Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-02
MeCorthy-Arn1y Report

The assorted documents which have
been published by the committee members
who Investigated the Mccarthy Army at
fair follow anticipated lines and add little
If anything to that which was already
known concerning this controversy.
There is general agreement that Roy
Cohn did indeed bring improper pressure
to bear in behalf Of his friend, g. David
Schine. There is also agreement, although
with considerable variation in emphasis,
that Senator Mccarthy, as chairman of the
subcommittee, failed to take appropriate
action to curb the excuses Of his commit
tee counsel, Mr.. Cohn. Francis Carr, -execu-
tive director Of the committee, is given a
clean bill OF health by common consent.
Army Secretary Stevens and Army
Counsel Adams come In for their share Of
criticism, again with considerable differ
ence in emphasis between the majority and
minority reports. The gist Of the criticism
is that Mr.. Stevens and Mr.. Adams were
deplorably weak and indiScreet in not
putting the bumptious Mr.. Cohn in his
place. It Is difficult to escape the feeling
that this whole affair could have been
nipped in the bud II Mr. Stevens had made
1t perfectly clear at the outset that he was
going to run the Department Of the Army.
There Is also unanimous agreement
that conflicts In the testimony are strongly
suggestive Of perjury, and that the Depart
ment Of Justice should And out whether
there is basis for prosecution. This is
an important point It seems to The Star
that there can be no doubt that some of
the witnesses lied under oath, and If this
can be established the whole affair will
take on decidedly different complexion.
Proof admittedly will be difficult to obtain,
but no effort should be spared to this end.
There is lack of agreement on what
could well be the most important thing to
emerge from the hearing Senator McCar-
thy's use Of spurious FBI letter" and
his brazen appeal to employees of the execu
tive branch to come to him, in violation of
their oaths. with confidential information
obtained in the course of their employment.
This utterly reckless appeal, If acted
upon, would destroy the security of the
Nation. Yet the Republican members chose
to ignore 1t In their report. Happily, the
three Democrats, supported by Republican
Senator Potter in his separate statement,
have denounced this for what 1t iS-a reck-
less dangerous and flagrantly irresponsible
performance. The effect is to achieve a
majority vote In condemnation of the Wis
consin Senator on this point.
There remains, perhaps, question as
to whether the long and sometimes circus
like hearings were worthwhile. The Star
thinks that they were. It Is not likely
that another committee counsel will at
tempt the things that Mr.. Cohn attempted,
and If such attempts should be made, it is
not likely that committee chairman would
tolerate them. On the other side, 1t is not
likely that another departmental head, or
counsel, will make the errors in the direc-
ton Of placating and appeasing that were
made by Messrs. Stevens and Adams Final
ly there was the opportunity afforded the
public to see the principals in action. A
public Judgment has been formed, and The
Star believes that in the long run it will
have constructive effect on congressional
proceedings.