Evening star., 1954-11-13
"A Southern Gentleman NettIes
Wisconsin Senator-SoothinqIy
By Mary McGrory

By Mory McGrory
Senator Stennis says he "cain't
forget Senator Mccarthy" in the
present debate. The Junior SEN
ator from Wisconsin will prob
ably have some trouble forget
ting him now, too.
Senator Mccarthy had no
chance to take the measure of
Senator Stennis during the hear
ings of the Watkins Committee,
the group which recommended
he be censured.
In company with the five other
Well-modulated egos who COM
prised the group, the Senator
from Mississippi seemed pleased
to be seen rather than heard.
He was satisfied to lend his sup
port to Chairman Watkins when
rulings were made, and occa-
sionally, in his soothing Southern
tones. to venture a little legal
nicely.
At that time he gave no prom
Use of such a formidable attack
as the "slush- and slime" philip
pic he launched at Senator Nc
Carthy yesterday.
Like A Cavalry Charge.
The speech, which laid waste
to the compromise rumors drift
ing around the Capitol, must
have sounded like a Confederate
Cavalry charge to Senator Nc
Carthy. In the question period
that followed, Senator Stennis
displayed complete ignorance
about mail covers" and other
such controversial trappings in
which Senator Mccarthy is con-
tinually involved. But he seems
to know considerable about
handling himself in the hand
to-hand combat at which Sem
ator Mccarthy is such a master.
Senator Stennis in his speech
said the question was lone pure
ly of political morality in SEN
atorial conduct" He gave a
demonstration of senatorial con-
duct later that might have
served as a model to the un-
reconstructed Senator from Wis
consin.
Senator Welker, who is Sena-
tor McCarthy's chief helper in
the debate, first took on Sena-
tor Stennis, who presented to
him the same pleasantly COM
posed countenance he turns to
all the world.
Mr.. Welker sought to draw
Mr.. Stennis into the larger is
sues at stake.
Mr.. Stennis gently turned him
aside.
"Ah1l just get down to cases."
he said pleasantly.
Senator Welker again spoke
of the wounded feelings he, had
suffered at not being invited to
testify before the Watkins Com
mittee about the Gillette Com
mittee, the group Senator Me-
Carthy is accused of abusing.
A Southern Gentleman.
Very much the Southern gentle
man, genuinely concerned that
any one should have been left
out of any gathering he wished
to attend, Senator Stenpis said
sympathetically, "As far as you
being invited, any one who
wanted to appear, could"
Senator Welker said he
thought he might be criticized
for not appearing before the
vv0UfA4Ato SOAA4kA44UGCCs
"You are not being criticized
as far as ] know" said Senator
Stennis reassuringly. II am not
charging you with anything"
BY this time Senator Mccarthy
apparently felt his presence
needed. He got to his feet with
an ominous. II happen to be
incidental in this"
He, too, sought, to lead Senator
Stennis away from the particular
to the general aspect of the case.
"Your position" he said. 'is
that If you are elected to public
Office, you obtain some immu-
nifty from criticism"
Senator Stennis replied, "Ah
tell my constituents! All will
take criticism from all and abuse
from none"
"You and ] should not fence on
this said Senator Mccarthy
sternly.
Senator Stennis spoke of his
regret at having to censure
a fellow Senator. He gave this
much Of a generality to Senator
McCarthy. "Just as one spoke
does not make a wheel. so In
your case, the entire picture
drew me 10 my conclusion"
Senator Mccarthy went on
with involved hypothetical ques-
tions about corrupt committees
In 1865. do you remember the