Evening star., 1951-03-03
WeIker Predicts
Committee Vote
For Dono1ue
Senator Says Foes
Have Failed to Offer
DisquoIifying Facts
By Don S. Warren

Senator Welker, Republican, Of
Idaho predicted today that the
Senate District Committee with
out doubt" would vote to approval
the appointment of F. Joseph
Donohue as member of the
Board of Commissioners.
Senator Welker, who has taken
a leading part in examining the
nominee on his views and activi-
ties, including his legal service to
liquor interests and his participa-
tion in last falls California SEN
atorial campaign, announced he
would vote for Mr.. Donohue.
"Mr. Donohue's opposition" Mr..
Welker said, failed to present any
evidence to disqualify him.
Record as Lawyer Cited.
"It is pretty wonderful to have
practiced law as long as has Mr..
Donohue (26 years. and yet have
not single person take the stand
to complain of anything about his
honesty or integrity" ~
Most other members of the Dis
trict Committee also have indicat-
ed they will vote to confirm Mr..
Donohue, although some members
are reserving final commitment
until the vote is taken. Another
hearing is scheduled for Tuesday
at 10 a m. to hear additional sup
porters of the nomination.
At yesterdays hearing Mr.. Dono-
hue told the committee that he
might have gone quite far afield"
in the California campaign in de-
claring that Senator Nixon. Re-
publican, of California had had
nothing to do with the convic-
ton of Alger Hiss.
Walker Led Questioning.
The question was brought be-
fore the committee by Senator
Welker during an exploration Of
Mr.. Donohue's part in the cam
paign of former Representative
Helen Gahagan Douglas of Cali
fornia. who ran unsuccessfully
for the Senate on the Democratic
ticket.
Mr.. Donohue went to the
West Coast as special as
sistant to the Attorney General
to prosecute the Governments
charges of perjury against Harry
Bridges. CIO longshoremen's lead
er. After Bridges conviction.
which attracted Nationwide at
tention. Mr.. Donohue remained in
California and campaigned briefly
for Mrs. Douglas.
Senator Nixon, the ma Repre-
sentative, had played a major
role in the work of the House
Committee on Un-American Ac-
tivities in ferreting out evidence
against Hiss, later convicted on.
a perjury charge.
Nixon Did Effective job"
Under questions yesterday, Mr..
Donohue told Senator Welker that
he thought Senator Nixon had
done an amazingly effective job
for his country in his service on
the House committee.
Mr.. Donohue said he had told
Senator Nixon that he was doing
ian outstanding job" But to this
he added that he thought the Sen
ator had gathered unto himself
a little more credit, perhaps, than
he was entitled to-"
Senator Welker then recalled
that last November 3 he had heard
a radio speech delivered on behalf
of Mrs. Douglas by Mr.. Donohue
in which the latter said:
II say without equivocation or
hesitation that the notion that
Representative Nixon had any,
thing at all to. do with the Hiss
case is purse fabrication, con-
ceived in headlines and born out
of a desperation for a campaign
issue"
Was Trying to Aid Murphy.
Senator Welker asked Mr..
Donohue if he had said that.
II hope I did," Mr.. Donohue
replied. THAT is rather effective
language. I think I did, sir
when you said that" Senator
WeAer retorted, You know you
were going quite far afield, didn't
you?"
II didn't intend to-" Mr.. Dom
ohue replied. Maybe I was"
Mr.. Donohue then explained he
had been trying to take up" for
Thomas Murphy, Hiss prosecutor,
and the Justice Department,
whom he thought had done a
pretty good job" in the prosecu-
ton.
Experience Will Be Last.
He then repeated that he had
told Senator Nixon that he I'D
done a good job and Senator
Welker broke in to say:
"You didn't tell the radio audi
ence that"
Il wasn't campaigning for
him." Mr.. Donohue replied.
The Commissioner design" q
said his experiences last fall Y,
his first in political campaign.-g
and added they would be my
last
i think I had better stop max
ing political speeches." Mr.. Dono-
hue continued. MY candidates
were badly beaten"