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the industrial field. DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION
Democratic harmony was preserved by giving representation to the liberal group in appoirttment of the Senate Policy . Committee, which determines the official party position on pending legislation and the Sterring Committee, which appoints the members of all other standing committees. It was noticeable, however, that Southern conservatives have a workirig majority on both of these committees. I was happy to follow in the footsteps of Senators Martin, Swanson and Glass of Virginia by being named to the Steering Committee.
I supported Senator Johnson of Texas for Minority Leader. He is an able man, a splendid debater and has plenty of courage.
DEBATE LlMINATION
REJECTED _*
On several occasions when so-called civil rights bills dealing with a federal fair"" employment practices commission or federal prohibition of state poll taxes have come before the Senate I have opposed them, primarily on the ground that they were unconstitutional. That objection, in my opinion, is so overwhelming that it should hardly be necessary to consider various practical objections to these proposals. .
At the opening of this session of the Congress a group of the more ardent advocates of civil rights legislation gave an exceptionally clear indication of their willingness to abandon constitutional principles to attain their ends. They tried to open the way for action on their bills by arguing that the Senate is not a continuing body and claiming it must adopt new rules each time it meets.
This viewpoint was obviously in conflict with the intention of the founders of our nation, who gave the Senate continuity by providing that only one third of its membership should be chosen every two years, with a majority sufficient to carry on business always holding over. All precedents of the Senate and textbooks on government also are in line with the viewpoint that it is a continuing body.
Happily, conservative Republicans and Democrats were united in opposing the move to change our rules in such a way as to prevent the un. limited debate which Thomas Jefferson regarded as so essential to protect the rights of- minority groups. With this radical proposal voted down after two days of debate we were able to proceed with organization of the Senate and prepared to take up the program for this session which the new President will shortly present to us.
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