Evening star., 1951-03-13
Butler Inquiry
To|dHowTab|oid
Prepared
Composite Picture
Of Tydings and
Browder Explained
By w. H. Shippen

C1ldt OeIldGOT buJler prODdDly
knew nothing about the prepara-
ton of a campaign tabloid de-
scribed by his unsuccessful op-
ponent, Millard E. Tydings, as a
tissue of lies"
Frank Smith, former Times
Herald chief editorial writer and
now administrative assistant to
Senator Butler, told the inquiry
that he supervised the preparation
Of the four-page circular"
Mr.. Smith testified: Il do not
recall discussing the circular with
John Marshall Butler until after
the election was over"
Mr.. Tydings was especially
critical of a composite photo
graph in the tabloid which pur-
ported to show him in friendly
association with Earl Browder,
former Communist leader.
Didn't Originate Idea.
Mr.. Smith said:
I'm the interest of truth I wish
to make it clear that I did not
originate the idea. I did not
handle its makeup. 1t was taken
out Of my hands entirely. MI.
Tankersley executed the whole
idea"
The witness was referring to
Garvin Tankersley, former as
Sistant managing editor of the
Times Herald and now an en-
ploye of the Chicago Tribune,
owner of the local newspaper.
Referring to the composite pic
ture. MI. Smith said Mr.. Tankers-
ley ordered it done and returned
it to me when it was finished. I
do not say this in any effort to
shift any responsibility on any
one else because I considered the
composite idea merely technical
solution to space problem"
Mr.. Smith told the subcommit-
tee that "at no time was it ever
imagined that any one would
think the composite was anything
but what it was plainly marked" :"
Suggested by Mrs. Miller.
Mr.. Smith said the idea of the
tabloid was first suggested to him
by Mrs. Ruth Mccormick Miller,
editor of the Times Herald, which
printed half a million copies of
the newspaper at a charge of
81 ,440 to Butler supporters,
Mrs. Miller, who is to testify
later today along with several
Times-Herald employees, was a
spectator in the crowded caucus
room at the Senate Office building
while Mr.. Smith told his story.
The witness explained that
while he was born in Cumberland,
Md, he is now a resident of Vir-
ginia. He had worked on the
Baltimore Sun and for many
years was assigned to Capitol Hill
as reporter for the Times Herald
before he was made chief editorial
writer, three years ago.
In the latter part of October,
Mr.. Smith said Mrs. Miller told
him the paper had been asked to
publish circular, From the
Record"
Got Material From Mccarthy.
Il began to gather the material
which came from Senator Nc
Carthy's Office" MI. Smith said,
and from Mr.. Jon Jonkel and
others working in his office and
some stock news service pictures
were taken from the Times
Herald library"
Senator Mccarthy campaigned
against Mr.. TydingS after the lat
ter presided at a Senate inquiry
into Mccarthy charges of Com
munist infltration of the State
Department. The Wisconsin Sen
etor charged that Mr.. Tydings'
group "Whitewashed" his charges.
Mr.. Jonkel is the Chicago
public relations expert who was
hired by Mr.. Butler as his cam
paign manager after Mrs. Miller
telephoned Mr.. Jonkel in Chicago
and asked that he come here to
confer with Mr.. Butler and Mary
land Republican leaders.
All of the material for the tab
loid. Mr.. Smith said. finally
found its way to my desk. Nothing
used in From the Record was
new. 1t had all been printed be-
fore or used by radio COM
mentators or used by responsible
persons in speeches.
Much of the information was
taken directly from the Congress
sional Record or from newspaper
columns. 1t was a rehash. Much
of it I copied. Other portions
were boiled down from the thou