Evening star., 1953-01-25
Lincoln
(Continued From First Page.)


mendation was that primary
elections and politician conven-
tions be included in the federal
corrupt practices laws.
Hits Primary "MOckery".
In this connection, the report
said:
1.-THE failure of the Federal
Corrupt Practices Act to include
primaries makes a mockery OF
the entire law. Legislation must
be realistic to be effective. In
many States where one party is
dominant, winning the party
nomination is tantamount to
election. In most states primary
elections are not merely formal
party approvals, but genuine
contests. The same applies to
party conventions. It is, under
the present law, possible for large
sums of money to be spent in a
primary by a candidate or his
committees which will accrue to
his benefit in the general elec-
tion (which follows) but which
are not reportable under the
Federal corrupt Practices Act"
Another recommendation, with
bearing particularly on the 1850
senatorial election in Maryland.
is to strengthen the laws dealing
with the circulation of scurrilous
campaign literature. The report
proposes that greater responsible
ity be place on a candidate. and
that where such literature is
prepared or circulated with his
knowledge, "he should be deemed
responsible therefor. and in the
event of his election, it should
serve as a basis for his disqual-
ification by the Senate or House
when it passes upon his qualiflca-
tions."
Recall Tydings Charges.
After the Maryland senatorial
election of 1850, former Senator
TydingS, Democrat, charged that
scurrilous literature including a
composite photograph" was cir
culated against him by support
ers of his victorious opponent,
Senator Butler, Republican. The
subcommittee went fully into the
charges and reported its findings
to the Senate, although without
a specific recommendation that
Senator Butler be barred. 1t
was this report, showing that
Senator Mccarthy, Republican
of Wisconsin, was involved,
which was used as a basis by
former Senator Benton, Demo-
crat OF Connecticut, for a reso-
luton asking the Senate to look
into the possible unseating of
Senator Mccarthy.
The subcommittee submitting
yesterdays report is composed
of Senator Hennings. Democrat
Of Missouri, chairman; Hayden,
Democrat of Arizona, and Hen
erickson, Republican of New
Jersey. The privileges and cleo
tions subcommittee of the new
Congress is headed by Senator
Barrett, Republican of Wyo-
ming. There has been no indi-
cation yet what its attitude to-
ward remedial legislation will be
There seems no doubt, however
that a bill or bills will be intro
duced to carry out the recon-
mendations.
Would Redefine Committees.
Among the recommendation:
in the report to seal loopholes ir
campaign spending was one tc
redef1ne the term political com.
mittee" to include all committees
which receive contributions Oh
spend money to influence the
nomination or election of candi.
dates for Federal Office. Another
was to cover expenditures by so.
called educational" association.
or committees, whose activitie.
may be indirectly for the benefit
of candidates.
This type of indirect influ.
ence is best Illustrated" the re-
port said "by literature or ad,
vertisements concerning public
issues circulated by labor unions
associations and commercial or
ganizations."
The subcommittee recon-
mended that all material, in
cluding So-called educational
matter. which treats with issue
directly or indirectly affectini
the nomination or election of ;
candidate for Federal office b.
clearly identified as to sponsors
and that the organizations put
ting out this educational" mat
Il