Evening star., 1952-07-04
Benton Asks McC earthly Probers
ToCheck on Possible Perjury
Urges Action After
Verbal Fireworks in
Subcommittee Session
By George Beveridoe

map IuCure plans To-Day, after
winding up the latest round in the
verbal free-for-all between Sen
ators Mccarthy. Republican, of
Wisconsin and Benton, Democrat,
of Connecticut.
Before the group was an appeal
from Senator Benton to send both
Senators testimony to the Justice
Department for study leading to
possible perjury action. Chairman
Gillette refused to comment on
the request.
The fireworks yesterday centered
around Senator Benton's personal
affairs and his activities as an
Assistant Secretary Of State be-
tween 1945 and 1947. They came,
in a session that lasted from 10
am. until nearly 9 pm, as Sem
ator Mccarthy demanded an all
out subcommittee probe of the
Connecticut Democrat.
Senator Mccarthy described his
arch-enemy as q chameleon who
wages q mythical war on Com
muniSm," and he said Senator
Benton is worth millions Of dollars
to the Communist Party.
II don't accuse Benton of being
"a deliberate tool Of the Commu-
nists." he said, "but he is doing as
much damage as If he were. His
only out is that he is SO stupid he
doesn't know what he's doing"
Soviet Tactics Charged.
Senator Benton. in turn, &C.
cused Senator Mccarthy Of using
Soviet tactics of fraud, deceit
and deception" He said Senator
McC Carthy,s testimony made him
the star witness in the move tc
oust the Wisconsin Republican
from the Senate.
Swinging over to Senator Nc.
Carthy's charges, Senator Benton
said he took the lead in fighting
Red inf1ltration when he took over
the State Departments overseas
information setup in the, postwa,
era. The department was cuttinf
personnel during that period, thu
Senator said, and he ordered thai
anyone whose loyalty or security
was in doubt be fired. He claimed
credit for inventing the reason.
able doubt philosophy"
He denied fatty Senator Nc.
Carthy's main charge-that HI
gave a haven to "at least sever
fellow travellers, Communists OF
dupes" in the State Department
Senator Benton said he tool
full responsibility for appointing
one Of the seven. Prof. zecharial
Chaffee, jr., to a United Nations
commission on freedom of tn,
press. While Mr.. Chaffee has be.
come 'bloodied over lost causes,
he is "a great fighter against com.
|munism," the Senator said.
Cites Resignation Of Stone.
He pointed out that another O.
the seven. William T. Stone, re.
signed from the department las
February, five years after the Sen.
|ator departed.
Mr.. Stone appeared at yester.
days hearing and asked for 8
chance to testify later on Sena.
tor McCarthy's false. malicious
and libelous" charges. Later. h.
told reporters he had been clearec
by a loyalty board and that h.
was under no pressure when b.
resigned.
Senator Benton said he ono,
tried to fire another Of the seven
Robert r. Miller. when he ,heart
fMr. Miller once had worked for {
Moscow newspaper. Told there
were not sufficient grounds for dis.
|missal, the Senator said he put Mr.
Miller on a "disagreeable paper.
shuftiing job and soon he re.
signed"
The Senator also denied .
charge that he once intervened IL
q loyalty proceeding on behalf o.
IDr. Esther, Brunauer. who. tn.
State Department said, has beer
released for reasons not involvinf
her loyalty. His statements wert
merely what I observed" of DR.
Brunauer. and were neither TO,
NOR against her, Senator Bentor
said.
The others named by Senate,
lMcC Carthy were: