for national office." impossible to administer effectively. ·opinion. Mr. COOLEY. Mr. Chairman, wUI the As the Washington Star well said in Mr. HALLECK. Knowing that the gentleman yield? an editorial of January 16: ·gentleman usually has the · figures to Mr. McCORMACK. I yield to the gen­ Under any plan large-scale voting by the ·back up what he is saying, may I ask . tleman from North Carolina. men and women in service will be difficult him if he has any arithmetic to prove Mr. COOLEY. Is not that exactly enough to handle, but t.he leave-it-to-the­ ·that statement, or is that just his con­ what the Worley bill provides? States plan can hardly be described as a clusion? Mr. McCORMACK. Exactly, plan at all. Mr. McCORMACK. That is my Mr. COOLEY. Does not the Worley An argument advanced against a real opinion. I think th£~. t I value my opin­ · bill provide for the transmission of Cali­ bill is that it violates States' rights. ion just as much as I value the -opinion . fornia ballots to the soldiers at the battle In the first place, all of the States do _ of the gentleman from Indiana. - ·fronts? not have an absentee voting law. Mr. HALLECK. I thank the gentle· Mr. McCORMACK. Exactly. The In the second place, those States that man. Worley bill provides for voting by State have one properly enacted it to meet Mr. GEARHART. Mr. Chairman, will absentee_ ballot as far as can be ac­ peacetime conditions, wheri only a very the gentleman yield? . complished by the Federal Government, small percentage of voters would be out Mr. McCORMACK. I yield to the and when men in the armed forces can­ of a State, usualJy because of business gentleman from California. not get the State ballots, the bill per­ reasons. · Mr. GEARHART. I was wondering if . mits them to vote at least for Federal The absentee voting laws, where they it would be any more difficult for the candidates, in ' order not to disenfran­ exist, could not and did not take into Army and Navy to take to.the soldier and . chise them. consideration war conditions, and they sailor the ballot which the State of Cali­ The bHI reported by the committee is , were not passed with a global war in fornia has prepared than to take this ineffective and will produce only mini­ mind. bobtailed ballot to them. mum results. It will not enable our sol­ In Massachusetts at the last election Mr. McCORMACK. If the gentleman diers and sailors to exercise in large · around 700 soldiers and sailors voted. wants to make his question that if the numbe~ their constitutional right to About 28,000 voted throughout the coun­ Federal Government will bring the ballot vote. The Congress of the United try, with well over 4,000,000 in the of the State of California without all States, after our country was attacked, service. this mailing, I think more men would be performed its constitutional duty of de­ It is practically impossible even if the able to vote, "Yes." · claring a state of war existed between · State laws are simplified to send ballots Mr. GEARHART. The State of Cali­ the United States and our enemies. from about 40 States to around 11,000,000 fornia amended its law just yesterday to Following that act, and responding to men and women searching out the State provide for the turning over of California the law of self-preservation but doing so in which each one lives. The Federal ballots to the Army and Navy to be de- under constitutional provisions, Congress Government can help States to get as · livered as the Army and Navy choose, and passed necessary legislation to wage the many ballots. as possible to the citizens for the Army and Nav:v tJ bring back. war, among which was the Selective of the several States, but at the best only Mr. McCORMACK. In a division of · Service Act, known as the Draft Act. a small percentage will be able to vote 15,000 men there are men from all States We drafted human beings-American if the pending bill becomes law. Fur­ of the Union. How does Massachusetts citizens-to fight for the preservation of thermore, there are several States which XC--65. 1026 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 1 have no absentee voting law, and our Once in a while the statement is made didate for _every elective office in his soldiers and sailors who are citizens of by certain writers that the members of home county, State, and Nation. those States will be completely disfran- our armed forces do not know what they Under the provisions of the bill pro­ chised this fall. · are fighting for. I deny this statement. viding for the Federal ballot, unless In an editorial appearing in the Boston I know that these young meri and women . State legislatures, are called together to Globe of January 7, 1944, entitled "Votes who are risking their lives and their fu­ validate the ballot, every election officer for Soldiers" it said, in part: tures are fully conscious of what they are who count,s the ballot will violate the In the Senate the bill brought in by Sen­ fighting for. These young people are State laws and be subject to fine and im­ ators GREEN and LucAs was treated rather fighting to preserve the America they left prisonment. The ballots of millions of roughly, but that was last year and the reac­ when they gave up their jobs, their our soldiers, although cast in good faith, tion: to such an undemocratic and un-Amer­ homes, and their loved ones. They are in all probability, will never be counted. ican attitude as disregarding the soldiers' fighting to preserve the Constitution that In view of this probability, passage of right to vote has been emphatic. has withstood all attacks by enemies of such a bill would be perpetrating a fraud This is an emergency. Our country is liberty for over 150 years. They are on our soldiers. It is highly probable at war. Millions of our citizens have left ·fighting to return to a country governed that the next Presidential election would their homes and firesides-their peace­ by laws and not by men. The same Con­ be contested and thrown into the House time pursuits-to fight for our country. stitution that provides freedom of sPBech, of Representatives where a bitter par­ Many of them are at the front and mil­ freedom of worship, freedom of the press, tisan fight might ensue that would shake lions more will be soon firing bullets at and the right to a trial by jury, also pro­ the very foundations of our Government. the enemy. They are citizen soldiers and vides as follows: What could be more pleasing to our sailors. We should do everything within The House of Representatives shall be enemies, or more discouraging to our our power-going as far as we possibly composed of Members chosen every second allies, than tor the next Presidential -can-to see that their right to vote-the year by the people of the several States, and election to be bitterly contested in the ballot-follows them. the electors in each State shall have the same House of Representatives? qualifications requisite for electors of the The pending bill is the mere minimum most numerous branch of the State legis­ It is certainly the duty of the Federal that Congress can do. As a matter of lature. Government to transmit ballots to the fact it is not necessary. Without this members of our armed forces, so far as is bill, if the States having an absentee Again, in article I, section 2, it pro­ compatible with the war effort. A high­ voting law simplified their law, the Fed­ vides: ranking Army official testified before our eral Government would cooperate to the The electors in each State shall have the committee that under the provisions of fullest extent possible upon mere request qualifications requisite for electors of the any bill that is passed there would be 20 of such States. most numerous branch of the State legis­ percent 'of the members of the armed A quick solution of how the men and lature. forces who would not be able to vote due ·women of the armed forces can vote in This section governs the qualifications to military operations. The argument large numbers will have a favorable ef­ of the electors for President. has been made that it would be impossi­ fect upon them. As one writer well said, The language is plain and convincing ble to get State ballots from 48 different "It will give new substance to the democ­ that the qualifications of voters are to States to our boys. Today, a streamlined racy they are fighting for." -be left in the hands of the States. It edition of Time magazine and Newsweek, The passage of the Worley bill, or sim­ has long since been held by our Supreme weighing much more than a State ballot, ilar legislation, is necessary in order to Court that national emergencies and war is being flown by the Army and Navy to assure complete opportunity of voting to do not abrogate the Constitution. In the members of our armed forces and is our soldiers and sailors. the stress of emergency it is easy to ad­ delivered to· the remotest battle front in The CHAIRMAN. The time of the vocate waiving the provisions of the less than 3 weeks' time. Christmas pack­ gentleman from Massachusetts has ex­ Constitution; but, once given up, once a ages weighing 5 pounds were delivered pired. wedge is driven into this sacred docu­ ahead of schedule to the boys overseas. Mr. WORLEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield ment, we may forever lose'the protection Thousands of letters are delivered to the 5 minutes to the gentleman from Ala- that so much blood has been spilled to boys daily. Mail from New Guinea bama [Mr. MANASCO]. - preserve. The memory of elections be­ reaches Washington in 2 weeks. It is Mr. MANASCO. Mr. Chairman, every ing held under the shadow of bayonets estimated that the ballots going over­ Member of Congress, regardless of politi­ is all too fresh in the minds of southern­ seas would not weigh over 250 tons. The cal affiliation, is in favor of making it ers to want to see the Federal Govern­ State ballot could be sent to England,' possible for the members of our armed ment ever again attempt to take over our Honolu~u. the Caribbean area, and the forces to vote. During recent weeks election machinery. Alaskan area by the slowest convoy and Members of Congress, and especially we If we can waive one provision of the get there in ample time for the boys to members of the House Committee on Constitution during war, we can also vote. We are flying entertainers ,to all Election of President, Vice President, waive the provision providing for' elec­ battle fronts. These entertainers boost and Representatives in Congress, have tion of the Members of the House every the morale of our men. What would been subjected to the most vicious and second year, Members of the Senate boost the morale of our men more than unfair propaganda campaign that has every 6 years, and the election of a Pres­ voting for local officials with whom they ever b~en directed at Members of this ident every 4 years. are acquainted? body. This delUge of propaganda did not I am convinced from the correspond­ We all hope the war in :li!urope will be come from members of the armed forces. ence that I have had with members of over before the next general election. We Those of us who think that the privilege · . the armed forces that the boys are just all hope that commerce can again be of our soldiers to vote, just as the privi­ as interested in voting for their Gov- resumed without the menace of subma­ l€ge of any other citizen to vote, is gov­ . ernor, for their sheriff, their judges, and rines and enemy aircraft. If so, ballots erned by the Constitution, have been other local officials, as they are in voting to Europe can be mailed and returned called everything from domestic Fascists for the President, Vice President, and within 3 weeks' time. on down. We have even been a,ccused Members of Congress. If we are serious I most certainly do want the boys to of attempting to pass legislation termed in our. desire to extend voti~ privileges, vote, but I want them to vote in a legal by some as "fraudulent." Certain pres­ then we should extend it all the way. manner without the possibility that their sure groups and propagandists, who did Under the provisions of the bills spon­ ballot will not be counted, and in a way everything in their power to prevent our sored by those who favor a Federal bal­ that will prevent an election contest. Nation from preparing to defend itself lot, the members of the armed forces 411 our Governors will call the State , and to wage an offensive war, are taking would not be allowed to vote for any legislatures ·into session to simplify the the lead in this controversy trying to gain official excepting the President, Vice method of absentee voting for the mem­ the favor of the members of our armed President, and Members of Congress. bers of the armed forces. Our Governors for ~cs by making it appear that they are Under the provisions of the bill report­ and State legislatures are just as fair and working for the best interests of our sol­ ed by-our committee, which I am sup­ patriotic as we are. Some would lead diers, Eailors, and marines. porting, the boys could vote for a can- you to believe that Washington has a 1944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1027 -monopoly on patriotism.- Let us be fair and that mercy may be showered on you After more than a month's fight be­ with our soldiers and provide legal ma­ instead of wrath. There is no one thing fore the committee~ in which I was priv­ chinery to enable them to vote. that rests as heavy on nor comes as near ileged to participate, and also after a Mr. WORLEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield crushing the spirit of one here in Wash­ rebuke in the upper House, and after 15 minutes to the gentleman from Geor­ ington as the wholesale practice of dire their attempts at a smear campaign and gi~ [Mr. GIBSON]. hypocrisy. No h1,1man conduct is so threats of purging us who had courage Mr. GIBSON. Mr. Chairman, in ap­ reprehensible and detestable, n~ sin so enough to fight for our country, they saw proaching the subject of a Soldier Vote great. When will persons enjoying a sa­ defeat staring them in the face like a Act, I want to state here and now that I cred trust of the people again face facts monster. They then abandoned their am more charitable in my convictions and issues in a spirit of truth and sin­ original bill and substituted a reformed and expressions than the radicals who cerity? When will those in power again measure which is not quite so vicious. are sponsoring the Federal ballot, and permit their mouths to speak the im­ Do not forget that in their hearts yet I refer definitely to those without the pulses of their hearts and cease to accom­ rests the same purpose, and if they ever Congress. I, in full sincerity, concede plish their aims by subterfuge, deceit, get their nose under the tent do not think that every true American wants the son and fraud? Speaking of the practice of your State will ever hold another free and daughter of American parents in the fraud, if ever there has been an attempt election unless our boys run them to armed services to have the privilege and to defraud; and rape if you please, it has . cover when they come back. Do you opportunity to cast a ballot; a legal bal­ been practiced on the Constitution of suppose that bunch thinks they can lot. I am hurt, however, to have to say the United States in this endeavor. hoo'!wink our fighting forces, especially that the Federal ballot commission Let us keep the record straight. Rec­ after they return, and learn the full craze is sponsored and espoused by the ords live and opinions die. Improper facts? Do you suppose they will forget Communists of this country and the Con­ motives are never overcome by expres­ that this same bunch that is crying gress of Industrial Organizations, which sions of clean purpose. A leopard never aloud now in hypocritical voice for the I believe to be the working organization changes his spots. If you have not read rights of soldiers is the same bunch that· of the Communist Party. the original bill presented to our com­ has been striking and tying -wp plants Mr. BUSBEY. Mr. Chairman, will the mittee, then I ask you to read it. The turning' out tanks, planes, and munitions gentleman yield? first real sponsor to become known was at pay scales of as high as $10 and $12 Mr. GIBSON. Yes. the C. I. 0., and to this good day the per day, while they lay in fox holes and Mr. BUSBEY. To make this observa­ membership of the committee has never the tropical islands of the South Pacific tion: Last week when I was in Chicago, been able to learn _the identity of the at $50 per month, in many instances the American Youth for Democracy, person who drafted it, even after many hungry and in need of the supplies tied which is a new name for the Young Com­ inquiries. The shame and disgrace prac­ up by strikes to even defend themselves. munist League, had hundreds of their ticed by the Federalists on the South in Do they think those prisoners tortured people out on the streets getting petitions the reconstruction days, where the sanc­ and murdered in Japan for defending signed for this Federal bill. I say that tity of the ballot and every tradition of our :flag will be deceived by their hypo­ to substantiate the gentleman's state­ the South was trampled under foot at critical cries of love for and interest in ment. the point of bayonets, could easily have soldiers, while they walked in idleness Mr. GIBSO!'if. I thank the gentleman. been repeated under their original bill. for higher wages while those heroes bled These forces are actuated primarily by Bear in mind, they fought for it with and died that those perpetrators of strife, their desire to have our State elections their five-man ballot commission set up hatred, and disunity may live? and, in fact, all elections directed, con­ here in Washington to control every You cry aloud for them to have a trolled, and abused by the Federal Gov­ movement of our State elections and ernment, and not by a desire to permit actually provided a penalty of $5,000 Federal, not a State, ballot. You abuse soldiers to vote. They are taking ad­ fine and 5 years' imprisonment for the and condemn us who are trying to main­ vantage of the present emergency to -slightest violation of its drastic provi­ tain our democracy while they are gone, break down every barrier between this sions, in many instances in direct repu­ in crocodile tears of love you present democracy and a totalitarian form of diation of State laws. In fact, under that . yourself as their spokesman. When an government, while the :flower of our na­ bill any election manager would have appropriation is up for the rehabilitation tional youth is dying in foreign lands been forced to have violated either the · of citizens of foreign lands you open the that our democracy may survive and act itself or the existing State laws, which purse wide, but when an attempt is made that they may return to the same "land plainly displays the disregard and con­ to provide for the rehabilitation o{ those of the free and home of the brave" from tempt they hold for the rights of sov­ returning from the combat zones-crip­ whence they departed, to find yet sur­ ereign States. This bill wo:uld have in­ pled, maimed, and blind-your ardor is viving a republic secure in the protect­ vaded the sovereignty of the several cool and your love forlorn. D;) you think ing arms of the same Constitution they States in direct violation of the Consti­ your miserable words speak louder than left, and a people who are yet not only tution of the United States. Let me your acts? Do not deceive yourself, you happy to have the protection and free­ remind you gentlemen who designate can not deceive us. May I ask where dom flowing from that Constitution, but yourselves as liberals that there is a dif­ your real love rests? - who have the courage to stand up and ference in liberalism which is necessary Let us face the facts, let us look behind defend it from enemies within in the face for needed progress in our Nation and the screen. It has peen said that the of threats and smear campaigns, and in the surrender of the sovereignty of our servicemen do not have any lobby or pres­ the face of the current favorite weapon several States that make up our Union sure group on Capitel Hill to see that of those who would destroy it, the purge for the purpose of setting up in their justice is done for them. Of course, this threat. stead a socialistic state, the very thing meant to press and push for the adoption It takes from a sincere heart many our boys are fighting to destroy. :aeP,r of the Federal ballot commission. My emotions of pride to know beyond ques­ in mind further that the original spon­ files are open to anyone. I have not tion that our fighting forces, those dead sor of this legislation is the same organ­ ization that is working day and night to counted them, but feel justified in saying and those yet to die, and those who will that I have received 1,500 letters and be blessed to return, are being used as a accomplish this dast~,rdly end. Let me political football; that so many un­ say to you, no emergency can ever be so cards containing threats and every other American activities are being colored great as to justify a violation of the pro­ means of coercion, demanding that I sup­ with the pretense of being in their in­ visions of our Constitution. Call me a port the Federal ballot commission bill. terest, when the real and dastardly pur­ perpetrator of fraud, smear me by your These cards and letters are at least 99 pose is to destroy what they arc fighting paid commentators and purge me if you percent from New York, and are mostly to protect. There are many in high will, but so long as there is breath in my from the C. I. 0. and Communists. One places who will read these words and body I will defend, and with my life if I hold in my hand from the office of who will know they are true, and may an need be, the Constitution that has given Harry Bridges, written and signed by the all-merciful God bring you to your knees me and the people of my Nation the secretary of his organization, with the in a pray~r that you may be forgiven blessings of liberty. name Harry Bridges, president, and Lo:-i.S 1028 ·CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 1 Goldblatt, secretary-treasurer, Interna­ scribed by Associate Justice David Davis the hoop at your every whimsical de.­ tional Longshoreman's and Warehouse­ in handing down the decision of the Su­ mand. I do not fear you, your purge men's Union, affiliated with the Congress preme Court in the historic Milligan case threats, or any man or any issue. So of Industrial Organizations, on the let­ soon after the close of the Civil War: long as I remain in Congress I .shall be terhead. This is a fair example of the The Constitution of the United States is a directed by the guidance of a conscie.nce source of this legislation. I have received law for rulers and people, equally in war and . concerned only in the future welfare of 1 lone message in favor of my position, in peac~. and covers with the shield of its the people of this great Republic and the this from Washington, D. C., dated Jan­ protection all classes of men, at all times and form of government our boys are dying uary 24, 1944, after my position had been under all circumstances. No doctrine in­ to defend~ Your pressure and your volving more pernicious consequences was kown throughout the land for nearly 2 ever invented by _the wit of man than that threats are a stimulant to me to fight months. The pressure groups have been any of its provisions can be suspended during harder for the cause of a Government ~t work on the other side,_ and the any of the great exigencies of government. of the people, by the people, and for the strongest and most unholy and strongest Such a doctrine leads directly to anarchy or people; for the common good of all the financed pressure group in the United despotism. people of our great Commonwealth. ·States. Was that statement based on I can say with all of the sincerity of my There is in every county election in the truth and fact, or was it calculated to heart and existence, and with all of the several States approximately 15 county deceive an uninformed and unsuspecting · truth that the lips of man can speak, · offices to be voted upon. and approxi­ public? that there is no one in this House or in mately 20 ~:!tate offices to be voted upon, Quoting from the letter from Bridges' the United States who is more anxious · making a grand total of about 35 offices office: to do justice to our- fighting forces than I. to be filled by the choice of the people. The action of the United States Senate in I owe them all without reservation or Our bill will give them the privilege of passing the Eastland subst itute to the sol­ . ljmitations; I expect to give them all that · voting in these 35 contests and also the di9rs' vote bill is as horrible a travesty upon I have. In doing this I feel that the 3 provided for in your bill, making a all of the principles for which this country greatest service that I can render those total of 38, or an over-all full ballot, just is at war as has yet occ~rred in a legislative as you and I have the privilege of exer­ body of our Government--- dead and yet to die, and those who will survive this horrible war and return to cising. You, however, give them the Further- their native land is to fight for the pres· privilege to express their choice in 3 surely we are not fighting this war to per­ ervation of the free institutions, free en. contests and.deny them that right in 35 petuate the rights of a few States to discrimi­ terprises, and the rights of the several . contests. · The 3 in 'which you so gen­ nate against part or a majority of their peo­ St.ates that these .boys left when they erously' provide_ this privilege are the ple in the right to vote. were called away to fight this bitter war, . 3 where you hope .to use them. . When · will your conscience overtake . you and Further on in the letter the States of and to preserve for their protection and that of their posterity that they may en­ stop you from compromising the blood Texas, Georgia, and Alabama are men­ of those who are dying for you; when tioned. I cannot speak for Alabama, I ·. joy the liberties and blessings of a full democracy, that sacred writing known as will you· cease to try to control by deceit cannot speak for Texas, but we in and false metho.ds the heavy-hearted Georgia do not need Harry Bridges' or­ the Constitution of the United States. To this cause I pledge myself on my hon­ parents who- have given their sons and ganization to teach us lessons of patri­ daughters to go forth and fight, suffer, otism to our flag, loyalty to our Consti­ or, and no pressure groups will ever cause me to weaken in my determination to and die for you? tution, nor what we must do to be a You argue that a full ballot win con­ worthy American. The United States preserve for them on their return what they left behind. . sume too much shipping space, and has no more vicious or active enemy than thereby hamper the war effort.. If this Harry Bridges and his followers. - If you will be honest with yourseif, then to the rest of the world you will be be true, then your Federal ballot will This issue was nurtured and promul­ honest. This statement I am directing hamper and retard the war €ffort in a gated by him and those of his politi~al · to the radicals who conceived this Federal degree in the proportion that your ballot philosophy of lesser stripe. 'I wonder how ballot idea. In the next few minutes I bears in percentage as to volume to ours. those who reverence the statesmanship am going to prove to you and all who will If any ballot is going to hamper and re­ and sound principles of democracy which listen that you are not motivated by tard the war effort and pr.olong the suf­ died in the bosom of the great Thomas your interest iii the rights of our fighting fering of those heroines and heroes of Jefferson, and especially those from the forces, but that your interest is shame· Bataan now dying a thousand deaths in deep South, can explain their a:Iinement fully selfish, your purpose purely one to Japan, and the suffering of those in the with Harry Bridges' gang on an issue di­ . use those in the service to further your . other theaters of war, and bring thou­ rectly challenging the right of the indi­ · own selfish interest. I am speaking to sands more of those death messages to vidual States to control their own po­ the C. I. 0. membership and the Com­ ·"the humble firesides or American homes, litical destiny. munists who have fought so untiringly which enters and stalks an,d will continue You sponsors of this legislation can for the passage of this act to usurp the to stalk through the years the sacred shut your eyes and try to warp it into the rights of the several States to conduct rooms of that home as a shadow of hoi··­ Constitution on your bill, but every m~n · without· Federal interference their own ror and terror, then in the name of with a legal knowledge who has studied elections. Let us put the square-yes, mercy and justice and in keeping with the Constitution must know that this is the searchlight of truth-on this subject. our duty to those who are dying and the an abrogation of the same and the first Our fighting forces are entitled to the full parents who gave them, and in the name step, the one that is hoped to be used as privilege of their franchise, not just a of all that is holy, let ·us forget poEtics a wedge, of this gang to break down limited one to be used by you for your , and the furtherance of our own hopes the complete structure of the Constitu­ own interest to take from them here what and .desires and defend the blood that is tion; the thing that has caused liberty, they are fighting for abroad. being spilled for the American flag. I justice, and freedom to grow in this fair You Communists and the C. · I. 0. would forfeit my . right to ever cast land of ours. It has been said, and I anarchists are interested in the results another ballot if I knew to so do would want· to repeat, that holding elections of the balloting on 3 offices-that of prevent a sword in the hand of a Jap­ and controlling every parcel thereof is President of the United States, and the anese rat from severing the head of one strictly a State and not a Federal func­ Senate and House of Representatives of American nobleman. · Your argument is tion. The Federal Government has no the United States. You are working on too weak to be used for a sieve. You more right to conduct an election than the theory that if you can control these have a cunning way of clothing in gar­ the States have to coin money. Any 3 offices that you can control the lives ments of purity that which will further ballot issued by the Federal Government and destinies of all our people, even your selfish aims. would, therefore, be spurious and coun­ the returning servicemen, which I con· I have proven that your love for and terfeit. cede to be true. In your conventions interest in the service men and women I think that the aGtive purpose and you have even gone so far as to call for is active only to the degree of three­ result of the living Constitution of the · the raising of millions of dollars to purge thirty-eighths of the whole, which is less United States was very adequately de- we Members who do not jump through than 8 percent. Suppgse our fighting 1944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1029 forces' loyalty and aetiv.ity were .as weak .soldiers' -vote hlll. lt ls the unanimous opin­ wllicll· this legislation should be passed. .as yours-suppose it was exercised only_ ion of DUr ,aftlllatea organizations :that the but because that rule constituted the 8 percent ·Of its full force. .right .of full .sulferage be ex:tended to every and man and woman in tbe armed .forces .and in usual orderly method for the con­ Let us see again how sincere yow po­ the maritime ..service. sideration of legislation of this type by sition is: An act of Congress .sent tbose The action of the United states Senate 1n the House. 1 believe that the Worley between the· ages of 18 and 21 to the pa$1ng the Eastland subs~tute to the sol­ bill .should be amended so as to remove .smoking battlefields of horro.r and death diers'-vote bill is as horcible a travesty upon the constitutional objections which with the same force and as totally wtth­ All the principles far which this country is some of us entertain in the utmost good ur armed services cf our armed forces. The love of their dl.ers'-vote bill and still .claim he is wh.ole­ in too general election, but for the .exer­ parents is just as strong and saered, heartedly in favor of prosecuting the war cise by them of their rights under the they fight shoulder to shoulder with those against the Axis to a successful eonclusion. absentee balk>ting laws of 44 States to above 21, they sleep in the same fox holes, Surely we are not fighting this war to participate in primary elections, which die the same horrible death; yet you, the perpetuate the rights .of a few .Sta~ to dis­ in many .sections of the country, not criminate against part or a majority of their self-anointed benefa.ctors of those in ~onfined people in the right to vote. Sut"ely the men alone to the South, constitute service, willfully and affirmatively dis­ 1n the armed forces and the maritime ,serv­ tile real elections. In my S~ate, and I franchise this g.reat body af m.1r fighting ices are not fighting thls war as mercenary think in some sectiDns of the North, forces. If this Congress can legally enact soldiers at $50 a month, who upon -receipt where the Republican Party is predomi­ into law your bill, then it can legally in­ Of payment 'SUrrender their right to partici­ nant, the election occurs in the primary clude those patriots between the ages of pate in national elections. and any bill which fails to make ade­ 18 and 21. Do y,ou feel that y.ou have The .senate vote on ·the Eastland substitute quate provision for cooperation on the practiced a fraud on this great body of 1s a powerful weapon gratuitously presented part of the responsible Faderal authQri­ our fighting forces a.s a clas.s in denying to the AKis agents thro'Ughout the world. ties with State election officials .in pro­ They will use it to good effect. T<> the op~ them the right .of suiirage by your bill? pressed nations, upon whom we are calling viding a methncernea over the .outcome of the my views with regard to the form in reenact them. I want to vote for a bill 1030 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 1 which will leave to state and local elec­ procedure, shall be transmitted free of post­ So I suggest. in addition to the other tion officials the discharge of their con­ age, including air-mail postage, in the United things recommended in the bill, that we stitutional functions. I shall offer at the States mails. The Secretaries ·of War and recommend that the States make a list · ·Navy, and the Administrator of the 'war Ship­ of all potential voters in the armed appropriate time an amendment to the ping Ad~inistration, shall take all steps nec­ Worley substitute which would strike out essary to give to the transmission and delivery services and maintain a check between the language on page 10. · I also propose of ~uch applications, post cards, ballotS, the county election offices and the to offer certain other amendments. The envelopes, and instructions for voting pro­ county offices for selective service and most important of these is one which in cedure priority over all 'unofficial communica­ tally off the names of those who, on their my judgment will insure the rights of tions and priority ove·r onicial communica­ own initiative, have applied for ballots; .the soldiers to participate in State pri­ tions except where, in the judgment of the and that then on or about the lOth of appropriate military and naval authorities, maries or at least assure that the respon­ such priority would interfere with the effec­ ·September, which would be some 5 days sible authorities of the Federal Govern­ tive prosecution of the war. Ballots cast more than the 45 necessary for mail to ment, of the War and Navy Departments, outside the United States shall, wherever go and come ·bacl{, that the States, of .and the War Shipping Administration, ·practicable and compatible with military their own initiative, thro'Ugh county elec­ shall cooperate with the State election operations, be transmitted. by air." tion authorities, mail a ballot to every officials in the transmittal to those sol­ · Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. _Chairman, I man overseas whose name has not been diers of primary ballots and of applica­ yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from checked off. tions for registration, and of applications South "Dakota [Mr. CASE]. The War Department tells me it would for ballots and in the return of ballots ·work quite a hardship on them to check so that these men may have a chance to Mr. CASE~ Mr. Chail;man, sometime ago, one Sunday evening I think it was, the addresses, so the sugg~stion is that vote in the only elections of real impor- the current ·address be obtained from . tance in my State and in many other . I heard a debate over the radio on this subject between the gentleman from the next of kin who know the latest ad­ sections of the country. · dress of the soldier or sailor. Conse­ The soldiers from Georgia ·would be . Oregon [Mr. ELLSWORTH] and the gentle­ man from Texas [Mr. WoRLEY]. I was quently the suggestion is that the county granted little of importance if they were . election officials tallying these applica­ granted only the right to participate in impressed that night with the evident sincerity and with the· evident study tions, 50 days before the election, get the the general election after all of the State addresses from the next ·of :kin of the · officials had already been nained as well these gen~lemen had given this question. I have been impressed again today as the boys who have .not applied for ballots, as the candidates for Congress on the · mail ballots to them, and include a re­ Democratic ticket. I want these men and several member~ of the committee and .otpers have spokeq on this subject, im­ turn envelope on.which should be printed women to have a chance to vote for or the application for the· absentee ballot against me and for or against my col­ pressed with their sense of fairness and by the evident sincerity with which they and the affidavit that the ballot is league~ who may ·be candidates for re- marked by the soldier-voter himself. . election in the primaries of my State · were approaching the subject. : . I think that every Member of this body When the soldier sends the ballot back which will determine the question of who · ~n that . envelope, automatically the is to represent them in the Seventy-ninth 1s approaching this question in the same . way. He wants the soldiers to vote and Judges of the election have the applica­ Congress. · tion for the ballot in their hands prior The CHAIRMAN. ' The time of the he does not want them merely to mark a piece of paper and then have a ques- to the receipt of the ballot, because it is gentleman from Georgia has expired. printed on the outside of the return en- Mr. TARVER. I ask unanimous con­ ' tion of legality or constitutionality or validity of that vote raised when it comes . velope. They would check the eligibility sent, Mr. Chairman, to revise and extend of the voter before seeing how the ballot my own remarks. I shall later in the back. He wants that vote to be counted· and, of course, it would be a fraud if . is marked. Automatically the applica­ · House ask permission to insert in the tion would be in the hands of judges REcCRD these amendments to which I something were placed in his hands that he was to mark which could not be before they saw the baliot, before they have referred, and I request that . the counted it, before they even opened the Members of the House read these ame·nd­ counted when _it came back. So I· want . to be sure. that we do everything we can envelope containing it. It could be chal­ m~nts in tomorrow's RECORD. lenged if there was a question as to the The CHAIRMAN. Without objection do to give the men a valid ballot. t have discussed one amendment with right of a particular individual to vote· it is s:> ordered. · ' it could be set aside if it were challenged'. T.here was no objection. a few Members that. personally I wouid The amendments to be offered by the like to see adopted and which would lend But .there would be no question about gentleman from Georgia [Mr. TARVER] to encouragement to the placing of a valid the. validity or the constitutionality of : the Worley substitute· are as follows: . ballot in the hands of every soldier, make s~ch a ballot; i~ would have been pro­ it a little more pos~tive. I like the sug­ VIded by the State; there would be no Amend Worley substitute by inserting after coercion by the Federal Government. the word "above", in line 3 on page 5, the gestion that has been worked out in the words "nor by any other ballot." · State of Wisconsin, I may say to the gen- We would say to the States however Amend the Worley substitute as follows: . tleman from Wisconsin [Mr. K;EEFE], be­ that if they adopt this proced~re we giv~ On page 10, line 21, after the word "States" fore me by which ,they propose to see them all the benefits of free transporta­ strike the comma, insert a period, and strike that a ballot is placed in the hands of tion, priorities, and th~ other advantages all of the following language down through every soldier and sailor of that State who proposed by th~ bill and we would have the period in line 24. is overseas. made it possible to put a valid ballot Amend Worley substitute by adding, after KEEFE. Mr. Chairman, will the a total ballot, in the hands of every line 4, page 16, a new section, as follows: Mr. ~an Qr woman overseas. "SEc 24. (a) It shall, wherever practicable gentleman yield? and compatible with military operations, be Mr. CASE. . I yield very briefly. Mr. Chairman, under peimission ob­ the duty of the Secretary of War, the Secre­ Mr. KEEFE. May I say to the · gentle~ tained in the House, I place in the RECORD tary of the Navy, and the Administrator of man from South Dakota that the legis­ at this point the following suggestion of the War Shipping Administration, respec­ lature of the State of Wisconsin has gone the text that could be printed on the out­ tively, to cooperate with appropriate State so far as to provjde for the prepayment of side of the return envelope proposed in . officers and agencies in transmitting to and my remarks: from persons to whom this act is applicable, air-mail postage on letters going out and · making application therefor to their several coming back to. insure their deliv~ry. In a box at the left of the envelope, St~tes_. such applications for registration, ap- Mr. CASE. That is fine. Now, the bill carry some such application for ballot . pllcat10ns for ballots, absentee ballots, and before us provides for free. transportation ,and affidavit of voting as follows: - envelopes to be used in connection therewith, in the mails and also provides for the APPLICATION AND AFFIDAVIT as may be provided under the laws of the use of air mail in the transportation of several States for the use of such applicants, ballots when practicable, but the.bill does I hereby apply for an absentee ballot and either in primary or general elections, and to the right to cast my vote in the general cooperate in the execution by such applicants not ask other States to go as far as Wis­ election of 1944. To the best of my knowl­ of oaths in connection with such ballots. consin has in providing that ballots be edge and belief, I am a legally qualified voter "(b) Such post cards, applications, ballots addressed to the soldiers whose appli- of ------County, State of ------• and my a.nd en nlopes, and instructions for voting cations are not received. - residence is ------· l944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1031 I hereby certify that my ballot will be Mr. RANKIN. I may say_ in reply to There are honest differences of opinion marked by myself alone and that this ballot . the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. HAL­ is being marked of my own free will and' between some of us here as to the best accord for candidates of my choice without LECK], that the Legislature of Mississippi method bY . which this purpose may be any inducement or promise of reward. is now in session. I have a copy of the accomplished. There are two schools of (Signed) ------­ bill they are now passing. We are go­ thought, or two beliefs, as to the best Subscribed and sworn to before me this ing to see that the ballot gets to every' way soldier voting can be conducted. ------day of ------· 1944. qualified soldier voter from Mississippi. Some believe our fighting forces should · Mr. BROWN of Ohio: Mr. Chairman, be furnished with a new type of ballot­ (Officer authorized to administer oaths.) before coming to Congress I served for a short Federal ballot-which will give At the right in the normal position for many years as chief election officer for only the opportunity to vote for Presi­ addresses, the envelope should carry a the State of Ohio. I enjoyed a longer dent, Vice President, United States Sen­ proper return address, addressed by the tenure in that particular office than any ator, and Representative in Congress, election ofiicials to insure its return to other individual in the history of my under the direction and control of Fed­ the proper precinct. Below the address State. It was during my administration eral officials. Others of us believe our it would be appropriate to carry the that the new Ohio election code, which fighting sons and daughters shouid be following: has since been used as a model by many permitted to vote a regular State ballot, (Notice to election officials: This envelope of the other States of the Union, was which contains not only the names of is not to be opened unless the application written and made effective. the candidates for national office, but at the left is accepted as evidence of the ap­ Ohio was also one of the pioneer Stat.es likewise those of the candidates for State plicant's right to cast a ballot and have it in providing for absentee voting. In the and local offices. So the real question counted. In case that is challenged, this 1942 elections the sons and daughters of before us, and the one we must decide, envelope should not be opened, but Ehou:d Ohio serving in the armed forces cast ,is the short abbreviated Federal ballot be kept carefully until the challenge is set­ more absentee ballots than the service versus the complete State ballot. Or, to tled and appropriate action is decided upon.) men and women of any other State. In make the issue more clear, let me state Such a procedure, Mr. Chairman, fact, more than one-fourth of the total the question in another way: Shall those would eliminate the time consumed in number of absentee ballots cast by all Americans serving in the armed forces getting an application from the man or our fighting forces in the 1942 election be permitted to vote only for President, woman oversear:;, and would place in his were tallied and counted in Ohio. Vice President, Senator, and Represent­ or her hands p, ballot of unquestioned For these reasons, and because of my ative in Congress, or shall they be per­ validity that would be counted when it sincere conviction that those who fight mitted, like civilian Americans at home. returned. for their country in its hour of peril are to vote for every candidate for public The CHAIRMAN. The time of the entitled to the opportunity to vote, I wish office, from President down to coroner? gentleman from South Dal{ota has ex­ to discuss the legislation now before us. The proposed short Federal ballot is pired. Like our President, I am an interested something new. It has never been used M r . WORLEY. Mr. Chairman, may I citizen. I am also vitally and intensely before in America. There is a real con­ inquire how the time stands? interested in seeing to it that every one stitutional question as to the legality of The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman of Amer:ca's defenders is given the op­ such a ballot. Those who favor it have, from .Texas has 1 hour and 13 minutes portunity to vote a real American ballot of course, attempted to lightly brush remaining; the gentleman from Iowa has in a real American way. I believe in the aside this question of constitu·tionality. 1 hour and 4 minutes remaining. soldier voting, but I am opposed to any­ That is not unusual, for many of the Mr. LECOMPTE. Mr. Chairman, I one voting the soldier. champions of the Federal ballot idea yield 20 minutes to the gentleman from Never in all of my 30 years of public have too often in the past demonstrated Ohio [Mr. BROWN]. life have I known any issue so misrepre­ their disregard-if not their disrespect­ Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Chair­ sented and so misunderstood as the sol­ for the Constitution. Yet we who serve man-- diers' vote question. Much of this mis­ here, under an oath to support and de­ Mr. HALLECK. Mr. Chairman, will · representation and misunderstanding fend that Constitution, cannot and must the gentleman yield that I may mal{e a springs from ignorance of the subject, not disregard or disrespect it. Neither brief observation and announcement? but far too great a portion of it seems should we forget that the very men and· Mr. BROWN of Ohio. I yield. a purposeful plan to confuse and mis­ women in whose interests we are con­ Mr. HALLECK. Mr. Chairman, Ire­ lead our fighting forces and the public. sidering this legislation are fighting and ferred in my talk to various telegrams So I believe it is time that we get down dying to protect and preserve the Con­ that had come in from the Governors of to sound common sense and fundamen­ stitution and the representative form States indicating the desire and intention tals in considering this legislation. of government builded here in America of the States to facilitate soldier voting. We should be able to agree here on upon its solid foundation. Whether you I have just learned that those telegrams these two premises: First, that the men agree as to the constitutional right of now numbering close to 40 will be in­ and women in our armed services should this Congress to provide for this new serted in the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD this not only have the right to vote, but type of Federal ballot, every fair-minded evening. I suggest that anyone who has should also be given every possible op­ man and woman in this body must admit any doubt about what the States are portunity to vote. Second, that the Con­ there is a grave question if the various ready and willing to do and will do in re­ gress of the United States, and every States can be required to accept and spect of sckliers' voting take a look at Member of it, along with all other right­ count a Federal ballot which is so differ­ the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD in the morn­ thinL:ing Americans, are desirous that rent from the one provided by any State ing. those in our fighting forces be given the law. If such a Federal ballot is adopted, Mr. VORYS of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, and is later held to be illegal and uncon­ will the gentleman yield? right and opportunity of franchise. Of course, there are some who are so stitutional, then the election of the Presi­ Mr. HALLECK. I yield. dent and Vice President of the United Mr. VORYS of Ohio. I wish merely to politically minded as to hope to gain partisan advantage from the type and States, and of every Member of C~mgress, call the attention of the House to the will be placed in question and in fact that my colleague, the gentleman kind of legislation we enact here. To from Ohio, who now has the floor, has those individuals I can only point the jeopardy, and the affairs of the Nation served with great distinction as secretary finger of scorn. They are unworthy of will be thrown into turmoil and chaos. of state of Ohio, in the past, the chief this Republic and the flag for which That, my colleagues, is the inherent election officer of an important State; our men are fighting and dying. Let it weakness of the Federal ballot plan. and, therefore, his _views on this bill come be written in America's legislative his­ Can we risk the dangers its adoption .from a man who really knows what he is tory that the end purpose of all of us involves? talking about; they come from an au­ who serve here in the Congress is the But there is another fatal weakness in thority. same-to give American fighting men the Federal ballot that we should con­ Mr. RANKIN. Mr. Chairman, will the . and women every opportunity to vote, sider. Remember, please, the Federal gentleman yield? and to participate in the democracy they ballot will not carry the printed names Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Briefly., are sacrificing to save. · of any of the candidates for the Senate 1032 / CONGRESSIONAL RECORD_:_HOUSE FEBRUARY 1 or the House, and probably not for Presi­ On the other hand, if the State ballot little larger State ballot by the same dent and Vice President. Instead only plan is used, it will be necessary for many · methods to the same persons. The only blank spaces will be provided. where the States to amend their laws so as to ad­ real difference would be in the weight soldier voter may write in the names of vance the date by which their State bal­ and in the size of the ballots, with the those for whom he wishes to vote. Of lots must be printed and ready for dis­ possible exception of a slight increase of course, the ballot will give him an oppor­ tribution. Some States may have to le­ effort here in the United States in gath­ tunity to vote either Democratic or Re .. galize the Federal post-card application ering and preparing. the vari0us State publican, but without even knowing who for a soldier b&:llot. A few others-and -ballots for delivery overseas. The actual the party candidates may be. I ask you, only a few-will also have to advance the transportation of the ballots overseas, is that a good voting procedure?, Is it date of their primaries. In a small num­ -the voting, delivery back home, and dis­ conducive to a: wise choice of representa­ ber of States absentee voting must be tribution to the various States and votfng tion in the Congress of the United States? authorized. A few States, because of pro­ precincts, would be exactly the same. · The average man or woman serving hibitory constitutional provisions, may Some of the opponents of the State overseas will have little or no opportunity ·find it impossible to receive and count ballot plan are going a long way in their to know who the candidate for the House any ballots, either Federal or State, ·cast endeavor to defeat it. They are using and Senate may be. If they remember by absentees. So it must be agreed State such shameful tactics as threatening our the names of anyone in connection with laws in many instances must be changed fighting men and their families with a a Congressional office it will be the names regardless of the plan or type of ballot suspension of mail delivery to and from of those of us who are now ·serving here_: adopted. the battle fronts if the State ballot plan is your name and mine.· Certainly they will It is contended by opponents of the adopted. They go so far as to say the use not recall, or even know in · most in­ State ballot plan that the various States of State ballots would mean our soldiers stances, the names of our opponents. So, will not cooperate with the Federal Gov­ and sailors would have all of 'their mail if this Federal ballot plan is written into ernment in getting State ballots to sol­ from home-their letters ·from mothers, law, you and I will be accused of adopt­ dier voters. I deny this. I do not know fathers, wives, and ~ sweethearts-sus­ ing legislation that gives us an unfair ad­ of a single State in the Union that do.es pended or delayed for many weeks. My vantage over our opponents. No one can not stand ready and willing to cha~ 1 ge answer is, "Shame." The gentlemen who deny that those of us who have short and its laws in any way that may be. neces­ have used this argument should· apolo­ easily remembered names, like Brown or sary to make State ballot use for soldier gize for it. Let-me answer such a ridicu­ Smith, or Jones, or Johnson, or have voting both possible and workable. I lous claim ·by calling your attention .to names which have been much in the challenge anyone here to furnish infor­ the simple fact that more · than 14,000 public print, such as RAYBURN, McCoR­ mation to the contrary. Let those who tons of Christmas packages for ·overseas MACK, MARTIN, SABATH, BLOOM, WORLEY, or byinnuendo slander the patriotism of the troops were cleared through the New FisH, will have an additional advantage. indi-vidual States stand on this floor and York post office alone in a few weeks last Oh, I know, we have been promised, if name such States, making their charges autumn, wh:lle the letters to and from we. will adopt this Federal ballot. with the specific. Then let the Representatives home ·went through just-the same. blank spaces on it, that the names of from those accused States answer in the Let us stop and consider what this ·all candidates for Congress, and perhaps · name of their commonwealths. transportation problem as ·to ballots also for the Presidency, will be radioed No, ladies and gentlemen, it is easy really is. The weight of the average all over the world to our troops on for­ to make general charges against the State general election ballot is approxi­ eign shores, and that they ·will be kept States-but it is not easy to sustain any mately 1 ounce, not the 3 ounces. claimed informed as to political developments . specific charge against any specific by one of our high Federal officials, who here on the home front. That promise, State. ·The claim that the States of the has never had a single day's experience in ·my friends, carries with it one of the Union wlll not cooperate is, to me, just practical election matters. Ballots from -real, if h~dden, dangers contained in the another bit of campaign oratory. In­ the larg.e cities, where many candidates ·Federal b~llot plan. How and by whom stead, the States are anxiously waiting are listed, may weigh slightly more, while will this information be furnished, I .ask? for us here in the Congress to decide the those from the smaller communities will The obvious answer is, of course, by and means and methods to be followed in weigh much less. But the weight of the through a series of fireside chats-pre­ soldier voting, so they in turn may co­ average general-election ballot will be sumably by an interested citizen. Re­ operate to the fullest in giving their fight­ approximately 1 ounce. Let us add to ·meniber, when your name is printed on a ing sons and daughters the full right of this another half ounce for the envelope, ballot along with that of your opponent franchise in a legal and constitutional which will make the State ballot and en·­ you !mow you have· a fair show for your way. . velope to be sent our men and women white alley. But when you depend upon We have heard much from the pro­ overseas for the 1944 election weigh an others just to mention your name as a · ponents of the Federal ballot plan that average of 1% ounces. The President. candidate, well, it is altogether possible it will be a practical impossibility to get tells us we will have 5,000,000 men and they might mispronounce it, or even en­ a State Qr any other kind of a ballot, ·women 'overseas by November 1944. Five tirely forget it and not mention it at all. except the· short Federal ballot, to sol­ million ballots weighing 1% ounces each Who can tell? · dier voters on f0reign soil and back again equals 468,750 pounds, or 234% tons. Let It is claimed the use of State ballots in time for counting in the riext gen­ us make the total weight 240 tons, to be for overseas voting will prove cumber­ eral election. They say it will be easy liberal. And then let us remember there ·some and unworkable, and will require to distribute, vote, return, and count the is not a single fighting front..anywhere in the changing of many State laws. Let so-called bobtailed Federal ballot, but the world more than 90 hours away f1'om ·me answer that argument by saying a gigantic and even impossible task to do the United States by air. Only a few are frankly that regardless of which ballot the same thing with State ballots. Most anything like that far. plan is ·adopted-Federal or State-the of these individuals have always been Informed colleagues here in Congress, .laws of probably every State in the Union quick to espouse and champion every pro­ as well as other air experts, tell me the will have to undergo some change to meet gram and policy of the New Deal, not average general cargo plane can and will the new and unusual situation ·which J only as to our fighting forces, but on carry 8 tons of freight. This would mean confronts us. Certainly you will agree, the home front as well. They have al­ only 30 cargo planes would be required even if the short Federal ballot is de­ ways been quick to put their stamp of to transport all of such State. ballots to clared constitutional and legal, the va­ approval on that which their superiors our overseas forces and back again, mak- · rious States of the Union will have to desire, just as they have been quick to ing only 1 round trip per plane. Of amend their laws to. permit such ballots explain or to apologize for the failures course, if each plane could make 2 to be accepted and counted within the ·of the New Deal. But, while we are not round trips, or more, then the number States, to waive registration require­ overly impressed by their claims, let us needed would be reduced in direct ratio. ments and other restricti9ns, and to ab.­ consider them. We proudly-boast that in 1943, here in rogate or repeal present State laws pro­ Explain to me, if you can, please, why, the United States, . we manufactured hibiting and making it a crime for local .if you can del~ver .a short bobtailed Fed­ some 89,000 -planes. : We insist that in election officials to count any ballots eral ballot to four or five million men and 1944 our plane production will reach and other ·than official State ballots. women overseas, you cannot deliver a pass the 120,000 marie Do you not be- .. 1944 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE 1033 lieve, ladies and gentlemen, it might be tons of ballots to our fighting men, and Page 9, line 17, after the ,word "waterways" possible to spare 30 planes out of all this thus guarantee to them the right to vote strike out the period and insert a semicolon number for 1 week's time to transport for every candidate on the ballot. Two and the word "and", and after line 17 insert ballots to and from our fighting forces­ hundred and fifty tons of pure democracy. the following new subsection: "(3) the term 'State' includes the Terri­ if it should be necessary? Yet, because those in power claim they tories of Alaska and Hawaii." Just a day or so ago I read a press dis':" cannot transport those vital 250 tons, patch from the west coast telling that in we here in Congress are being asked to Mr. LECOMPTE. Mr. Chairman, I one of the great plane factories of that pass a law which may be-and probably yield such time as he may desire to the area there are being constructed today is-unconstitutional. We are being asked gentleman from Kansas [Mr. ScRIVNER],. several gigantic superplanes for the use to restrict the voting rights of the men Mr. SCRIVNER. Mr. Chairman, 25 of high American officials-one for our and women who are keeping democracy years ago nearly 200 Members of this Commander in Chief, who can undoubt­ and representative government alive to­ body were members of the armed forces edly use the most modern of planes for day. Can you believe it? Will the coun­ in World War No. 1. Many of us were , his many travels; another for our Sec­ try believe it? That this great Nation of overseas. We were concerned only with retary of the Navy; and more for other ours cannot find the way to deliver 250 one thing-winning the war and getting high dignitaries, all with offices, bed­ tons of pure American democracy-when home. We never even knew an election rooms, and bath, built in. Perhaps these we have been able to easily find the means was being held in November 1918. gentlemen may be ready and willing to to transport hundreds, yea thousands, of History, I am sure, is now repeating forego their usual travels for a week or tons of propaganda to our troops and itself and that our forces have only that so just before election· time so as to to others in foreign lands. same desire-to win the war and get permit these planes to be used for trans­ In a message read from that rostrum home. porting ballots to and from the fighting a few days ago the cry of fraud was raised In recent days, without making my fronts. Yes; it is entirely. possible these in connection with this legislation. Let identity known, I have talked to over 100 officials may be so ·busy here on the home me say to you, Mr. Speaker, if there is soldiers from buck private to colonel, front, just before next November's vot­ any fraud connected with this legislation, and sailors too, about th~ soldiers' bill. ing, they will not need or use their planes the perpetrators will be those who are Not one expressed any concern about for foreign travel, which thus can be endeavoring, through the adoption of a their voting privilege. But many did made available for ballot deliveries. Federal ballot, to take the vote from the express great concern over the fact that Then, too, of course, if the situation very cream of our American manhood and after long absence from home they are becomes too serious, it may even ·be pos­ womanhood-those who are fighting and allowed only 5 gallons of gasoline while sible to persuade our most noted feminine dying for this Nation-taking away their on furlough. traveler to remain quietly at home for right to vote for all their public officials, In the past 17 years I have had the a few days while her plane, and those and instead are offering to them a make­ pleasure of giving military training to used for her escort and protection, are shift un-American ballot of questionable approximately 3,000 young Americans. I put to the job of carrying ballots to legality in the hope that some political regularly correspond with nearly 100 of our fighting men and women. advantage may be gained therefrom. these men, at home and abroad, in 15 And, as a last resort, perhaps we can Those who in' former years builded their different countries. get our old friend, Leon Henderson, to power on the suffering and misery of our It is quite a surprise to me to hear so use a train instead of a plane in getting people now wish to maintain and con­ much clamor on the floor of this House to and from his New Jersey voting place, tinue. it at the expense of the ones who when not one, not a single one, has ever and thus by his sacrifice help a few fight the Nation's battles in its hour -of expressed any grave concern over the thousand additional American dough­ greatest peril. And they }1ave the temer­ fact that they might not be able to vote boys .to enjoy their right of citizenship. ity and the gall to raise the cry of "fraud" this fall due to their absence from home. Of course, our common sense tells us to distract attention from their ·own This lack of concern of these men is it ....will not be nece3sary to use planes to Machiavellian plans. demonstrated and conclusively proven transport all, or even a major portion, of I say to you-as one American sitting by the light soldier vote cast in 1942, as the ballots used in overseas voting. How in the American Congress-! expect to mentioned earlier today by the gentle­ difficult do you think it will be to deliver cast my vote for the bill that will give man from Massachusetts [Mr. McCoR­ ballots to the armed services in Alaska, to all the men and women who so proudly MACK]. or Panama, or Bermuda, or Trinidad, wear the American uniform the same For my part, I am sure the compar­ or South America? How long do you right to vote and the same kind of a atively few members of the armed forces think it will take,. or how difficult do you ballot that I enjoy myself. · who are desirous of voting want to vote think it will be, to deliver and return To do less will be to fail them-to fail for local as well as Federal officials; the ballots of our soldiers and sailors the constituents I serve, the Constitu­ they want to vote the whole ballot from in Hawaii, ·or Iceland, or England, or tion I am sworn to defend, and the Na­ top to bottom, on a ballot, the legality of Africa, for that matter, by ship? Only tion I love. which cannot be questioned. ·a small percentage of the ballots would Mr. LECOMPTE. Mr. Chairman, I I want them to have that right if they have to be flown into the fighting areas yield such time as he may desire to the by plane. Most of them you and I want to exercise it. Delegate from Hawaii [Mr. FARRINGTON]. In short, I favor and shall support know-for our common sense tells us­ Mr. FARRINGTON. Mr. Chairman, I can be easily delivered, voted, and re­ S. 1285, and the ideas therein set out, should like to present for the RECORD at so our soldiers, sailors, and marines may turned, within the time limit, by use of this time the text of an amendment I have the opportunity to vote a full legal ships. shall offer at the appropriate time tomor­ All of the State ballots required for ballot if they so desire. row, to extend the privileges of this meas­ Mr. WORLEY. Mr. Chairman, I move overseas voting-5,000,000 of them­ ure to the men in the service who have weigh only 250 tons. And still some of that tbe Committee do now rise. been drawn from the Territories. This The motion was agreed to. our so-called leaders insist that America, amendment does not permit the citizens with all her ships and planes and in­ Accordingly the Committee rose; and of the Territories to vote for President, the Speaker having resumed the chair, genuity, cannot possibly transport 250 Vice President, or Senator, for that is not tons of ballots to the men and women Mr. CooPER, Chairman of the Committee who are fighting and sacrificing and their right, but it does reserve to them of the Whole House on the state of the dying that democracy may live. the right to vote for their own Delegate Union, reported that the Committee Two hundred and fifty tons of democ­ in Congress and the officials of their having had under consideration the bill racy for each and every one of those Territories. · (S. 1285) to amend the act of September balldts is a part of the substance of which Insofar as it was the Territories which 16, 1942, which provided a method of democracy is made. Just stop and think felt the first shock of this war, Mr. Chair­ voting, in time of war, by members of the of it a moment. We are asked to believe man, it seems to me only fair that this land and naval forces absent from the our Government cannot easily transport privilege be extend~d to them. place of their residence, and for other and distribute 250 tons of ,state ballots. The amendment I shall offer is as fol­ purposes, pursuant to House Resolution That we cannot find a way to get 250 lows: . 412, had come to no resolution thereon. •

1034 CONGRESSIONAL ·RECORD-HOUSE FEBRUARY 1 Mr. WORLEY. Mr. Speaker, in view ballot to every ·voter serving in the armed continued ·on Wednesday, February 2, of the fact that this is a rather impor­ forces of the United States or in the mer­ 1944, at 10:30 a. m. chant marine of the United States, or serv­ tant subject and that there are a num­ ing in the American Red Cross, the Society There will be a meeting of the Commit­ ber of Members on this side, those for the of Friends, the Women's Auxiliary Service tee on the Public Lands .at 10:30 .a. m., bill S. 1285 as well as those against it, Pilots, or the United Service Organizations Monday, February 14, 1944, to consider who have not yet had an opportunity to outside the United States and attached to and ·H. R. 1688, a bill relating to the adminis­ speak in general debate-and I under­ serving with the armed forces of the United trative jurisdiction of certain public stand the same situation obtains on the States. If an application is necessary then." lands in the State of Oregon, also the other side-I ask unanimous consent EXTENSION OF REMARKS companion bill, S. 275, and such other that general debate on that bill be ex­ matters as may properly come before the tended 80 minutes, one-half to be con­ Mr. FORAND. Mr. Speaker, I ask committee. trolleq by the gentleman from Iowa and unanimous consent to extend my· re­ marks and include a brief article written COMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZA­ one-half by me. · TION The SPEAKER. Is there objection to by Richmond Carpenter reciting briefly the request of the gentleman from the history of the war ballot in Rhode The Committee on Immigration and Texas? Island in 1918. Naturalization will hold hearings at There was no objection. The SPEAKER. Is there objection? 10:30 a. m., on Wednesday, February 2, There was no objection. 1944, on private bills and unfinished EXTE!'lSION OF REMARKS Mr. GIBSON. Mr. Speaker, I . ask business. Mr. TARVER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted COMMITTEE ON PU!JLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS unanimous consent to revise and extend to extend the remarks I made this after­ There will be a meeting of the Com­ the remarks I made today in the Com­ noon by including a letter I received mittee on Public Buildings and Grounds mittee of the Whole and include therein from Lewis Goldblatt, secretary and at 10 a.m., on Wednesday, February 2, certain amendments I intend to offer to treasurer of the International Long­ 1944, in the caucus room of the Old House the Worley substitute. shoremen and Warehousemen's Union. Office Building, for the consideration of The SPEAKER. Is there objection to The SPEAKER. Is there objection? post-war planning. the request of the gentleman . from There was no objection. Georgia? COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unani­ COMMERCE There was no objection. mous consent to revise and extend the Mr. KEEFE. Mr. Speaker, I ask remarks I made this afternoon and in­ There will be a meeting of the Public unanimous consent to extend my own . elude a suggested form for the return Health Subcommittee of the Committee remarks in the RECORD and include envelope for the absentee ballot. on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, at t~1erein chapter 567 of the laws of 1943 The SPEAKER. Is t.here objection? 10 a. m., Wednesday, February 2, 1944. of the State of Wisconsin, which is There was no objection. Business to be considered: S. 1633- and soldier-vote legislation passed unani­ H. R. 4002 relating to amendments to the LEAVE OF ABSENCE mously by both the Senate and the f' Nurses Training Act. Assembly of the Wisconsin Legislature, By unanimous consent leave of ab­ COMMI'ITEE ON THE MERCHANT MARINE AND and also the joint resolution unani­ sence was granted as follows: FISHERIES_ mously adopted by the members of the To Mr. BRADLEY of Michigan (at the The Committee on ·the Merchant Ma­ Legislature of the State of Wisconsin request of Mr. MICHENER), indefinitely, rine and Fisheries will hold a public hear­ pertaining to this legislation, for the in­ on account of i1lness. ing on Thursday, February 3, 1944, at formation of the House. To Mr. JoNKMAN Missouri River and tribu­ calendar, as follows: H. R: 4106. A bill for the relief of Mrs. Eliz­ taries at the Kansas Citys, Mo. and Kans.; Mr. COCHRAN: Committee on Accounts. abeth M. Andresen; to the Committee on Nishnabotna River, Iowa and Mo. House Resolution 407. Resolution to pro­ Claims. 4. Tuesday, February 8: General Reybold, vide for expenses of investigation authorized By Mr. PLOESER: Gen-eral Robins, Colonel Goethals, other rep­ by House Resolution 406; without amend­ H. R. 4107. A bill for the relief of the Stiers resentatives of the Office of Chief of Engi­ ment (Rept. No. 1049). Referred to the Bros., Construction Co.; to the Committee on Claims. neers, and proponents and opponents of proj­ House Ca1.endar. ects in the Los Angeles area along the Sacra­ Mr. RANDOLPH: Committee on the Dis­ mento River and tributaries and along the trict of Columbia. H. R. 4059. A bill to PETITIONS, ETC. San Joaquin River and tributaries. amend an act entitled "An act to empower 5. Wednesday, February 9: General Rey­ Under clause 1 of rule XXII, petitions the Commissioners of the District of Co­ and papers were laid on the Clerl{'S desk bold, General Robins, Colonel Goethals, other lumbia to convey land" (approved April 28, representatives of the Office of Chief of Engi­ 1922); without amendment (Rept. No. 1050). and referred as follows: ne3rs, and the Director of the Bureau of Referred to the Committee of the Whole 4641. By Mr. FITZPATRICK: Petition Reclamation, and proponents and opponents House on the state of the Union. signed by members of the Parkchester Con­ of projects alqng the Kern River and tribu­ gress of Industrial Organizations Council, taries in the Kern River area and along the Mr. CELLER: Committee on the Judiciary. Kings River area and tributaries in the Kings H. R. 2985. A bill to provide for the gar­ Bronx County, N. Y., urging the passage of River area, and including other streams in nishment, execution, or trustee process of the soldiers' vote · bill, which will allow the the San Joaquin Valley. wages and salaries of civil officers and em­ Federal Government to make it easily pos­ 6. Thursday, February 10: Continuation ployees of the United States; with amend­ sible for all men in the armed services to of the projects discussed on February 9. ments (Rept. No. 1051) . Referred _to the vote; to the Committee on Election of Presi­ 7. Friday, February 11: General Reybold, Committee of the Whole House on the state dent, Vice President, and Representatives in General Robins, Colonel Goethals, other rep­ of the Union. Congress. resentatives of the Office of Chief of Engi­ Mr. MAY: Committee on Military Af­ 4642. Also, petition signed by members of neers, and proponents and opponents of fairs. House Report No. 1052. Report on the lower sixth assembly district, Bronx projects in the upper and lower Ohio River the special mission by Aviat ion Subcommit­ County, N. Y., Congress of Industrial Organ­ and tributaries, including Salt River, Taylors­ tee of the Committee on Military Affairs; izations, Community Council; urging the pas­ ville, Ky., the Potomac River and tributanes, without amendment. Referred to the Com­ sage of the Green-Lucas soldiers vote bill; to the New England region, including the Con­ mittee of the Whole House. on the state of the Committee on Election of President, Vice necticut and Merrimac Rivers, and the Mid­ the Union. President, and Representatives in Congress. dle Atlantic region, including New York, 4643. By Mr. BRUMBAUGH: Petition of J. Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, and the South PUBLIC BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS . W. White, of Morrisdale, Pa., and 200 other Atlantic region, including rivers flowing into residents of the Twenty-third Congressional the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico east Under clause 3 of rule XXII, public District of .Pennsylvania and vicinity, pro­ of the Mississippi River. bills and resolutions were introduced and testfng against the consideration by Con­ 8. Tuesday, February 15: General Reybold, severally referred as follows: gress of the Bryson bill, H. R. 2082, or any General Robins, Colonel Goethals, other rep­ By Mr. MURRAY of Wisconsin: similar legislation; to the Committee on the resentatives of the Office of Chief of Engi­ H. R. 4102. A bill to extend for· 2 additional Judiciary, neers, Gen. M. C. Tyler, president of the years the reduced rates of interest on Federal 4644. By Mr. FORAND: Resolut ion of the Mississippi River Commission and division land bank and Land Bank Commissioner General Assembly of the State of Rhode Is­ engineer, and proponents and opponents of loans; to the Commit tee on Agriculture. land, petitioning the Senators and Repre­ projects along the lower Mississippi River and By Mr. ALLEN of Louisiana: sentatives of Rhode Island in the Congress tributaries, including the Red, Arkansas H. R. 4103. A bill to provide for loss of to attempt to secure the enact ment of legis­ Rivers, Conway County, Ark., and Purgatoire United States nat ionality under certain cir­ lation giving servicemen priority in the pur­ (Picket Wire) River, Colo., the White, St. cumstances; to the Committee on Immigra­ chase of surpluses created by the present war Francis, and Yazoo Rivers. · tion and Naturalization. and extending them credit to make such pur­ 9. Wednesday, February 16: General Rey­ By Mr. GORE: chases; to the Committee on Military Affairs. bold, General Robins, Colonel Goethals, ot her H. R. 4104. A bill to amend the Agricul­ 4645. By Mr. GRAHAM: Petition of 160 representatives of the Office of Chief of Engi­ tural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended, residents of the Twenty-sixth Congressional neers, Col. Miles Reber, former division engi­ for the purpose of further regulating inter­ District of Pennsylvania and vicinity, protest­ neer, Missouri River division, Omaha, Nebr., state and foreign commerce in tobacco, and ing ::-.gainst the enactment of any and all pro­ and proponents and opponents of projects for other purposes; to the Committee on hibition legislation; to the Committee on the along the Missouri River and tributaries. Agriculture. Judiciary. 10. Thursday, February 17: Continuation By Mr. DEWEY: 4646. By Mr. HAGEN: Petition of George of the projects discussed on February 16. H. J . Res. 226. Joint resolution to provide Drummond and Rudolph Faber, both of Per­ 11. Friday, February 18: General Reybold, for a central reconstruction fund to be used bam, and 19 other signers, protestin g against General Robins, Colonel Goethals, other rep­ in joint account with foreign governments the passage of the Bryson bill, H. R. 2082, or resentatives of the Office of Chief of Engi­ for rehabilitation, stabilizat ion of curren­ any similar bill; to the Committee on the neers, and proponents and opponents of cies, and reconstruction, and for other pur­ Judiciary. projects in other regions in the United States. poses; to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. 4647. By Mr. HEIDINGER: Communication 12. Tuesday, February 22: Representatives By Mr. LEA: signed by Ewing Lawrence, Helen W, Chester, of the Department of Agriculture, the H. J. Res. 227. Joint resolution extending Carrie K. Duncan, Ruby L. Humm, and Wilma Weather Bureau, Bureau of Reclamation, and the period !or the acquisition by the Rail­ other governmental agencies. Lawrence, school teachers, of Pope County, road Retirement Board of data needed in Til., urging the passage of House bill 2849; 13. Wednesday, February 23: Senators and carrying out the provisions of the Railroad Representatives in Congress. to the Committee on Education. · Retirement Acts; to the Committee on In­ 4648. By Mr. LUTHER A. JOHNSON:· Peti­ terstate and Foreign Commerce. tion of Mrs. J. I. Williams, secretary, Hill EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, ETC. County Federation of Women's Clubs, Hills­ Under clause 2 of rule XXIV, executive MEMORIALS boro, Tex., opposing House bill 2861; to the Committee on W~ys and Means. communications were taken from the Under clause 3 of rule XXII, memorials 4649. By Mr. LYNCH: Petition of the Con­ Speaker's table and referred as follows: were presented and referred as follows: gress of Industrial Organizations, urging 1142. A letter from the Commissioner, Fed- By the SPEAKER·: Memorial of the Legis­ speedy enactment of the Lucas-Green-Wor­ eral Home Loan Bank Administration, trans- lature of the State of Kentucky, memorializ:. ley soldier-vote bill; to the Committee on 1036 CONGRESSIONAL RE-CORD-SENATE FEBRUARY 2 Election of President, Vice President, and day, come down Thy secret stair to our PETITIONS Representatives in Congress. deepest needs. as one by one we open The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem­ 4650. By Mr. MOTT: Petition signed by our hearts to Thee. Amen. C. R. Aimes, of Hillsboro, Oreg., and 87 other pore laid before the Senate petitions, citizens of Washington County, Oreg., urg­ DESIGNATION OF ACTING PRESIDENT etc., which were referred as indicated: ing enactment of House bill 2082; to the PRO TEMPORE A resolution adopted by the Common Coihmittee on the Judiciary. A. Council of Detroit, Mich., favoring the enact­ 4651. By Mr. SCHIFFLER: Petition of The Secretary, Edwin Halsey, read ment of ·legislation providing a wartime Mayor Raphael P. Deegan and other citizens the followin~ letter: method of vot ing by members of the armed of Benwood, W. Va., urging the passage of WASHINqToN, D. C., February 2, 1944. forces; ordered to lie on the table. the G1·een-Lucas soldiers-vote bill, the sub­ To the Senate: The petition of the California Progressives, sidy bill, anti-poll-tax bill, socia:. -security bill, Being temporarily absent from the Senate, Los Angeles, Calif., praying for the enact­ tax bill, and favoring the small laboring I appoint Han. D. WoRTH CLARK, a Senator ment of legislation providing a wartime man; to the Committee on Election of Presi­ from the State of Idaho, to perform the method of voting by members of the armed dent, Vice President, and Representatives in duties of the Chair during my. absence. forces; ordered to lie on the table. Congress. CARTER GLASS, The petition of the California Progressives, 4652. By Mr. STEFAN: Petition of .Mrs. W. President pro tempore. Los Angeles, Calif.,. praying for the adoption F. Fayne and 81 citizens of Gresham, Bene­ of a consumer food-subsidy program; ordered dict, and Waco, Nebr., urging enactment of Mr. CLARK of Idaho thereupon took to lie on the table. House bill 2082; to the Committee . on the the chair as Acting President pro tem­ Judiciary. pore. WARTIME METHOD OF VOTING BY MEM­ 4653. By Mr. WADSWORTH: Petition of THE JOURNAL BERS OF THE ARMED FoRCE8-PETI­ TIONS FROM NEW JERSEY E. Kovalslci, of Rochester, N. Y., and others, On request of Mr. BARKLEY, and by protest ing against prohibition legislation; to Mr. WALSH of New Jersey. Mr. the Committee on the Judiciary. unanimous corlsent, the reading of the 4654. By Mr. WEISS: Petition protesting Journal ·of the proceedings of the cal­ President, I ask unanimous consent t6 against prohibition; to the Committee on the endar day Tuesday, February 1, 1944, present for appropriate reference and to Judiciary. was dispensed with, and the Journal was have notation thereof made in the REC­ 4655. Also,· petition protesting against pro­ approved. ORD that I have today.received petitions hibition; to the Committee on the Judiciary. from New Jersey citizens pra;ying for the 4656. By the SPEAKER: Petitipn of the MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIOENT enactment of the so-called Green-Lucas Order of Railroad Telegraphers, San Fran­ Messages in writing from the Presi­ soldiers' vote bill.. I am informed that cisco, Calif., petitioning conl'!ideration of their resolution with reference to freezing to jobs dent of the United States submitting th-e petitions are signed by 25,000 per­ and the purchasing power of wages; to the nominations were communicated to the sons in New Jersey, each of whom indi­ Committee on Military Affairs. Senate by Mr. Miller, one of his secre­ cates that he or she has one or more 4657. Also, petition of the Retail Credit In­ taries. relatives in the armed forces of the stitute of .America, Washington, D. C., pe­ CALL OF THE ;ROLL United States. ti1ioning consideration of their resolution Mr. BARKLEY. I suggest the absence There being no objection, the peti­ with reference to purchasing power of the of a quorum. tions praying for the enactment of returning soldiers, sailors, and marines to pending legislation providing a wartime private life; to the Committee on ~anking The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem­ and Currency. pore. The clerk will call the roll. method of voting by members of the 4658. Also, petition of the United Federated The Chief Clerk called the roll, and the armed .forces were received and ordered War Workers Union, Deep River, Conn., pe­ following Senators answered to their to lie on the tabla. titioning consideration of their resolution names: RESOLUTION OF THE KENTUCKY LEGIS­ with reference to soldier-vote bill; to the Committee on Election of President, Vice Aiken Gerry Overton LATURE-MEAT SUPPLY AND MARKET­ Andrews Gillette Radcliffe ING OF PORK President, and Representatives in Congress. Austin Green Reed Bailey Gufi'ey Revercomb Mr. BARKLEY. Mr. President, from Ball Gurney Reynolds Bankhead Hatch Robertson · the chief clerk of the House of Rep­ Barkley Hawkes Russell resentatives of the Legislature of Ken­ SENATE Bilbo Hayden Shipstead tucky I have received Joint Resolution 21 Bone H111 Smith Brewster Holman Stewart of the Kentucky Legislature urging Con­ VlEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1944 . Bridges Jackson Taft gress to pass appropriate legislation pro­ Brooks Johnson, Colo. · Thomas, Idaho viding for the conservation of the meat (Legislative day of Monday, January 24, Buck Kilgore Thomas, Okla. supply of the Nation and also for ade­ . 1944) Burton La Follette Thomas, Utah Bushfield Langer Tobey quate and reasonable regulations con­ Butler Lodge Truman cerning the marketing of pork. I ask The Senate met at 11 o'clock a. m .• Byrd Lucas Tunnell unanimous consent that the joint resolu­ on the expiration of the recess. Capper McCarran Tydings The Chaplain, Rev. Frederick Brown Caraway McClellan Vandenberg tion which has been adopted by both Chandler McFarland Wagner houses of thr legislature be printed in Harris, D. D., offered the following Chavez McKellar Wallgren the RECORD, under the rule, and appro­ prayer: Clark, Idaho Maloney Walsh, Mass. Clark, Mo. Maybank Walsh, N.J. priately referred. Eternal God, Father of our spirits, Connally Mead Wheeler There being no objection, the joh:it from all the busy traffic of life's way and Danaher Millikin Wherry resolution was referred to the Commit­ Davis Moore o White from united actions and group decisions Downey Murdock Wiley tee on Banking and Currency ..and or­ we turn, as alone we face Thy searching Eastland Murray Willis dered to be printed in the RECORD, under eyes. One by one, we confess the sins Ellender Nye Wilson the rule, as follows: Ferguson O'Daniel which mar our service and drag us from George O'Mahoney IN THE HOUSE OF REFRESENTATIVES, the high levels of our best. One by one, COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, in our bewilderment we seek Thy guid­ Mr. HILL. I announce that the Sen­ January 27, 1944. ance, for our wisdom is but an unstable ator from Virginia [Mr. GLASS] is absent Joint Resolution 21 and fallible compass for the tangle of from the Senate because of illness. A joint resolution urging the Congress of the the dim distance. One by one, in our The Senator from Nevada [Mr. SCRUG­ United States to pass appropriate legtsla:­ weakness we would recharge our puny HAM] is absent on official business. tion· providing for the conservation of the powers from Thine infinite resource, that The Senator from Florida [Mr. PEP­ meat supply of the Nation and for ade­ we may be able to stand in an evil day, PER] is detained on public business. quate and reasonable regulations concern­ with principles never compromised, with Mr. WHITE. The Senator from Ore­ ing the marketing of pork integrity never sullied. gon [Mr. McNARY] is absent because of Whereas the meat supply of the Nation is illness. now being dissipated because of the existing This dedicated moment of prayer is rules and regulations of the various Federal but the confession that oui· greatest de­ The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem­ agencies; and cisions have to be made triumphantly pore. Ninety-one Senators having -an­ Whereas it is of the utmost importance to within before they can be made trium­ swered to their names, there is a quorum conserve the meat supply for the future needs phantly without. At the threshold of this present. of our· armed forces; and