The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1953-07-30
This Week
in
Washington


j. b. Matthews, a professional
Communist investigator, who is
employed by Sen. Joe Nc
Carthy's investigating committee
has kicked up row on Capital
Hill that is not likely to die down
quickly and, many believe, may
cause a tremendous explosion
when the full force of the con-
troversy reaches the general
public.
Matthews writing in the July
American Mercury, made some
shocking charges against the
Protestant clergy that they form
the largest single group sup
porting the Communist appara
tus in the United States" He
even went so far as to name the
figure, 1000.
His sweeping charge was bas-
ed on no given evidence, He did
show that a relatively small
number of Protestant clergy in
the us. have backed peace
petitions" that were circulated
by Communist organization, but
were more or less disguised.
Washington observers are say
ing that his charges are SO
sweeping and ridiculous they ap-
pear amusing until one stocs to
think about them And promi-
nent Protestant clergymen are
protesting the statement to any
one and everyone who will lis
ten. They are pointing out
that men of pacifist faith are
sometimes hoodwinked by cum
ming propagandists, but it does
/ not make them fellow travellers.
By the same token they report
that because a Springfield, Mass,
Catholic clergyman visited Mos
cow in 1914 and returned to re-
peat Russian propaganda does
not mean that the Catholic
clergy as a whole or any part of
it are fellow travellers.
The explosion that has follow
ed Matthews article is having
its political repercussions, also
Political observers are pointing
out that Senator Mccarthy i'm
mediately came to the defense OF
his investigator. This was i'll adj
vised, observers are saying, since
the Wisconsin senator is a pro-
minent Catholic layman.
But more important, it has
caused the first split within the
Mccarthy committee itself. Three
members of the committee, Sen
ators McClelland Of Arkansas
Symington of Missouri and Jack
son of Washington, are demand
ing Matthews scalp. They may
not get it, observers say, but
lively fight is in prospect
Matthews article makes al
even more ridiculous charge a
eainst Protestant clergymei
than that of many supporting thu
Communist apparatus in the U
S. He shows that some ProteStan
clergymen have objected to th'
McCarran Act.
What is so ridiculous abou
this implication, observers say
is that the president of the Uni
ted States, Dwight d. Eisen
hover, himself has objected t
the McCarran Act and at tn
| moment is insisting upon 1t
amendment.
This unpleasant and unsup
ported article by paid investl
. gator who is supported by Sena
tor Mccarthy may have NOR
far reaching results than he o
e anyone else thought.
Senator Aiken of Vernon
chairman of the Senate AgrlcuI
ture Committee, recently mad
prediction that most Washing
ton observers are willing to az
Z cept He predicts the Republlca
u administration will face tn
voters next year with farl
. price support program abol
like that now on the statul
books. He thinks there may /
some changes in the law, bl
does not expect major revision.
, "There probably will be q
.o effort to place permanent prl'
~ support on the books, but | thin
+ congress will want to keep /
finger on that situation" he say