Evening star., 1954-10-28
The Political Mill
Mccarthy Issue Played
Soft in Massachusetts
Stare Is Strongly 'Pro-Joe.'
But Name Seldom Heord
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

reckOned hOtbed OF Mccarthy senti-
ment, the most Mccarthy State In
the Union. Yet. amazingly. no candi-
date for important political Office,
either Republican or Democratic, is
running this year on pro-McC Carthy
platform. And by the same token, no
candidate, either Republican or Demo-
cratic. is running on an anti-McC Carthy
platform.
have talked with candidates of both
parties. and for publication none would
discuss the case of the Wisconsin Re-
publican Senator who is threatened
with Senate censure soon after the elec-
ton is over. They all insisted that
Senator Mccarthy and McCarthyism
are not issues in the campaign.
Judging from their "off -the-record"
conversation, they are afraid to make
an issue of the redoubtable Joe. Both
sides, Democrat and Republican, have
their reasons. First, Joe Mccarthy is
Catholic, Irish and anti Communist to
the nth degree. He also happens to
be Republican. Next. there is a large
Catholic. Irish and anti Communist
vote in the State. Indeed, nobody is
for the Communists except that infini-
tesimal few, that superlatively radical
fringe. Also there is large Italian and
Catholic bloc of voters.
Irish Vote Vital.
The Republicans are angling for
votes of the Democratic Irish. They
already have support of good share
OF the Italian Catholic vote. Quite
naturally, therefore, they do not wish
to kick in the face those voters who are
passionately devoted to Senator Nc
Carthy-and there are plenty of them.
On the other hand, the Republicans.
II they are to win. must have q large
number of the anti-McCarthy voters.
who are found among Republicans and
the so-called independent voters. They
cannot afford to be either Mccarthy
or nti-McCarthy, their leaders feel.
ON the Democratic side. the Boston
irish vote is regarded as indispensable
Tor victory. Their leaders freely admit
In private for Democratic candidates
now TO come out against Mccarthy
would be tempting Providence, and
possibly committing political suicide.
Nor DO any of the Democratic candi-
dates wish to declare themselves in
lavor OF Mccarthy, Republican, or
20 put themselves in the way of Offend
Ing the large anti Mccarthy groups in
their own party or among the even
larger groups of independents. So the
Democrats content themselves with
saying: "Joe Mccarthy is not our
problem. He's the Republicans baby.
Let them deal with that issue" And
that's been their attitude in this cam
paign in Massachusetts,.
Obviously Senator Mccarthy is the
Republicans "baby" Well understands
ing the danger of making Senator Me-
Carthy an issue, the G. o. P. organiza-
ton, headed by Elmer c.. Nelson. Re.
publican State chairman, sent question:
naires to Republican workers all over
the State asking whether in their opin-
ION Senator Mccarthy, as an issue was
inability. an asset. or would make no
dlnerence. They received replies pretty
evenly divided between those who be-
Heved Senator Mccarthy would be an
asset and those who took the opposite
view. Their = strategy--keep Senator
mccarthy out of the campaign as an
lssue-Was adopted. And so far they
nave pretty well kept him and his issue
in the background.
whenever, at county organization
meeting. or the Republican State con-
vention. resolutions were offered to put
the party on record in favor of Senator
Mccarthy. or against him, the leaders
were able to shelve them. None was
allowed to reach vote. And that's
the situation today.
An Exception.
One Republican, however, who does
not hesitate to speak out in support of
Senator Mccarthy is the State chair.
man, Mr.. Nelson, He goes along with
the party strategy of keeping Senator
Mccarthy out of the campaign. Indeed.
ne had large part in formulating it.
But he's for Senator Mccarthy and he
thinks he's an asset to the G.. o. p.
Within the last few days, Mr.. Nelson
put up to the White House proposal
that President Eisenhower appear on
a national television show, with Joe
Mccarthy and tell the voters Joe was
doing vital job in helping to eradicate
Communists and fellow travellers from
Government, labor unions and industry.
Mr.. Nelson said he believed that such a
television appearance with Senator Nc
Carthy would assure Republican vic
tory throughout the country.
How much is Senator Mccarthy a
hidden issue in this campaign in States
like Massachusetts, and Illinois? No one
can make sure answer. But it's fact
that when Senator Dirksen of Illinois,
chairman of the Republican Senatorial
Committee, spoke in this State he re-
ceived great applause when he men,
toned Joe McCarthy's name. In Chi
cago, this writer attended a meeting
Of Republican Cook County workers,
several thousand of them. Senator
Dirksen had them sitting on the edge
of their chairs and wildly applauding
his attacks on Democrats, particularly
Adlai Stevenson. But when he men,
toned the name of Senator Mccarthy
there was a great burst of cheering.
The Mccarthy issue may be dormant,
but 1t is not dead-and what the Re-
publicans hope here and elsewhere Is
that it will help the G. O. p. candi-
dates.
In New Jersey. Clifford p. Case, Re-
publican senatorial candidate, is a de-
clared anti Carthyite, and the issue
will be tested there. Senator Mccarthy
has said he is for all the Republican
senatorial candidates--except Mr.. Case.
In Illinois, Joe Meek, the Republican
candidate for Senator, Is recognized as
a Mccarthy supporter. What will the
Mccarthy issue do to the chances Of
Mr.. Case and Mr.. Meek?
Vigilance
They sag he misses greatness BY mile.