Evening star., 1953-07-08
Subcommittee Fight
Faces Mccarthy on
Matthew'S Retention
By Cecil HoIlond

Another sharp controversy,
this time generated within his
own Senate subcommittee, today
confronted Senator Mccarthy,
Republican. of Wisconsin. after
he had blocked a bipartisan
move to oust j. B. Matthews as
the subcommittee's staff director.
Senator Mccarthy, who has in
the past been an outSpoken
critic of authors he considers to
be Subversive, defended his posi-
ton in the Matthews case by de-
claring that, while the staff di-
rector may have written many
things with which I disagree"
he doesn't feel he should criticize
him on that account.
II feel I have no right of CEN
sorship over any one," the SEN
ator declared.
Three Democratic Senators who
spanked the custer move served
notice they would continue their
effort to have Mr.. Matthews
fired. They said they would seek
legal and Senate precedent sup
port to overrule Senator Nc
Carthy's claim that he. as chair
man. has the right to hire and
fire staff members without the
subcommittee's approval.
The three-Senators Mcclellan
of Arkansas. jackson of Wash
ington and Symington of Mis-
souri-have demanded the re-
moval of Mr.. Matthews because
of what they described as "a
shocking and unwarranted" at
tack on the American clergy in
a recent magazine article.
Charged Support of Reds.
In the article. Mr.. Matthews
said: THE largest single group
supporting the Communist ap-
paratus in the United States
today is composed of Protestant
clergymen."
The Democratic protests were
considered in a closed Subcom-
mittee meeting late yesterday.
After the meeting Senator Nc
Carthy said Mr.. Matthews had
submitted last week his resigna-
ton as a result Of the contro-
versy over the article.
II did not accept it," the Wis
consin Republican added. II have
no present plans for accepting
it,"
Senators Mcclellan, Jackson
and Symington said they had
recommended that Senator Nc
Carthy accept the resignation.
No Vote Taken.
Senator Potter. Republican, of
Michigan, said he would have
voted for the custer but no vote
was taken. OF of the other two
members Of the subcommittee,
both Republican, Senator Mundt
of South Dakota left before the
meeting ended and Senator Dirk
sen of Illinois was absent.
There were indications that
the controversy was swelling far
beyond the subcommittee. SEN
ator Jackson said he had re-
ceived a heavy volume of mes
sageS supporting the position
taken by himself and the other
Senators urging the custer of
Mr.. Matthews.
One of the messages was
telegram from DR.. Samuel Nc
Crea Cavert of New York, gen.
eral secretary of the National
Council of Churches. It read:
Your reputation of public at
tack upon loyalty of Protestant
clergy as a group is deeply ap-
preciated by National Council of
Churches. Believe overwhelm-
ing majority of the 35 million
members of its constituent de-
nominations will be grateful for
your continuing helpful interest,""
Symington Submits Letter.
Senator Symington touched on
the larger aspects of the con-
troversy in a letter he submitted
to Senator Mccarthy at the
closed meeting.
There may be traitors to their
country and their faith in the
Protestant religion, as there may
be in all religions, he wrote.
For any man, however, to
write that the largest single
group supporting the Commu-
mist apparatus in the United
States today is composed of Prot
estant clergymen is just as false
an attack on the leaders of that
faith as it would be if said about
the leaders of any other faith
which had as its foundation, be-
lief in God.
"The foundation of commu-
nism is non-belief in God.
mo greater disservice could
be done to the future of Amer
lea than for some one in author
ity in our Government to at
tack one. branch of our clergy
as against another"
Mcclellan Backs Custer.
Senator Mcclellan, ranking
Democratic member of the sub
committee and former chairman
oc Il.