Evening star., 1953-11-17
Comment on Truman
Speech Is Sizzling,
But Along Party Lines

DuIAIVHyTQIIILIIICS
Reaction to former President
Truman's speech attacking
Attorney General Brownell's s
charges in the Harry Dexter
White case exploded on many
fronts today.
Comment sizzled generally
along partisan lines. with Repub-
licans centering criticism on
what they called his failure to
answer some questions and to
give a complete picture of ad-
ministration actions in the case
in 1916.
Soon after Mr.. Truman fin
ished his half hour speech. Sen
ator Ferguson. Republican, of
Michigan took to the air to de-
clare that many questions still
ought to be answered by the
former President. The Michigan
Senator demanded to know why
Mr.. Truman. if he was helping
an FBI investigation of Com
munist activities in Government
in 1946 called the matter a "red
herring" at that time.
Senator Ferguson also noted
that Mr.. Truman did not men,
ton the laudatory letters he
wrote when Mr.. White was
transferred to the Monetary
Fund and when he resigned in
1947.
Chance for Hoover Urged.
Mr.. Truman's lack of mention
Of FBI Director j. Edgar Hoover
caused Senator Dirksen, Repub-
lican, of Illinois to urge that Mr.,
Hoover be given an opportunity
ito tell his story Of what hap
pened." Mr. Dirksen, who is
Republican senatorial campaign
chairman. said the public is en-
titled to more clarification of the
White case.
A charge that the Truman
administration "quaShed" an in
dictment against Mr.. White by
a Federal grand jury in New
York City in 1947 was made by
Representative Clardy, Michi-
gan Republican, who is a mem
Der of the House Committee on
Un-American Activities.
Mr.. Clardy recalled that the
committee had hoped to question
Jerome Blaumauer, who was
foreman of the grand jury. Mr..
Blaumauer had been subpoenaed
by the committee for last Friday.
He sent word he could not testify
without running the risk of being
cited for contempt of court if
he discussed grand jury dellb-
erationS.
Group to Visit Byrnes.
Chairman Velde of the House
committee announced, mean
while. that Mr.. Clardy would
head subcommittee that will go
to Columbia, S. c., within the
next two weeks to question Gov.
James F. Byrnes. Others on the
subcommittee are Representa-
tives Scherer, Republican, of
Ohio and Moulder, Democrat, of
Missouri. Gov. Byrnes. who was
Secretary of State in 1916, re-
called last week that he and Mr.
Truman had discussed FBI re-
ports relating to Mr.. White in
February. 1916.
Mr.. Mouider comment on the
Truman speech last night was
that it contained a crystal clear
statement of facts and an answer
70 the scurrilous and insulting
political smear against him and
the Democratic Party"
" Mr.. Humans fighting response
split political reaction squarely
down the middle. Democrats
including some who have been
critical of him in the past-ral-
lied around the former President.
Republicans scoffed at his de-
Tense. promised more disclosures
to come.
Adlai E. Stevenson, the 1852
nominee, said in
Chicago: 1T is infamous that the
man who has done more than
any one else to organize and for
tify the free world against COM
should be subjected to
such malicious political attack"
Leonard w. Hall, chairman of
the Republican National Com
termed false Mr.. Tru-
mans assertion the G.. o. P. or
ganization had worked hand in
glove" with Mr.. Brownell on the
White case. He said the COM
mittee learned of Mr.. Brownell's
original Chicago speech on the
subject only 10 minutes before it
was made on November 6. :
IF Mr.. Truman's statement is
representative of the truth of the
balance of his presentation, then
no reliance whatsoever can be
put on anything in the former
Presidents explanation" Mr.
Hall declared.
In Philadelphia. Mr.. Velde
said:
'Mr. Truman is shadow box
1ng-defending himself against
accusations of treason which
MI. Brownell never made"
Fortnight Statement Seen.
Representative Walter, Demo-
crat. of Pennsylvania, another
member of the Un-American Ac-
tivitles Committee, said he
thought Mr.. Truman made "a
concise and detailed evaluatlon
of the situation to the best of his
ability"
Senator Mcclellan, Democrat,
OF Arkansas said he had often
disagreed with Mr.. Truman but
I have never questioned his
loyalty to his country"
Senator Monroney, Democrat,
of Oklahoma. said Mr.. Truman
"called things what thew are y