Evening star., 1951-09-04
Benton Denounces
Reckless Attacks
of McCarthyism'
By the As.ociuted Press

BY The Associated Press
Senator Benton, Democrat, of
Connecticut defines Mccarthy
ism" primarily as reckless attack
upon individuals who are unable
Ito counter in defense of their
regulations" :"
Senator Mccarthy, Republican,
of Wisconsin says that "out in the
United States" he believes the
Ipeople consider it as "a fight
against communism"
The two Senators debated in
directly in separate interviews
copyrighted by U. S. News and
World Report, weekly news maya
zine, in this weeks issue. An
editors note said neither was ad-
viSed of what the other had said.
The 16-page article, in question
Iand-answer form, presented their
views on opposing pages. 1t
ranged over the whole field of
their feud stemming from Senator
McCarthy's charges of Communist
infiltration in the Government.
BentOn's Position Cited.
Senator Benton, who has intro
Iduced a resolution for an investi-
cation aimed at ousting Senator
Mccarthy from his Senate seat,
said it is the duty of the Senators
themselves to curb 'irresponsi-
bility" among their colleagues.
But if the practices of which he
complained continue, Senator
Benton said, "then I believe a de-
vice will have to be worked out,
probably through new legislation,
by which (accusedD people can
have access to the courts"
The Connecticut Senator said
he had no idea of eliminating the
Congressional immunity from
court action under which Senator
Mccarthy has made many of his
charges. Rather, he said, he has
in mind a provision allowing the
accused a chance ito answer the
charges and to clear their reputa-
Itions."
He said he is working with other
Senators to develop a plan for a
similar defense by individuals at
tackled by witnesses in committee
hearings and Il expect a sugges-
ton very shortly"
Defends State Department.
Senator Benton renewed his
frequently voiced view that (a)
Senator McCarthy's accuSati
generally are groundless, CD the
State Department is doing a good
job OF ridding itself of Reds, and
(c) If Senator Mccarthy has any
real information he should testify
to a grand jury about it rather
than make a Senate speech.
Senator Mccarthy said he I'M
dertook to ferret out Communists
because the executive agencies
ARE not doing it."
He said when he came to the
Senate he found that other law
makers for years had been de-
nouncing policies and Govern
ment actions which he called bad
for America and good for Commu-
mist Russia"
But those denunciations wound
up ION the 18th page of the pa
pers and got practically no atten-
tion," Senator Mccarthy said. He
went on:
so I decided, instead of fol-
lowing their practice of attacking
the disastrous policies, to expose
those men responsible for the pol
icies disastrous to America"
Afouses Public Opinion.
In reference to his use of the
Senate as forum for his charges,
Senator Mccarthy said, The only
way you can force the Govern
ment to clean up is by arousing
public opinion"
Regarding complaints that his
accusations have been made un-
der protection of Congressional
immunity" Senator Mccarthy
said he has made a standing offer
to waive that immunity "in every
case in which the accused Com
munist will consent to have his
file presumably FBI and Loyalty
Board records) made available in
any lawsuit he STARTS