Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-06-04
Benton Charges
Mccarthy Plays
'NumbersGame'
Says He Used Deceit
In Senate Statement
| About Communists
By w. n. Shipper

By W. H. Shipper
Senator Mccarthy was accused
today of playing fraudulent and
|deceitful numbers game" when he
told the Senate he could name 81
|card-carrying Communists in the
State Department.
The Wisconsin Republican came
back at his accuser. Senator Ben
ton, Democrat, of Connecticut, by
demanding to know what he would
have done in the same circum-
stances.
Senator Mccarthy testified at
the pre-trial hearing on his So
million suit against Senator Ben
ton that he had made every effort
to force an investigation of Red
infiltration of the Government.
What would you have done II
you had been a minority member
Iof Congress and you had sent
telegram to the President asking
for an investigation but had re-
ceived no reply?". Senator Nc
earthly asked.
Would Have Gone to Grand Jury.
Senator Benton replied that II
he had evidence he would have
presented it to a grand jury and
had the Communists investigated
quite apart from any action the
State Department or administra-
ton might wish to take.
Senator Mccarthy. however, re-
turned to the question, What
would you have done in my placer"
How can I say what I'd do on
the assumption that I already had
done something I never would
have done?" Senator Benton re-
torted.
Senator Benton declared he
never would have made such a
statement in the Senate without
evidence to back his words. More
over, If he had received the evil
dence he would have proceeded in
a different manner, he said.
II would try to have the sus-
poets investigated and fired if
found guilty." Senator Benton
said, adding that if this had failed
he would have gone to the grand
jury.
Charges Misstatement.
"Then you think I should never
have exposed these men because I
did not have evidence to prove
them guilty of disloyalty beyond
q reasonable doubt?" Senator Nc
Carthy asked.
mo" Senator Benton replied.
l"You have misstated my position"
He added he would have gone
Iahout the case in different way
land would not have practiced
fraud and deceit like that at
temped in your numbers game"
Senator Benton said Senator
Met arthy at various times had
declared he knew 81, 81 and over
200 Communists in Government
employ. He pointed out that at
the time Senator Mccarthy
brought his charges a law had
been passed making 1t felony
for a Communist to hold q Fed.
eral position.
Under questioning Senator Ben
ton declared that while he was
an Assistant Secretary Of State
he made, every effort to weed
out" Communists who had infll-
trated the State Department dur
ing and Immediately after World
War II.
Asked Help of FBI.
Senator Benton explained that
he asked for the help of the FBI
in making loyalty checks at the
time Gen. Marshall became Sec.
Rotary of State in 1947.
"Can you name a Communist
who you had fired in the last
five or 10 years." Senator Nc
Carthy asked.
Senator Benton said he was
not prepared to answer the ques-
ton from memory. Senator Nc
earthly then demanded, do you
refuse to answer on grounds you
might incriminate yourself?"
Amid laughter from spectators
in a Senate hearing room, Senator
Benton grinned broadly and re-
piled he did not choose to answer
for "fear he might incriminate
some innocent" employe.
Defends DIR. Chaifee.
Senator Mccarthy questioned
Senator Benton about his appoint
ment in the State Department of
DR.. Zachariah Chaffee as an as
sistant. DR.. Chaffee later was
named to the United Nations
commission on a free press. The
Senator denied that he had rec
commended DR.. Chaffee to Alger
Hiss. then an official of the State
Department and now serving time
for conviction of perjury.
DR.. Chaffee. Senator Benton said
is an eminent scholar" who some
times defended unpopular causes.
In reply to a question, Senator
Benton said he did not check be-
fore appointing DR.. Chaffee to
learn if he had belonged to any
Communist fronts prior to that
time. He said when DR.. Chaffee
joined the State Department the
security checks were made within
the department.
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