Evening star., 1948-09-20
As **THE EVENING STAR Washington D. c.
Clark and Ferguson
Stand Firm in Fight
Over Loyalty Check

The battle between Attorney
General Clark and Senator Fergu-
son, Republican, of Michigan on
the Governments loyalty program
showed no sign today of either side
giving ground.
Attorney General Clark yesterday
released a statement asserting that
the Senate investigating subcom-
mittee headed by Senator Ferguson
made unfair and uninformed criti-
cism' of the administrations loyalty
check of Government employees.
This was in answer 70 the SUBJ
committees charges September S
that the loyalty program is made
quate," hampered by delays and
needs speedy overhauling. The
subcommittee report also criticized
White House order barring re-
lease of loyalty records.
Ferguson Replies to Clark.
Senator Ferguson retorted last
night that Attorney General Clark's
criticism Of the subcommittee re-
port is "unfounded" He promised
that his group has every intention
of continuing its efforts to obtain the
complete facts from the executive
branch concerning the presence OF
subversive elements in the Govern
ment and the removal of such per-
sons from public Office"
The Attorney General discloset
that on September 9 he discussed
the subcommittee charges with
Senator Ferguson, Harry Mitchell,
president of the the Civil Service
Commission, and Arthur S. Flem-
ming, former commission member.
At the request of Senator Fergu-
son, he said, he withheld his state
ment listing objections to the re-
port. Senator Ferguson, he added,
told him the subcommittee would
check into our objections and il
they were we'll taken, to make suit
able corrections"
Leaks" on Cases Charged.
Meanwhile, Senator Ferguson
has released to the press informa-
ton that is most confidential, evi-
IDENTIFY through leaks or tips con-
corning criminal cases pending in
the department" Attorney Gen.
eral Clark charged. He did this in
an apparent effort to lead the pub
lie into believing that he forced the
Department of Justice to act, al
though he knows the matters to
which he referred in the press were
started months ago"
Attorney General Clark's'. state
ment explained that one reason
why the original loyalty pragram Of
President Truman was not put IN
immediate effect was the failure OF
the 80th Congress to appropriate
sufficient funds"
Declaring that the program was
put in operation and has been func-
tioning with q high degree of eff
cheney, Mr.. Clark said neither the
program nor those responsible for
the manner in which 1t functions
deserve the, unfair and uninformed
criticism contained in the subcom-
mittee's report
Replying 10 IIle 3uUCoHiHilItce
complaint that operation of the pro-
gram was "unreasonably delayed
the Attorney General stated that
the presidential order setting it up
was issued March II, l947, but that
Congress did not provide any funds
July 26, 1947. ,...,
Program Called Effective.
This is the FIRST time in the his
tory of our country that the Gov
eminent has undertaken check of
the loyalty of every one of its en-
ployes,' Attorney General Clark
said. Although in any project OF
this magnitude there is, OF course,
always room for improvement, we
believe that even in the short
period of its existence the Presi-
dents loyalty program has proved
to be most effective"
He reported that the Civil Serv-
ice Commission issued 100000
forms and that the FBI finished
checking every one submitted to 1t
before August / this year. He said