Evening star., 1951-09-09
'McC Corthyism' Judged
Poor Campaign Issue
Writer Says Democrats Err
In Fighting Senator
By Fronk R. Kent

According to administration politi-
cisns and publicists, who always speak
authoritatively if not always accurately.
Mr.. Truman has now picked the battle
field" The 1852 issue, it is declared, will
be cCarthyism." This, of course, is
nonsense. Yet it is being solemnly pro-
posed and discussed.
To sustain this view, the Presidents
recent speech assailing Senator Nc
Carthy before the American Legion is
being cited. Also, there was the follow
ing speech of Labor Secretary Maurice
Tobin, who sometimes seems to be the
CIO representative in the cabinet.
Also there were the several speeches of
Senator William Benton of Connecticut,
demanding the removal of Senator Nc
Carthy from the Senate and urging the
Department of Justice to take action
against him. All this, it is asserted is
put prelude to a general administra-
ton assault upon Mr. Mccarthy, di-
rected by Mr.. Truman and supported
by Secretary Of State Acheson, who, of
course, under such circumstances could
not be allowed to resign.
On the spur of the moment it is a
little difficult to think of anything that
could be worse than making Mccarthy
ism" the paramount issue in the coming
ampaign-particular from the stand
point OF those who genuinely deplore
Senator Mccarthy and his methods. In
the first place, it would inf1ame popular
passions and prejudiceS to such an ex-
tent as to obscure all other issues and
make the fight one Of unprecedented
hiffornnSS y,iN r..
place, it would be wholly Intellectual in
squelching Senator Mccarthy.
Those who support him insist it Is
because. regardless Of his recklessness
and lack Of evidence, there is so much
truth in his charges that, despite
administration and newspaper denun-
citation, q large part of the population
believe in him. Always his supporters
recall the Truman "red herring" descrip-
ton of the Alger Hiss trials and the
Acheson defense of Hiss after his con-
viction as evidence of how little admin
lstration denials amount to. At this time
Mr.. Mccarthy appears all out of charges,
but an investigation headed by a Demo-
crat, Senator McCarran, of Nevada. has
been going on for weeks and appears
to be going deeper and getting more sus-
tanning facts than the Tydings commit
tee, which Mccarthy loudly branded as
a "whitewash" committee. He is now
cooperating" with the McCarran COM
mittee, but he has not presented any,
thing new or important for long time.
Under such circumstances, to make
"McCarthyism" the issue would seem
the height of stupidity upon the part
OF the Democrats. Certainly that would
be playing directly into the Mccarthy
hands. Left alone. Mr.. Mccarthy soon
or late will sink into obscurity. But
violent party attacks on him not only
would revive interest in him but solid
tfy and strengthen his following. Ger
tainly, it would react upon the Demo-
cratic Party. And even more certainly
1t would be injurious to the national
interests. 1t is easy to understand that
the Democrats next year would like to
get away from issues such as high
prices and imitation, waste and extrava-
gance, administration scandals and in
efficiency. But that they should take
the initiative in forcing a discussion of
the Mccarthy charges, thereby reviv-
ing interest in them and him, seems
plain silly.
The real yardStick by which to
measure "McCarthyism" was furnished
by the reception given, in the Senate
and out, to the Benton resolution pro-
posing action by the Senate to remove
Senator Mccarthy from that body. It
simply did not stir ripple of interest.
No one, in the Senate or n,It toot, -
seriously. One reason, of course. was
that every one recognized there was no
chance whatever of the Senate taking
the action proposed A second reason
was that 1t seemed SO obviously pub
hclty-seeking stunt upon the part of its
sponsor.
The third reason was that its sponsor
was Senator Benton. 1t is not too much
to say that Senator Benton is not a
very great favorite among his COL