Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-02
Mccarthy Acts
In Defense Of
Scott Mcleod
Will Demand State
Department Explain
Curbs on Friend

Senator Mccarthy. Republican
OF Wisconsin today came to the
defense of r. w. Scott Mcleod
declaring he will demand an off,
cial explanation Of Secretary of
State Dulles order stripping Mr..
Mcleod of authority over State
Department personnel.
The department announcer
late yesterday that Mr.. Mcleod.
close personal friend OF Senator
McCarthy's and a highly contro-
versial figure. will have charge
only of security and consular
matters from now on. He has
been handling both security and
personnel for the department.
Circumstances surrounding the
change suggested that Mr.. Nc
Leod might consider resigning
He stated recently he considered
security and personnel "insep-
arabic functions" AS personnel
officer he had power to hire and
fire.
Just Doesn't Look Good"
Upon learning of the order of
Secretary Dulles. Senator Nc
Carthy told reporters This will
make it infinitely more difficult
for Mcleod to do a good Job"
OF Kidding the department of
subversives. The Senator added
the new order lust doesn't look
good on the surface"
"I'm going to ask the State
Department for an official ex-
planation." Senator Mccarthy
said.
Senator Mccarthy presumably
will try to get an explanation
from Mr.. Dulles himself, although
he didn't say so in so many
words. He is chairman of the
Senate Government Operations
Committee and its Investigations
subcommittee. Mr.. Dulles now is
IN Caracas. Venezuela. attending
a conference of American states.
The Mcleod order also
prompted Senator Humphrey,
Democrat. of Minnesota to sug-
gest that Mr.. Dulles be called
before the Senate Foreign Re-
lations Committee to explain Mr..
McLeod's activities" as depart
ment security officer. He said he
wants the Secretary Ito tell us
about what Mcleod has been
doing In the past and what
future activities are planned for
him"
Speeches Caused Storm.
MIR. Mcleod was the center of
political storm few weeks
ago. He made five Lincoln
Day" speeches for the Republic
can National Committee. This
brought bitter protests from
Democrats that a security Of
ficer had no place in partisan
politics. The speeches were
frowned on by the Civil Service
Commission. which ruled Mr..
Mcleod was subject to the Hatch
Act barring Federal workers
from political activity.
However. the State Depart
ment legal Office held Mr.. Nc
Leod was exempt because his
pay of $4,000 a year. and status
are equivalent to that of an
assistant secretary, an exempt
job.
Henry Suydam. department
press officer. said the shift of
power away from Mr.. Mcleod
was in line with the recommend
alton by a non-partisan business
analysis firm which has been
studying the department organ
'zation.
The Dulles order placed the
personnel Office under Edward r.
Wales. Assistant Secretary of
State for Administration.
Sought Full Authority.
In the past. Mr.. Mcleod often
has insisted that the same per-
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES be in
charge of both security and per-
sonnet.
He recently told a House APP
preparations subcommittee: IT
maintain, and our experience
tends to prove, that security and
personnel are inseparable func-
tons. 1t was on this premise
that ! accepted the post.
"A security program in my
judgment is an inseparable part
(See MCLEOD. Page A-3)