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In vain foes of the amendment argued that it would open the House to the charge of playing politics with defense, that no one would be drafted until after Election Day anyway. When Georgia's Edward Eugene ("Goober'') Cox exclaimed of the amendment: "To accept it would convince the people of this country that the membership of this House is only an aggregation of self-serving politicians," its fate in a House of 435 politicians was sealed. The amendment was adopted 185-to-155. More notable to many a Representative was the sight of Republican National Chairman Joe Martin—not the only Republican more isolationist than his Presidential candidate—striding up to the teller to vote for the amendment beside his bearded fellow Bay Stater, Isolationist George Holden Tinkham.
But Joe Martin did not, as a few anti-conscriptionists at first dared hope, vote against the bill. If he did not line up his colleagues to vote for it, he at least backed up Wendell Willkie by voting for it along with 211 Democrats, 51 Republicans.
Against it on the final roll call were 33 Democrats, 112 Republicans.
Conference this week will iron out two major differences between the House and Senate bills: the 60-day volunteering period and the House's higher age limit.
Likeliest deal shaping up was that Administration leaders would kill the waiting period in return for giving the House 1) its age limit, or 2) its version of industrial conscription instead of the Overton-Russell amendment (leasing instead of condemnation).
But regardless of differences and qualifications, one great question had been settled: for the first time in history the U. S. was going to force its citizens to learn the art of self-defense in peacetime.
— From which the House voted to expunge the Sweeney-Vincent colloquy.