Evening star., 1941-07-25
Wheeler Accuses
Roosevelt, 5timson
Of Smear Campaign
Senator Coils Attack
Recognition Of His
Effective Opposition

By the Associs ted Press.
Senator Wheeler, Democrat, OF
Montana contended today that
President Roosevelt and Secretary OF
War Stimson were seeking to con-
duct "a smear campaign" against
him and Charles A. Lindbergh be-
cause of their opposition to admin
istration foreign policies.
Mr.. Stimson told his press confer
ence that Senator Wheeler had
mailed post cards to Army officers
and men urging them to oppose
entry into the European war. The
War Secretary added that this
comes very near the line of subver.
sive activities against the United
States, if not treason"
Senator Wheeler said subsequently
that he had sent out about 100000
postcards quoting speeches Of Mr.
Roosevelt and others regarding the
European war. The Senator added
that none of the cards, which asked
recipients to send the President pro-
tests against involvement in war,
were sent to Army camps. But since
they were mailed to cross section
of the population" he added, some
may have been forwarded to Army
men from their former addresses.
At Hyde Park, N. Y, Presi-
dent Roosevelt said today that he
agrees with the captions on two
morning newspaper editorials which
read On Dangerous Ground" anc
Mr. Wheeler Goes Too Far"
He told his press conference he
thought this observation covered the
situation. Only, he added, he haC
to ask the question about it.
I'VE were going to get around tC
it," reporter assured him.
Committee Financed Cards.
Senator Wheeler said the America
First Committee financed printing
the cards and that the mailing list
was obtained from Emil Hurja, q
member of Wendell WILKES staff
In the 1910 presidential campaign.
(Mr. Huria. who is publisher of
the Pathfinder. weekly maga-
zine. said the publication main
tanned large trade addressing
department which sold its serv-
ices to insurance companies
and other businesses. The de-
partment owns many address
lists.
(The cards were sent by Sena-
tor Wheeler, he said. to the
Pathfinder's addressing depart
ment and there were addressed
and sent out.
(Mr. Hurja said the Pathfinder
had no list of Army people. and
he considered 1t merely a coin
cidence that some of the names
on the large list used to mail the
Wheeler cards happened to be
those Of men in the Army
Senator Van Nuys, Democrat. of
Indiana declared Secretary Stimson
had been wholly unfair to Senator
Wheeler in the statement he made.
Mr.. Stimson's was very unfor-
t,lnate statement from a man oc-
cupying his position" Senator Van
Nuys told reporters. "It was not in
keeping with his official RESPONSE
bilities.
while we all may not agree with
Senator Wheeler's views on foreign
policy. none should doubt his SINGER
ity. his integrity or his patriotism. -"
The Stimson statement was wholly
unfair Senator Van Nuys declared
because it gave the impression that
Senator Wheeler had been circular
izing the Army. Just the opposite
was true" Senator Van Nuys said.
Editorials Cited.
In his press conference remarks
Mr.. Roosevelt referred to editorials
in the New York Times and the
New York Herald Tribune.
The Herald Tribune, in an edi-
torial headed "On Dangerous
Ground" said. in part: This news
paper does not believe that Senator
Wheeler is a traitor; it has, in fact
consistently supported his right to
speak freely on the issues of the
day. Nevertheless, any one who
carries discussion Of national pol
icy directly to the members of the
armed forces, as Senator Wheeler
has done, is assuredly treading on
most dangerous ground"
The Times in its editorial headed
"Mr. Wheeler Goes Too Far" said.
in part, that no objection could be
raised to the card itself, but the
legitimate objection is to the care
lessness or worse which placed it
in the hands of soldiers who can