Evening star., 1953-07-12
EmbattIed Mccarthy
Awaits Reaction 10
Matthew'S Dispute
BY the A.seeiotad Pres,

Senator Mccarthy has got
himself involved in the biggest
political hassle Of his career.
Whether he rides out the storm
successfully seems to depend
largely on public reaction.
When Senator Mccarthy at
first refused and then accepted
reluctantly the resignation Of
j. B. Matthews as head Of the
Senate investigating subcommit-
tees staff. the Wisconsin Sena-
tor invited a religious controver-
sy which most politicians regard
as dynamite.
Mr.. Matthews had said in an
American Mercury magazine art
icle that "the largest single group
supporting the Communist ap-
paratuS in the United States to-
day is composed of Protestant
clergymen."
The Wisconsin Senator, Ro-
man Catholic, said this wasn't
an attack on the Protestant
clergy, which he said he had mo
remotest intention of investigat-
ing" He said it was written be-
fore Mr.. Matthews was employed
by his committee, and he point
ed out that Mr.. Matthews said
the vast majority of Protestant
clergymen were loyal.
Not Worried by Criticism.
But President Eisenhower's
assertion that such attacks por-
tray contempt for the principles
Of freedom and decency put him
on the side against Mr.. Mat
thews and, by implication,
against Senator Mccarthy.
Senator Mccarthy never has
seemed too worried about White
House criticism, or riticism
from almost any other source,
for that matter. The Wisconsin
Senator is described by some of
his colleagues as thriving on
criticism.
However, he has avoided any
direct breaks with Gen. Eisen-
hover and has concentrated his
fire on administration officials
below the top level, except for a
brush with mutual security di-
rector Harold E. StaSSen over
shipping to Communist coun-
tries.
Senator Mccarthy took in
stride the resignation of three
Democratic members of his in
vestigating committee. Sena-
tors Mcclellan Of Arkansas,
1Symington of Missouri and
Jackson of Washington quit as a
sequel to the Matthews incident
when the four committee Ee-
publicans voted to let Senator
Mccarthy hire and fire all Ler-
sonnel. 1895
Free Field for Inquiries.
Senator Mundt, Republican Of
South Dakota, said that when
the Republicans. including SEN
ator Mccarthy were in the mi
nority the Democrats denied
them the right to name any staff
members.
Since other Democrats on the
full Government Operations
Committee parent group of the
Investigating subcommittee, said
they wouldn't fill the vacancies,
this seemed to leave Senator
Mccarthy and Republicans a
free field for their inquiries.
Senator Mundt said he hopes
the Democrats will come back
after they have thought the
matter over. But the Democrats
showed no signs of any such
reversal of form.
Overture Is Rebuffed.
The action of Senators Nc
Clellan. Symington and Jackson
tended to put the Democratic
Party on record against Senator
Mccarthy. Whether that is good
or bad for the Democrats re-
mains to be seen.
Could Be Damaging.
But there are some significant
signs that the latest Mccarthy
incident could be damaging to
the Wisconsin Senator.
One of these was the state
ment by Senator Byrd, Demo-
crat of Virginia. denouncing the
blanket charge" he said had
been made by Mr.. Matthews
against the clergy and demand
ing that the former investigator
name names.
Senator Byrd, who has main
tanned friendly relations with