Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-17
Letters to The Star

0tar mas moral ObngatlOn either to
repudiate its part in the utilization Of
Mr.. Matthews and offer him an open
apology or else it must refute David
Lawrence's column on the issue.
President Eisenhower may be excused
somewhat for his contribution to the
controversy. attribute his statements
on the issue to incompetent and I'M
reliable advisers. This is obvious from
past utteranceS of the President on
similar public issues. But the clergy
men and the press have no one else
upon whom they may shift the blame
Tor their virulent outburstS. They ought
to know all the facts before they VEN
ture forth with a myriad accusations
which have caused undue harm to an
individual. Clergymen, as responsible
civic leaders, ought not to have relied
solely upon newspaper reports for their
information but should have gone
directly to the source, the article itself.
We know newspapers are inclined to-
ward sensationaiism and are thus
VIGOROUSLY open to incomplete and in
accurate Information, but are clergy
men to be placed in a similar category?
The tactics employed in this instance
by such responsible" persons and
organs do not differ materially from
those of Senator Mccarthy. Con-
demnation without full knowledge of
all pertinent facts seems to be a
cardinal feature of McCarthyiSm.
L. J. LOmbardo.
Editors Note: The Star has neither
vilif1ed Mr.. Matthews nor misrepre-
sented what he said, in his article or
anywhere elSe)
In fairness to Mr.. j. b. Matthews,
why shouldn't he be allowed to present
any evidence he has before the con-
greSSional committee in regard to
his article in the American Mercury?
He states he can back up his charges
about communism in the clergy, SO
why shouldn't he be permitted to do
so? There Is nothing to hide here and
II he has evidence, it should be given,
even in such a controversial matter
as communism in the clergy.
Joseph Hill White III.
President Eisenhower says the
charges made by DR.. j. B. Matthews
in recent magazine article are ode
plorable."
Isn't it also deplorable that to date
these charges haven't been refuted?
Therefore. in spite of efforts to smother
ones SurmiSes, it must be assumed
that DR.. Matthews charges are cor
rect, as well as deplorable.
Charles B. Mcdonald.
In not printing the comments Of DR..
John A. Mackay, head of Princeton
Theological Seminary, on the Matthews
charge you clearly neglected your
readers as well as thorough news-cov-
erage. Since this is now "old" news,
perhaps you will consider the inn
portance of the statement, which ap-
peared in the July IL New York Times.
DR.. Mackay not only attacked the
Matthews charges but he added:
II have never supported any cause
which, on its own merits, was I'M
worthy of support by an independent
Christian citizen of this country who
is sensitive to human situations. If,
in any instance, Communists, unknown
to me and for their own reasons, were
interested in the same cause, that does
not invalidate the Importance of the
for any casual coincidence in my in
terests and theirs. My life and interests
have been entirely open. I have been
consistently concerned about human
freedom. am not ashamed of any
document ever signed or any cause I
ever sponsored, whether it was in the
interests of Republican Spain, or in
favor of Spanish refugees from Fascist
tyranny, or to advocate the repeal of
the McCarran Act. We have come to
the moment when in certain circles in
our country you can be anything you
want, II you are anti Communist. You
may be liar, rake or a Fascist;
everything is condoned so long as you
vociferate against communism"
DR.. Mackay's statement sounded like
one OF the few lucid and truly American
statements to come from prominent
American leaders in recent months.
From my own point of view I would
add that the danger of communism is
not best fought with undemocratic
methods or exf1lbitionists, bigots and
worse. Rather well-informed public
and an efficiently operating Federal
Bureau Of Investigation with the power
and ability to uncover all enemies of
democracy seems to me to be more
American an answer. An unbiased, con-
stantly searching press is vital to an
informed public. Your article on Mr..
Matthews background was of that
caliber. Let us look at more of these
zealots who would sell to any side for
personal gain or out Of psychopathic
drive.