Evening star., 1953-10-24
Teacher at NIT
Facing Contempt
Action by Mccarthy
By Cecil Holland
Sfor Staff Correspondent

NEW YORK, Oct. PA col
lege teacher who has been en-
gagged in electronics work for the
Government faced contempt pro-
ceedingS today in connection
with the Senate investiga-
ton of suspected espionage at
the Army's Fort Monmouth IN.
j. radar laboratories which has
resulted in the suspension of at
least 20 civilian workers.
Senator Mccarthy said the
contempt proceedings will be
taken against the Massachusetts,
Institute of Technology teacher
as a result of his appearance be-
fore the Senate Investigations
subcommittee here yesterday.
The Wisconsin Republican said
the teacher admitted having be-
longed to the Communist Party
from 1887 until 1850. But he re-
fused. the Senator added, to re-
veal the names of individuals he
knew in the party. The name of
the witness was not disclosed.
AS the series of closed hearings
recessed for 10 days, Senator
Mccarthy said another witness
also was an NIT teacher who
testified that he was a member
of the Communist Party from
1887 until 1945 during part of
which time he worked at the
Fort Monmouth laboratories.
Harvard Professor Named.
This man" said Senator Nc
Carthy, gave us the name of
a professor at Harvard who, he
said, was and is a Communist
now. He told us this Harvard
professor once worked in the
radiation laboratory at Fort
Monmouth and was a Communist
then"
The Senator said the Harvard
professor will be called as a wit
ness when the closed hearings
are resumed after recess during
which the Wisconsin Republican
will fill speaking engagements in
Wisconsin, Illinois and Arizona.
AS the recess began. Senator
Mccarthy announced that five
more civilian workers at Fort
Monmouth had been suspended,
bringing the total to at least 20.
There was no confirmation of
this figure from the Army or
comment on reports that the ac-
tual number Of suspensions runs
much higher. Senator Mccarthy
made the statement in the pres
ence of Maj. Gen. Kirke B. Law
ton, the Fort Monmouth COM
mander, who has been attending
most of the closed hearings.
The mounting number of sus-
pensions, said Senator Nc
Carthy, indicates the speed and
aggreSSiveneSs with which Sec
retary Of the Army Stevens and
Gen. Lawton are moving to clear
up a situation which has existed
for years and for which they
were IN no way responsible"
LawtOn Declines Comment.
Senator Mccarthy referred to
Gen. LaWton a question as to
whether the investigation has
involved any military personnel.
Gen. LaWton replied with a quick
no comment"
The Senator said all the Sus-
pensions were all based on secur-
lty grounds for alleged Commu-
nistic activities. He added that
they indicate a very encourage
ing tightening up" on security at
the radar research center and in
vited Gen. Lawton to comment
on the statement.
I will neither condone nor
condemn" the general replied.
But you're going all right"
Senator Mccarthy said during
eight days of closed hearings
here and one at Fort Monmouth
the subcommittee has questioned
more than so witnesses, with
several refusing to answer ques-
tions on grounds Of possible self
incrimination.
One of these, according to
Senator McCarthy's report to