Evening star., 1954-06-24
The Political Min
Smith Victory Called
Blow to McC Corthy
Muine Senotor Wus First
To Denounce Methods
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
Minimize the Mccarthy issue" as
you may, the overwhelming victory Of
Senator Margaret Chase Smith In
Names Republican primary over q sup
porter Of the Wisconsin Senator still re-
mains black eye for Senator Joe Nc
Carthy.
Had Robert L. Jones, Mrs. Smiths
opponent. been the victor. the support
ers of Senator Mccarthy would have
shouted from the house tops that the
voters were backing Senator Mccarthy
that the Mccarthy strength was tre-
mendouS. For Mrs. Smith has been
known not only in Maine but through
out the country as an opponent of the
Wisconsin Senator and his investiga-
tory methods. It was she who. first
among her Republican colleagues in the
Senate. rose on the floor and denounced
the manner in which Senator Mccarthy
and others threw unSubstantiated
charges from the Senate floor. That
was in June, 1850. While she did not
mention the name Of Senator McCar-
thy, every Senator, including Mr.. Nc
Carthy, knew to whom she was re-
ferring. She said at that time:
81 do not like the way the Senate has
been made the rendezvous for viliflca-
ton, for selfish political gain at the
sacrifice of individual regulations and
national unity"
And then she presented her "Decla-
ration of Conscience" which was
signed. too, by number of other SEN
atorS.
A Personal Triumph.
Mrs. Smiths victory was a tribute
to her personally and to her record in
the House and in the Senate from the
voters of Maine. They are proud Of
her. In all probability, Mrs. Smith
would have defeated any candidate who
offered himself-or herself-in an effort
to win the Republican senatorial NOM
ination this year. Reports from Maine
are to the effect that 'McCarthyiSm"
did not develop as an issue in the
campaign. Nevertheless, when Mr..
Jones entered the primary fight last
winter, he was widely publicized as a
Mccarthy protege. Indeed, he started
his campaign very much on that tone,
although he denied he had been placed
in the race by Mccarthy and his fol-
lowers to get Mrs. Smith.
Senator Mccarthy made two speeches
in Maine last winter-before Mr. Jones
threw his hat in the ring-and in both
he praised Mr.. Jones as a young man
who was making a name for himself
in Washington. Mr.. Jones at that time
was member of the staff of Senator
Potter of Michigan, a member of the
permanent Senate Investigating Com
mittee of which Senator Mccarthy has
been chairman. It is true that Senator
Mccarthy denied that he was taking
any part in the campaign in Maine.
and true he did not make any speeches
there during the campaign. But pro-
Mccarthy man was running neverthe-
less. and many persons believed it was
an attempt to stick knife into Mrs.
Smith for the benefit of the Wisconsin
Senator. Mr.. Jones made no bones
about being a Mccarthy man. He
seemed to be seeking support because
of that fact. AS the campaign pro-
greSSed, he talked about "AmericaniSm,"
of which he proclaimed Senator Nc
Carthy a significant exponent He
accused Mrs. Smith of information
alism."
They Saw the Hearings.
LIE VOIeIS VI MdlIle, IuIOuSn Ln6
press, through television to a degree
and through radio, had a daily look
at Senator Mccarthy for almost all
of the last two months of the Smith
Jones campaign. The Army Mccarthy
hearings were on. How far this affected
the primary vote can only be surmised.
But when all the ballots we're in, Mrs.
Smith led her opponent $4,000 to 10000
almost to /. Mr.. Jones carried only
of 626 voting precincts, and in 19
precincts he did not receive a single
vote. It had been well understood after
weeks of campaigning that Mr.. Jones
would be defeated. But the extent Of
the defeat was overwhelming. 1t now
remains to be seen how many Republi-
can candidates for Congress will be
shouting they are pro-McCarthy.
It's not often that Senators take the
floor of the Senate to congratulate a
candidate on winning denomination.
Yet seven Senators rose to express their
qualification at Mrs. Smiths victory.
and to pay tribute to her-the only
elected woman Senator in that body.
Senator Gordon of Oregon epitomized
their sentiments when he said:
II feel that every public servant in
every legislative body may feel added
strength in going forward to do the
things that should be done solely be-
cause they should be done, and not
because they are politically expedient." !"