Evening star., 1944-12-06
Senate Prepares
For BattIe0ver
State Nominees
Only Grew Appears
Certain to Escape
Major Floor Attack
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The Senate moved warily today
toward the fight it expects to
precede eventual confirmation of
four State Department ap-
pointees, headed by Joseph C.
Grew as UnderSecretary.
Mr.. Grew, former Ambassador to
Japan, seemed assured of over
Whelming approval despite an at
tack on him and two other nomi-
nees by Senator LANCER of North
Dakota.
But critics were marshaling their
artillery for an attack on Archibald
MacLeish, librarian of Congress; w.
L. Clayton, retiring Federal sur
plus property administrator, and
Nelson Rockefeller. co-ordinator of
inter- American affairs All three
were nominated by President Roose-
welt as Assistant Secretaries in
sweeping reorganization of the
State Department.
Senator LANCER, who fought los
ing, one-man battle against Senate
confirmation last week of Edward
R. Stettinius. jr., as Secretary of
State, came back to the firing line
with an assertion that President
Roosevelt had seen fit to appoint
a group completely committed to
policy of cooperation with the
forces OF reaction. ="
Also Opposes Rockefeller.
Senator LANCER, who accused Mr..
Stettinius of being a representative
of Wall Street, indicated to report
ers he would have something to say
about Mr.. Rockefeller's forebears.
The inter- american affairs co-or-
dinator is a grandson of the late
John D.
Senator Clark. Democrat. of Mis-
souri, put Mr.. MacLeish, the con-
gressional librarian. at the top OF
his list
Senator Clark asserted that the
:. poet and former head of the defunct
Office of Facts and Figures lacks
any qualifications to be Assistant
Secretary of State.
He has never performed his
duties as Librarian-he has merely
S been propogandiSt," Senator Clark
e. told reporters.
Mr.. MacLeish's standing as a poet
was called into question in Senate
, discussion Of the appointments.
Wants Hearings on MacLeish.
Senator Clark. serving notice that
q he would move today to return the
/. MacLeish nomination TO COMMITTEES
n for further hearings on his quail
: fications," called the appointment
: "one of the worst that could havs
Q been made"
v Senator Wheeler, Democrat, OF
e Montana inquired: DO you mean
j the poet?"
Did you ever see any of his poems
in any anthology" Senator Clark
asked in reply.
The Foreign Relations Committee
. reported the nominations favorably
yesterday without hearings, a move
; that Senator La Toilette, Progress
, sive, of Wisconsin said he opposed.
Senator La Toilette was listed by
Senator Connally, along with Sen
, ator Vandenberg, Republican. of
Michigan, Senator White Republic
an, of Maine, and Senator Clark,
as having opposed a favorable re-
port on Mr.. MacLeish.
Senator Murray Democrat. of
Montana, who seldom quarrels with
. any White House, decision, voted
against the Clayton nominat tion.
He promised to tell the Senate why
later.
The committee gave its undivided
Endorsement to a House-approved
measure creating two new assistant
secretaryships, to which James C.
Dunn. director of the Division of
European Affairs in the State De-
partment, and Brig Gen. Julius c.
Holmes. chief of Gen. Eisenhower's
civil affairs staff, are expected to
5 be appointed
Other Hearings Reopened.
Meanwhile, the Senate Military
Committee began a roundup of wit
nesses for the reopening Monday of
! its inquiry into Federal Surplus
Property Board nominations.
With Republicans tentatively COM
mitted to oppose confirmation OF
I Gov. Robert A. Hurley of Con-
. necticut and 1t. Col. Edward H.
: Heller, Army finance officer, admin
" istration leaders looked to Demo-
s cratic numerical majority in the
2 Senate to see them through the con-
troversy.
A group of New Englanders, who
described themselves as representing
small business, labor and farm in
: terests led the opposition to con-
firmation. They are to be heard
Monday.