Evening star., 1949-03-24
Graham Seems Certain
OF Seat After Sharp
Criticism and Praise
BY the Asseciatsd Press

Despite some sharp criticism DR..
Frank P. Graham seems certain
to take his seat as the Nations
newest Senator next week with
little or no opposition.
Yesterdays official Senate re-
cord contained these extremes
about the North Carolina Univer-
sity president. who was named by
Gov. Kerr Scott to fill the vacancy
created this month by the death
of Senator Melville Broughton:
HE is a little bit soft on Com
munist-front organizations"
"He is as loyal as any American
who walks the earth" and lone
of the most Christ-like men I
have ever met"
Despite more than an hour of
sensational charges and equally
sharp defense during Senate de-
bate, both Democrats and Repub>
licans agreed that DR.. Graham
probably will be sworn in without
any trouble
His term would run only until
1850.
Pepper Praises Appointment.
Senator Pepper, Democrat, OF
Florida. who frequently stands
alone among the % Dixie Sen
ators, told a reporter that IF we
continue to gain in the South as
fast as we have In the past IL
months we may have a Southern
Democratic group known as
progressives."
He pointed to the election Of
Senator Kefauver, Democrat. Of
Tennessee, as another example.
Senator Kefauver also was
happy at DR.. Graham's appoint
ment. Il think it's . good ap-
pointment," he said. Il think
he's a fine man."
Senator Russell. Democrat. Of
Georgia, floor leader for the bloc
of Southern Senator'S who have
been fighting civil rights, said DR..
Graham is an able man.
But he added that q believer
in States rights I cannot refrain
from expressing my suprise-if
press reports are true-that the
Governor of the State would feel
compelled to clear with the chair
man of the National Committee
on the appointment"
Senator McGrath, Democrat, Of
Rhode Island, national party
chairman, fatty denied that, Al
though he said North Carolina
Democratic officials had offered
to consult him.
Hoey Predicts Confirmation.
DR.. Graham's colleague, Senator
Hoey, Democrat. of North Caro-
lima, predicted that DR.. Graham
will be unchallenged despite the
furry yesterday.
Senator Bricker, Republican, Of
Ohio, touched it of by telling the
Senate that the Joint Con-
gressional Atomic Energy Com
mittee should make a full investi-
CATION of reports that security
officer and loyalty review board
had refused to clear DR.. Graham
for top secret atomic information.
Senator Bricker said the edu-
Gator later was cleared by David
e. Lilienthal. chairman Of the
Atomic Energy Commission. The
Ohio Senator said the action was
in connection with DR.. Grahams
appointment to head the Oak
Ridge, Tenn, Institute Of Nu-
clear Physics. DR.. Graham has
been q member of many organi-
cations, some Of them described
by Senator Jenner. Republican,;
of Indiana as Communist fronts.
It was Senator Jenner who said
DR.. Graham has been soft" in
this connection.
This brought a brisk retort from
Senator Hoey. DR.. Graham "is as
loyal as any American who walks
this earth, ne SAID.
Strong Support From Others.
Senator Morse, Republican. OF
Oregon, who served on the War
Labor Board with DR.. Graham,
called him "one of the most
Christ like men I have ever met"
The new appointee also re-
ceived strong support from SEN