Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-06

who refused to give information, he
added, it would be foolish" to refer
it to the Attorney General.
Earlier, Senator Ferguson pre-
dicted the committees work would
greatly strengthen the Govern
ment's loyalty program.
Wants Public to Judge.
Without replying in detail to
President Truman's criticism of both
the House and Senate committee
investigations of Communist activi-
ties in Government as "a red
herring" Senator Ferguson declared J.:
Congress compelled the instiga-
ton of a loyalty inquiry into sub
versive elements who have in
fltrated the public service. The
Senate committee has the clear re-
sponsibility to see that the Execu-
tive Department carries it out in
good faith.
I'VE intend to pursue our inquiry
and to develop the true facts and
we shall be content to let the public
Judge their seriousness.
when we have concluded our
work, we will issue report which
the committee feels will greatly
strengthen the loyalty program"
The committee has been focusing
its attention on Mr.. Remington, who
has denied Miss Bentley's charges.
Extent of Checking Sought.
Particularly, the committee has
been trying to find out how much
checking is done on an employe
before he assumes a top Govern
ment post.
. Just how the committee may pro-
pose to put new teeth into the
loyalty system was not outlined
The White House and appointees
of the White House were repeatedly
mentioned during testimony yester-
day afternoon before the Ferguson
Subcommittee - - x ST. ~ :
Matthew Hale, assistant solicitor
of the Commerce Department, at
first declined to answer several aues-
tons about the handling or secrecy
of the files on Mr.. Remington. But
after checking with Commerce Sec
rotary Sawyer, he said it was Clark
Clifford, legal adviser to the Pres
ident, who had told him to strip the
Remington personnel file of any
loyalty references before giving it
to the Senate Subcommittee.
File Sent to White House.
The file on Mr.. Remington previ-
ously had been sent to the White
House for policy decision.
| David K. E. Bruce, former As
sistant Secretary of Commerce, now
in Paris on an assignment with the
European Recovery Administration,
wired the Ferguson Subcommittee
yesterday denying testimony by
Samuel Klaus, State Department
attorney on loan to the Commerce
Department.
Mr.. Klaus told the Senate group
he had gone to Mr.. Bruce about the
time of the appointment of Mr..
Bennington March Is to warn that
the youthful economist was being
investigated for alleged espionage
connections.
Mr.. Bruce, however, said he be-
lieved the Commerce Department
files would indicate thorough
security check" of Mr.. Remington
was made in normal fashion,
which included FBI clearance"
From Bernard L. Gladieux, execu-
tive assistant to Secretary Sawyer,
the Senate investigating group
drew statements that on May II of
this year, nearly two months after
Mr.. Remington's appointment to
the Commerce key export license
post, loyalty check of the official
was started at the suggestion OF
Attorney General Clark.
Tells of Missing Memo.
According to Mr.. Gladieux, some
communication from Mr.. Clark in
spired this inquiry. While there was
supposed to be a letter or memo, he
said, this since has been "mislaid"
or was missing" He said he had
not seen the message but had been
told it had been placed in one Of
the two confidential safes at the
Commerce Offices. So far as he now
knows, he said, it is not now there.
The Remington case, he said,
came upon Mr.. Sawyer five days
after he became head of the Com
merce Department The witness sug-
gested the necessary changing per-
sonnet was a reason why the Clark
message now seems to have disap-
peared.
Members of the Ferguson commit
tee have protested that the FBI
knew of Miss Bentley's story linking
Mr.. Remington with alleged espion-
age activities as early as 1915. They
questioned also why it was not until
June Is, 1948. that he was sus-
pended pending determination in his
case, despite a notice May II from
the head of the Justice Department.
Fother Gruen, Educator, Dies
| QUINCY, ILL.,. Aug. 6 R.-The
Rev. Ferdinand Gruen, o. F. NJ,
So, former president of Quincy Col
Ilege and currently professor of