Evening star., 1953-07-16
Mccarthy Challenged
To Sue ADA Over
Report on Finances
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
Americans for Democratic Ac-
ton has challenged Senator Nc
Carthy, Republican, of Wiscon-
sin, to sue it for libel as a test
of "the basic truth" of Senate
subcommittee report on Sena-
tor McCarthy's finances.
ADA, which calls itself an anti
Communist organization dedi-
Gated to the principles Of Frank
lin D. Roosevelt. accused Ray
Kiermas, Senator McCarthy's S
administrative aide, of trying to
suppress the report.
'This is the Mccarthy equiva-
lent of bookburning." said a tele-
gram to Senator Mccarthy yes
terday. It was signed by James
E. Doyle, ADA national CO.
chairman.
Says 1t Has No Legal Status.
Mr.. Doyle said Mr.. Kiermas
wrote letters saying the report
had no legal privilege, to ADA,
the Beacon Press of Boston and
Brentano'S book stores.
ADA has been circulating the
report, made public last January,
throughout the country "as a
public service" Beacon Press
and Brentano's have been dis
tributing it through regular re-
tail channels.
Mr.. Kiermas, fianked by Sen
ator Mccarthy, told newsmen he
had sent the letters to all three.
as well as a similar one to New
Republic Magazine. Senator Nc
Carthy said, "I in no way. disap-
prove of the letter."
The Senator said the letters
put the recipients on notice so
they would not be able to plead
ignorance of the facts as a de-
fense against any libel suit.
Sees Intimidation Attempt.
A Brentano's official in the
chains head Office in New York
said the company believes it has
been singled out for attention
in an attempt to intimidate us"
He said that so far as the COM
pany can ascertain, no other
book stores have received such
a letter. A spot-check of Wash
ington booksellers seemed to
confirm this.
"At the moment" Brentano'S
said, 1--WE are awaiting advice
from our counsel. In the mean
time all our stores which have
the book in the window are
keeping it in the window, and
any one who wants to buy it
can do so. We feel that for
some reason we can't under
stand we are being singled out
for attention in an attempt to
1ntimidate us.
Unfortunately it gives the
impression in the papers that
we are in league with other Or
ganizations in an attempt to de-
fame Senator Mccarthy. We're
just in the business of selling
books, and we intend to keep
on unless our counsel advises
otherwise"
Ballantine's in Washington,
which also has the book on sale,
reported today it has heard
nothing from the Senator.
A copy of Mr.. Kiermas' letter
to ADA, made public by that Or
ganization, accused it of malice
in distributing the report. Mr..
Kiermas contended neither the
Senate nor any Senate commit
tee had adopted the report and
therefore, the material con-
tanned in it is in no way privi-
legged"
ADA retorted it had no doubt
the report is privileged, that is,
publishable with immunity to
libel. But it offered to waive any
privilege if Senator Mccarthy
would file libel suit.
Furthermore" said the tele-
gram to Mr.. Mccarthy, "such a
libel suit will give you the oppor-
tunity to testify under oath con-
corning the facts in the Senate
subcommittee report, testimony
which you failed to give the sub
committee despite their repeated
requests that you do So"
Mr.. Kiermas' letter indicated
he was acting on his own behalf
and not Senator McCarthy's.
THE report states that I de-
posted $29,230 in cash over a
five-year period with the clear
intimation that there was some
thing improper about this" Mr..
KiermaS wrote.
Like any Senate employe, he
said, he is paid in cash. He said
his salary totaled more than
$4,000 over the five-year period
and he put his salary in the
bank.
Iran Parliament Shrinks