The Pittsburgh Press (March 31, 1944)
96 BRITISH BOMBERS LOST
Germans down record bag of Allied planes
Nürnberg attacked with 2,240 tons
By Phil Ault, United Press staff writer
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96 BRITISH BOMBERS LOST
Big fleet rips Jap bases 460 miles off Philippines
All enemy ships flee Palau Island waters as Yanks approach
By William F. Tyree, United Press staff writer
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Germans attack inside Cassino
Allies hold only one hill on mountain
By Reynolds Packard, United Press staff writer
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Japanese sever highway in India
Enemy drive perils two strongholds
By Darrell Berrigan, United Press staff writer
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Soldier vote bill to become law
Roosevelt refuses to sign measure
Washington (UP) –
President Roosevelt notified Congress today that he would allow the soldier vote bill to become a law without his signature, although it is “wholly inadequate” to assure servicemen and women a “feasible” opportunity to vote.
In a message to the House, Mr. Roosevelt also appealed to Congress “to take more adequate action to protect the political rights of our men and women in the service.” And he urged the states “to make the bill as fully effective as its defective provisions will allow.”
The bill provides for an abbreviated federal war ballot which may be used only by service personnel overseas.
Use restricted
But it further provides that these ballots may be used only if they are acceptable to the states and only if the individuals certify that they have asked for, but have not received, regular absentee ballots from their home states.
The federal ballot would allow votes only for President, Vice President, Senator and Representative.
The bill will become law at midnight tonight. To permit this, Congress had to defer its Easter vacation, which had been scheduled to start yesterday. Both Houses will hold perfunctory sessions tomorrow.
Further action doubted
If they had begun their recess before midnight tonight, the bill would have died under the “pocket veto” provisions of the Constitution.
It was considered most unlikely that Congress would take any further action on soldier vote legislation as urged by the President.
The President charged in his message that the bill could “fairly” be called nothing more than “a standing invitation to the several states to make it practicable for their citizens to vote.”
Congress, in passing the bill, placed a certain responsibility on each state for action, Mr. Roosevelt said, and those in the Armed Forces “who want to vote, but cannot” would understand that “the Congress itself shares the responsibility through the complexities of this bill.”
‘Wholly inadequate’
He said:
The bill is, in my judgment, wholly inadequate to assure to servicemen and women as far as is practically feasible the same opportunity which they would have to vote if they were at home.
Because of the confusing provisions of the bill and because of the difficulty of knowing just what will be the practical effect of the bill in operation, it is impossible for me to determine whether in fact more servicemen and women will be able to vote under the new measure than under existing law.
That determination will largely depend upon the extent to which the states cooperate to make the measure as effective as its provisions permit. In view of this situation, I have resolved the doubt in favor of the action taken by the Congress, and am permitting the bill to become law without my approval.
State aid asked
“No state or federal red tape should take from our young folk in the service their right to vote,” Mr. Roosevelt said in appealing further for individual state action to authorize the use of federal ballots.
He asked Congress to enact an amendment to the bill to authorize members of the Armed Forces who have not received their state ballots by a certain time, whether or not they have formally applied for them, to use the federal ballot without prior express authorization by the states.
‘Defending our rights’
He said:
If the states do not accept the federal ballot, that will be their responsibility. Under this bill, that responsibility is shared by the Congress.
Our boys on the battlefronts must not be denied an opportunity to vote simply because they are away from home. They are at the front fighting with their lives to defend our rights and our freedoms. We must assure them their rights and freedoms at home so that they will have a fair share in determining the kind of life to which they will return.
Prior to deciding what to do with the bill, Mr. Roosevelt canvassed governors of all the states about whether their state laws permit use of the federal ballot and if not, whether they planned to seek legislation to validate the ballots.
Seven states accept
He said in his message today that replies indicated many states have not taken action to legalize the federal ballots, and many states plan no such action.
Out of the 48 replies, only seven states said definitely they would accept the federal ballot; 18 said they would not accept it; five said they probably would not; one accepted conditionally; 14 promised to make an effort to legalize the federal ballot, and three were undecided.
Accused of false statements –
Brewster union president indicted by U.S. grand jury
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A total of $1,466,250 –
Big bills really uncovered in ‘Big Bill’s’ strong boxes
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Chaplin weeps at Joan’s plight
Judge soothes actor as grilling continues
By Frederick C. Othman, United Press staff writer
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Dewey assailed in union probe
Governor accused of ‘soft-pedalling’
Washington (UP) –
Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York was accused today of “soft-pedalling” an investigation of international officers of the Hod Carriers’ Union (AFL), who were indicted here Wednesday on charges of misappropriating union funds.
The charges against Governor Dewey were made by Frederick W. Dusing of Newburgh, New York, business agent of Hod Carriers’ Local 17 which last June obtained an injunction in New York Supreme Court against the international union and its officers.
Earlier probe cited
Pointing out that Governor Herbert H. Lehman had directed the New York Attorney General to conduct an investigation in February 1942, Mr. Dusing said that when Governor Dewey assumed office, “he soft-pedalled the investigation and it now appears to have been completely killed on the eve of sensational disclosures.”
Mr. Dusing said the indictments here coupled with the New York Supreme Court’s action constituted a “tremendous blow against this vicious and powerful labor racket.”
Bonds posted
Meanwhile, Joseph V. Moreschi, President of the International Hod Carriers’, and 11 others named in Wednesday’s indictment were under $1,500-$2,000 bond here to appear for arraignment next week.
The defendants were accused of conspiring to embezzle union funds up to $500,000.
Still missing, however, was Larry Kelly, former treasurer of the Building Committee of Local 74, Washington affiliate of the union, who disappeared several months ago while a special grand jury was looking into the Hod Carriers’ affairs.
Palau assault may presage new invasion
Yanks may strike in Carolines
By Sandor S. Klein, United Press staff writer
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Willkie prepares for Nebraska trip
Minneapolis, Minnesota (UP) –
His pre-primary campaign in Wisconsin ended, Wendell L. Willkie turned today to Nebraska where Republicans elect 12 delegates to the National Convention April 11.
Mr. Willkie arrived here last night after completing his 13-day tour of Wisconsin where he sought support for his slate of 24 delegates running for election in Tuesday’s primary. The 1940 GOP candidate showed evidence of the strain of his 1,500-mile trip through the badger state and with the exception of an appearance at the Minneapolis Club today, he planned no political activities.
In a final plea to Wisconsin voters yesterday, Willkie told an audience at Superior that he campaigned in that state because he wanted the people of Wisconsin to “know the beliefs and purposes of at least one candidate in the field.”
Mr. Willkie will leave for Omaha tonight to open a five-day tour of Nebraska.
Roosevelt improving
Washington –
President Roosevelt’s bronchial irritation is “steadily improving,” White House Secretary Stephen T. Early said today. He did not hold his usual Friday news conference.