Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-04
The Chips Go Down

It is hard to see how an ugly. bruising battle
between the President and Senator Mccarthy
can be avoided much longer.
The Senator, evidently, will welcome the
fight. For General Eisenhower's statement,
while firm, was not the sort of thing which
forces an issue. He conceded that the Peress
case had been badly handled by the Army He
promised that such errors would be avoided in
the future. His own determination to prevent
subversive penetration of the Government was
reahirmed. He repledged full cooperation with
Congress and acknowledged "the congressional
right to inquire and investigate into every phase
Of our public operations" He insisted only upon
the point that representatives Of the executive
branch must not be Inundated and insulted
when they appear before committees Of Con-
gress. 1t was, in short, dignifed, decent,
restrained, high-minded statement
What was the response? It was as crude
and as brutal as set of brass knuckles or a
blackjack in back alley Senator Mccarthy
alluded-falsely-to "this silly tempest in tea
pot because we dared to bring to light the cold,
unpleasant facts about Fifth Amendment
Communist Army officer. :" He spoke Of
Major PereSS as "a sacred cow of certain Army
brass" He talked like a barroom brawler in
saying what he would do 'if stupid arrogant
or w1tleSs man in position Of power appears
before our committee and is found aiding the
Communist Party" Finally, in those of his
remarks which were addressed directly to the
President, he managed to convey the impression
that General Eisenhower may be a nice fellow.
but probably is not too bright
1t Is doubtful that more arrogant and
insulting statement has ever been made by any
Senator concerning President of his own
party. But Senator Mccarthy is in a class by
hiuncoR tn Rrh% ~
and INSCRIPTIONS. In this instance, he certainly
will never concede that he has abused a Witness
and he may not concede that he has been
accused Of doing so. He will talk and talk about
the Armys "coddling of Fifth Amendment Com
muniStS," about attempts of the brass" to
cover up" and about his own unalterable deter
mination to protect and preserve the United
States from the dreadful menace of an obscure
dentist who managed. as a result of official
bungling, to get minor commission in the
Army. To state it differently, Senator McCar-
thy's strategy, If the showdown comes, will be
that Of attack, attack and more attack. And
II any one doubts the effectiveness of this STRAIT
egg, let him consider the sad case of Secretary
OF the Army Stevens. To this day there is doubt
that Mr. Stevens, a well-intentioned man who
tangled with the Senator, quite knows what
hit him.
General Eisenhower should be much more
formidable opponent. His prestige is great, and
so Is his popular following. He has had to deal
with bully-boys before. He Is decent, sincere
man who has the knack of conveying to others
his decency and sincerity Of purpose. If the
showdown comes, however, the President and all
who stand with him should not underestimate
the strength Of Senator McCarthy's position
He has following Of his own and in the Peress
case he has source Of ammunition which he
will use with demonstrated guerrilla warfare
skill. He also has behind him long tradition
of freedom Of congressional Investigations, with
an accompanying abuse of witnesses which, in
more or less extreme form, dates back for many
years. He is supposed to be, and he may be,
vote-getting asset Of the Republican Party.
II this is the case, knock down fight between
the President and Senator Mccarthy could
mean defeat for the Republicans in this years
congressional elections
These, however, are not the controlling con-
siderations. The one thing which, above all
Others must be kept in mind is this: The chips
are going down. The decisive struggle between
the Mccarthy brand Of Repubicanism and the
Eisenhower brand Of Republcanism may begin
any day. And that will be black and evil day
for this country If for any reason-foolish opti-
mism, partisanship or lack of determination to
fight to the end-the victory should go to Sena-
tor Mccarthy. If this fight comes the Senator,
at all costs, must be beaten.