Evening star., 1951-07-31
The Political Mil
The Political Mill
Election Probe Expected
To Clear Senator Butler
Report, However, Due to Assoil
TubIoid Use in Compuien
By Gould Lincoln

The Senate subcommittee which has
been investigating the election Of Sena-
tor John Marshall Butler, Republican,
OF Maryland is driving toward compile
ton of its report, which its members
hope (though without final aSSurance)
will be unanimous. Former Senator Tyd-
ings, Democrat. whom Senator Butler
defeated by about $4,000 votes in major
upset of the 1850 congressional cam
paig, claimed before the committee that
the campaign waged against him was an
unethical and lying affair. He stated
that he was not making contest" of
the Butler election-but it has been clear
he would welcome recommendation by
the committee that Mr.. Butler be un-
seated.
The hearings in the Butler inquiry
were completed last May. The explana-
ton for delay in submitting a report
was that the committee counsel, during
the hearings, was compelled to return to
his private practice and it had not been
possible to obtain counsel desired. The
committee, headed by Senator Monroney.
Democrat, Of Oklahoma, finally decided
to write the report itself. Composed of
two Democrats, Senators Monroney and
Hennings Of Missouri, and Hendrickson
OF New Jersey and Mrs. Margaret Chase
Smith Of Maine, both Republicans, the
committee worked long hours both Sat-
urday and Sunday of the last week end
and the report, it is said, should be
completed within week or ten days.
Tabloid to Be Assailed.
Unless there is an unexpected develop
ment, the report is to contain neither
recommendation for a contest Of the
Butler election nor a proposal that Mr..
Butler be ousted from his seat in the.
Senate. 1t will, however, crack down
heavily on the use of tabloid by Butler
campaigners which contained COM
posite" picture of Mr.. Tydings and Earl
Browder, former head of the Communist
Party in this country, and number Of
derogatory statements about the former
Senator. 1t also will criticize sharply
the failure of the Butler campaign
manager, Jon Jonkel, to report earlier
expenditures in the campaign amount
ing to $27 7,000-a failure for which JON
kel was tried and fined $4,000.
The Butler election campaign was
couched largely on the So-oalled NC
Carthyism" iSsue-and so aroused in
terest nationally. Mr.. Tydings was
chairman of committee which investi-
gated the charges made by Senator Nc
Carthy. Republican, Of Wisconsin that
the State Department was honeycombed
with Communists and fellow travellers.
Mr.. Tydings was charged with having
conducted "whitewash" investigation,
which he vehemently denied.
Senate Unlikely to Act.
The report of the Monroney subcom-
mittee will be made first to Senator Gil
lette, Democrat. of Iowa. who appointed
it, and then to the full Rules Committee
of the Senate and finally, it is expected.
to the Senate itself. Senator Butler took
his seat in the Senate last January
without prejudice" to any contest or
custer effort that might be brought. Sn
far there has been no announced in
tention on the part of any Senator, to
move Buffers expulsion. Without
recommendation from the Senate COM
mittee, urging expulsion, it is extremely
doubtful that the Senate would take
such action.
The Senate committee is intent on
lifting, if it can, senatorial campaigns
out of the muck which unfortunately
marred several senatorial campaigns last
year, including that in Maryland. The
committee has still to investigate the
Ohio campaign. in which undertaking
was used against Senator Taft-though
Intellectually. And the full committee
has before it the case Of Joe Hanley
who retired from the gubernatorial race
to leave the field open for Republic
can nomination for Gov. Dewey-and
took the Republican senatorial nomina-
ton for Senator and was defeated by
Senator Lehman. Democrat. Charges
were made that Mr.. Hanley was bought
off" with promises of financial assist
ance and lucrative job.