Evening star., 1948-09-18

man Of q Senate subcommittee in
vestigating Communist activity in
the Government. They charged each
other with playing politics.
Letter From Detroit.
Senator Ferguson's letter from
Detroit Yesterday urging prompt
indictments against Communists
both in and out of Government"
drew from the Attorney General this
report:
II would appreciate it If you would
quit trying to claim credit for the
work of the FBI and the Depart
ment of Justice and keep your polit-
ical activity out of the fields of
serious prosecution of of1enses under
Federal statutes"
Asserting that the Senator gave
"tips" to reporters on matters he
knew were being investigated by the
FBI. Attorney General Clark de-
clared in a public statement ad-
dressed directly to Senator Fer
guson:
"Your indefatigable desire for
headlines in this regard will prove
very detrimental to the prosecution
of important cases. You know that
neither you nor the committee has
unearthed anything on subversive
matters that the FBI did not know
and the Department of Justice had
not slready presented to the Federal
grand juries."
"UnderscOres" Washington.
The Michigan Senator had writ
ten the Attorney General that the
Justice Department had enough
evidence in its files to seek indict-
ments at least in Washington, Den
yer, Salt Lake City, Dallas, = Los
Angeles and San Francisco. He
said he wanted to "underscore'
Washington.
| Notwithstanding the fact that
YOU and the President have indicated
that the congressional hearings have
brought out nothing new and have
considered them red herrings, I
am satisfied that you should en-
deavor to obtain indictments even
though it be on the eve of election, "
he wrote. II am anticipating that
YOU will obtain these indictments
even at this late hour. 1t is never
too late to rectify grave errors"
Reports that the Justice Depart
ment is preparing to seek indict-
ments against former Government
employees suspected of Communist
connections brought the following
comment from Assistant Attorney
General Alex H. Campbell:
AN investigation has been going
on for months and is continuing" ="
Plans to Question Dozen.
The House Committee has again
postponed the start of public hear
ings and next week plans to ques-
ton about a dozen witnesses it be-
lieves will throw additional light on
a supposed spy ring and security
leaks in the atomic bomb project
during the war. This, 1t said, will
disclose a shocking chapter in
espionage.
One of the Monday witnesses in
closed session will be Mrs. Louise
Bransten, wealthy former wife OF
Bruce Minton, former editor OF the
New Masses. On Wednesday sub
committee will go to New York to
tinterview Mrs. Oksana Kasenklna.
Russian school teacher who escaped
from the Soviet consulate in New
York last month by jumping from
third floor window.
The Presidents letter to the eight
scientists was, in part, as follows:
The Nation must protect itself
against espionage, infiltration of
foreign agents, and untrustworthi-
ness of governmental personnel,
particularly in the field of atomic
energy plants and laboratories. I
am determined that we shall protect
! ourselves effectively, but am equal
ly determined that we shall main
tain our safeguards within the
! framework of our democratic prin-