Evening star., 1947-08-14
The Political NH
Campaign Repercussions
Of Hughes Probe Studied

Nv SSS~sS
Of Hughes Probe Studied
GO. P. Senator'S Now Look Foolish
Yet Ferguson Has Ace in Hole
By Gould Lincoln
Political repercussionS of the Hughes investi-
CATION (halted now until November I'D may
be many and varied. At first blush the affair
seems to have made a Republican controlled
subcommittee of the war investigating COM
mittee of the Senate look foolish. 1t Is by no
means certain, however, that the actual effect
on the voters Of the country will not in the
end be adverse to Democratic administration
which was in charge when the Hughes airplane
contracts were entered into Senator Ferguson
OF Michigan chairman of the subcommittee
which millionaire Howard Hughes fouted,
has powerful ace in the hole which will be
dragged out when the investigation is resumed.
In the meantime the committee investigators
will deve under the surface for further in
formation.
Today, however, responsible Republican lead
ers in the Upper House are disguised with
the show put on in the committee investigating
roon1-and more particularly with the name
calling row between Mr. Hughes and Senator
Brewster Of Maine chairman of the full Sen
ate war investigating committee. OF the record
they say freely that Senator Brewster should
relieve the committee of further embarrass-
ment by resigning the craftsmanship. They
admit there appears small chance OF this But
they comment that the committee will have
only brief life after the Congress assemblies
Tor It's second session in January-and that II
the war investigation Is to be continued. It
may we'll be by another committee
Indeed. last winter when the fight ever con-
lnu1ng the war investigating committee was
under wsy-with Democrats violently opposing
it. and few Republicans-it was argued that
the investigating work could be handled by a
regular standing committee of the Senate
anyway. Senator Brewster, in line for the
Craftsmanship. insisted on a continuation of
the old committee which had originally been
chairmaned by President Truman when he was
a Senator.
Springboard for Truman.
The Craftsmanship of the investigating COM
mttee proved a great springboard for Mr..
Truman and paved his way to the Democratic
nomination for Vice President in 1914 In its
early days. controlled by a Democratic ma
jority and with Democratic chairman, the
committee, with courage and a real show Of
nonpartisanshtp, turned up faulty administra-
tion OF the war effort. Mr.. Truman won a
national reputation as a fearless Senator of
the United States, ready to 60 to the mat
with President of his own party II need be-
Today, it is easy for the Democrats to charge
the Republicans who are attacking a Demo-
cratic administration, with playing politics
President Truman was succeeded in the
Craftsmanship by former Senator Mead of New
York, who aspired to be Governor OF New
York-a steppingstone to o vice presidential
nomination with Truman next year. The COM
mittee, under Mr.. Mead, uncovered the May
Carson scandal which eliminated In Jail
sentences for Representative May of Kentucky,
chairman of the House Military Affairs Com
mittee, and the Garssons. But 1t didn't land
Mr.. Mead in Albany.
When Senator Brewster took over as chair
man Of the investigating committee, his name
was being put forward as a "favorite- son.
candidate (of Maine) for the Republican presi-
Dental nomination next year. With Senator
White of Maine. his colleague and Republican
leader of the Senate. announcing he would not
run for another term next year. 1t looked a.
though Senator Brewster would be the dorni-
mating political figure in rock-ribbed Republic
can Maine, and that II the presidential noni-
nation went to the Middle West Mr. Brewster
would be real contender for the vice presi-
Dental nomination
Now Out Of Running.
Senator Brewster Is no more fortunate than
his predecessor, Mr.. Mead-except that Mr.
Brewster was last fall reelected Senator for
six-year term. He has no more chance Of
being vice presidential candidate next year
than has Mr.. Mead. And If he had to ruin for
denomination and reelection to the Senate
In 1948 he might have tough time This Is
one OF the immediate political effects of the
Hughes hearing.
A high-ranking Republican Senator. admit
ting that the Hughes investigation had fallen
on its face" all four ways. plaintively asked:
What can any one say Of an investigation
that made hero out Of Elliott ROOSEVELT"
There Is a question, however. whether the
people in the outlying districts of Indiana,
Ohio and other great Midwest States will
look on Mr.. Roosevelt as a hero in the light
Of the investigation. The detailed statements
in the record Of expenditures by Hughes
Johnny Meyer for entertainment Of Mr. Roose-
velt and his friends make no hit with them
nor the stories Of girl parties while their own
sons were In the front lines Of the war
Further, 1t was admitted by Mr.. Hughes In
his testimony that Elliott Roosevelt was the
man with whom he had to do business.
Another factor that may have It's effect
politically is that these contracts for aircraft