Evening star., 1953-08-22
IMcC Corthy Cites Mailing Rates
In Feud Over Post Editorial

press.
AS all the editors who read
the record know. neither I nor
any other member of the COM
mittee or staff ever questioned
WechSler on editorials about
Mccarthy. You will find that
Wechsler Dragged about his OPP
position to Mccarthy, but no
question was ever asked him
about such editorials. This sub
ject becomes of more than aca-
demic interest when it. is re-
membered that the Postal De-
partment requested $240 million
for the current year to make up
the difference between what was
paid by newspapers. magazines,
etc. for postage and the actual
cost of handling such publica-
tionS by the Post Office. am
sure you will agree that the
Congress who voted this sum
of $240 million and the taxpayers
who pay it would be strongly
opposed to having this money
used to disseminate deliberate
falsehoods. How much of the
$240 million is being used to
subsidize Virgins Washington
Post, l. of course, do not know,
but the amount obviously would
be considerably. Sincerely yours,
JOE MCCARTHY.
Mr.. Graham'S Statement.
Mr.. Graham issued the fol-
lotUing statement:
Cd Senator Mccarthy is at
tempting to disguise his real
purpose as a personal attack on
Mr.. Virgins. Mr.. Virgins, who,
as managing editor is responsible
for the news staff of this news
paper. has already explained
that he had nothing to do with
the editorial. The Senator's true
purpose is to deny the right of
an independent newspaper to
express it's own editorial opin-
ions. I can assure our readers
that this newspaper will continue
its editorial independence wheth-
er it pleases Senator Mccarthy
or not.
(2) If Senator Mccarthy would
close his mouth long enough to
read a little American history
he might discover that he is
ignorant about the meaning of
freedom of the press. This free
dom is not the property of news
papermen. 1t is the natural right
of the public of a free country
to full information without gov
ernmental interference. 1t does
not give newspapers any special
rights. It does give their readers
protection from the totalitarian
methods of doctoring and falsi-
flying news which Senator Nc
Carthy wishes to adopt.
90 While a free press has g
right to its own editorial opini-
ons. we recognize the right Of
others to disagree and we recog-
nize a duty to record that disa-
greement. This We have done
in this instance by reporting
Senator McCarthy's complaint
about our editorial. We con-
tinue to believe our editorial was
fair. The conclusion we reached
there was also reached by the
ASNE Committees report which
the Senator described as "good
advice" The report, signed by
the full committee including the
seven editors whom he wrote
yesterday, described the Sen
ator's questioning as placing
particular emphasis on editori-
ais and columns critical of Sen
ator Mccarthy and other Con-
gressional Investigators"
"a We do agree with Senator
Mccarthy that newspapers
should be compliant to Sen
ator's demands just because the
Congress has voted mail rates
that may provide a subsidy to
newspapers. We have consist
emily stated in our editorials that
newspapers should be charged
the full cost of mail service by
the Post Office. 1t is obvious tc
us that any receipt of Govern
mental favors raises the precise
threat to freedom of the press
which is now openly declared in
Senator McCarthy's letter. Sen
ator Mccarthy has given no evil
dence that he is qualified to be-
come Chief Censor of what news
may be sent in the mail.
Philip L. Graham, Publisher
The Washington Post.
Report Called Incorrect.
Mr.. Pope said last night thai
the ASNE Committees report
apparently was incorrect on the
specific issue whether Mr.
Wechsler was questioned about
editorials critical of Senator
Mccarthy.
He said:
"McCarthy quizzed Wechsler
as to his attitude toward Sena-
tor Jenner. Republican. of In