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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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Wednesday, September 18
Senate nears vote on Fortas
Washington (UPI)—After almost three months of wrangling, the Senate Judiciary Committee got down to voting on the controversial nomination of Abe Fortas to be chief justice of the United States.
The vote appeared certain to assure floor consideration of the appointment--but amid signs of increasing opposition that threatened to lock the Senate in a drawn-out talkathon during this "rump" final session of the 90th Congress.
It has been a virtual certainty
for weeks that a coalition of Republicans and Southern Democrats would filibuster against letting the nomination come to a floor vote.
Sen. Robert Griffin, R-Mich., originally garnered 19 signatures among his fellow Republicans against Fortas, and claimed to count 20 or 21 Democrats opposed to cutting off debate invoking cloture to bring the nomination to a vote.
He now estimates 45 senators are opposed to confirmation itself.
Many senators oppose cloture because they favor the Senate tradition of unlimited debate, but would vote to confirm Fortas if a vote could be arranged
The Judiciary Committee has until Friday to file reports with the Senate on the nomination. These are expected to include strong minority views against Fortas, setting out arguments that have been raised in numerous hearings since the committee received the nomination June 26.
The committee took its vote
still frustrated over futile efforts to re-question a number of present and former administration officials as well as Fortas.
Defense Secretary Clark M. Clifford, Treasury Undersecretary Joseph Barr, and White House counsel W. Divier Pierson all declined the committee's invitation to testify.
Federal marshals told the committee they were unable to find former White House aide Richard Goodwin and magazine writer Daniel Yergin to serve
subpoenas commanding their appearance.
The committee wanted to question all these men about reports that Fortas continued his role as a presidential adviser even to the extent of helping draft legislation and preparing a State of the Union address—after becoming an associate justice of the Supreme Court.
Such activity, critics contended, violated the constitutional doctrine of separation of powers.
Few students show up for Humphrey meeting
Only 15 students attended an organizational meeting of Young Citizens for Humphrey at the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity house last night.
While the group was enthusiastic, the small turn-out caused apprehensions about prospects for a successful campaign at KU this fall.
Ed Cates, state coordinator of the Humphrey supporters, noted that the task would be difficult, but added, "it is obvious that Humphrey has more appeal to youth than Richard Nixon. For the student who is both idealistic and liberal, Humphrey is the only hope."
Cates also stressed the importance of KU to Humphrey's statewide success. "KU is the largest and most impressive school in the state. If the movement at KU is successful, other schools will follow suit," he said.
Mike Dickeson, Atchison junior and chairman of the KU chapter, stressed the need to channel enthusiasm for Humphrey into the community of Lawrence as well as into the KU campus.
Poll shows Nixon leads
NEW YORK-(UPI)-With almost one-fourth of the nation's voters apparently undecided, Republican Richard M. Nixon is no more a "shoo-in" for the presidency than Thomas E. Dewey was in 1948, a veteran polltaker said Tuesday.
Albert E. Sindinger, president of Sindlinger & Co., said a telephone survey of 1,866 voters in 48 states conducted by his organization Thursday through Sunday indicated 23.1 per cent of the voters were undecided.
ber of supporters of third party candidate George C. Wallace who do not think he actually can win the election.
Sindlinger said another factor making the outcome of the election uncertain is the large num-
"I think that those who believe Nixon is a shoo-in now are the same who thought Dewey was in 1948," Sindlinger said.
Dewey was defeated by Democratic president Harry S. Truman that year despite predictions that he would win over Truman by a wide margin.
Sindlinger reported in his latest poll that 17.8 per cent of those questioned said they "most want to see" Wallace elected president if the election
were held now but only 4.3 per cent said they thought he "will actually be elected in November."
"The question is whether those who favor Wallace will vote for him," Sindlinger said.
He said the difference in percentages between whose who favor Wallace and those who think he can win indicated "there will be a lot of soul searching" by many Wallace backers before November.
The same poll showed Nixon winning 34.5 per cent of the vote and Democrat Hubert H. Humphrey taking 24.6 per cent.