Evening star., 1951-08-16
The Political Mil
The Political Mill
Bottle Against Benton
Begins in Connecticut
Mccarthy Made Issue Clear
After Attacks by Truman
By Gould Lincoln

In Connecticut the voters are watch
ing with mild interest the build-up of
a real battle for the reelection of Sen
ator William Benton, Democrat and
erstwhile Assistant Secretary of State.
Mr.. Benton was elected last year by a
narrow vote over his Republican oppo-
nent, Prescott Bush. Mr.. Bush has al
ready announced he will seek renom-
ination by the G. o. p, and so far he
appears to be we'll in the lead. He lost
in 1850 by little more than thousand
votes.
Senator Benton has stuck his neck
out, apparently on purpose, with his
demand that the Senate consider ex-
pelling Senator Joe" Mccarthy Of
Wisconsin, Republican, because of Nc
Carthy's activities in the Maryland
senatorial race last year which resulted
in the defeat of former Senator Mil
lard Tydings, Democrat, and because OF
other Mccarthy activities, interpreted
to mean McCarthy's oft-reiterated
charges of communism and Red lean
ings in the State Department. Because
of this Mccarthy angle, the Connecti-
cut race will be watched by the entire
country, when the campaign gets under
way.
Issue Made Clear.
President Truman has come to Sen
ator Bentons assistance with his at
tack on "hatemongers" in his address
dedicating the Washington Cd. c.
headquarters of the American Legion
earlier this week. Senator Mccarthy
was obviously Mr.. Truman's target. The
Wisconsin Senator, however, reacted
quickly to the attacks made by the
President and Senator Benton, welcom-
ing a campaign against him and his
tactics. Senator Mccarthy himself has
to run again for election next year, too.
Further, Senator Mccarthy has said he
will carry the fight into Connecticut
against Senator Benton in the coming
campaign. Senator Mccarthy made the
issue clear, from his standpoint, when
he said: "If Truman wants to make
the issue against communiSm-which
he calls McCarthyism-an issue in the
campaign, I will welcome it. 1t will
give the people chance to choose be-
tween Americanism and combination
of Trumanism and communism"
Perhaps Senator Benton was encour-
aged to defy Senator Mccarthy as he
has by the fact that the Wisconsin Sena-
tor did enter the 1850 campaign in Con-
necticut, but failed to draw the crowds
or arouse the interest expected, Last
year a number of Republicans in this
State were reluctant to go along with
Senator Mccarthy. whose charges
against the State Department and its
personnel had been declared unproVen
by the Senate committee headed by
Mr.. Tydings Whether they will hesi-
tate next year may depend largely on
the results of the findings of the Nc
Carran Senate subcommittee, which is
now going into Mccarthy charges
against the State Department personnel
and others in far more driving man
ner than did the Tydings committee.
Findings May Affect Vote.
Indeed, the findings of this committee
may have a definite effect on the ma
tional election. If it should be developed
that the Far East policy of the State De-
partment was materially affected by fell
low travellers, the repercussions will be
wide. Senator McCarran. hard-hitting
Democrat from Nevada, is inclined to
let the chips fall as they will
The Republican Party in Connecticut
is reported in good shape. Gov. John
over Chester Bowles, Democrat, is
credited with a good administration and
real independence of party bosses. He
has insisted on sticking to his platform,
despite pressure. Notably he put through
the legislature bill prohibiting dual
Jobs"
1t had been practice for members of
the legislature to get themselves State
jobs, and Mr.. Lodge, in his campaign, as
sailed the practice. The Governor has
more than three years to complete his
present term, and he has announced he
Will not be candidate next year for the
Republican senatorial nomination.
In addition to electing Republican
Governor last year, the G. o. P. elected
four out of the six Connecticut members
OF the House. And Connecticut is one
OF the States in which the Republicans
are hoping to pick up a Senate seat next
year.