Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-03
The Political Mil
Events Of Inquiries
Into McC orthy Reeited
Issue is Explained; Vote
On Ii Seen Probable
BY Gould Lincoln

Nh " SeGU ftODUDt6
By Gould Lincoln
After months of controversy over
Senator Joe Mccarthy Of Wisconsin
and his methods, and countless pro-
posals to cut him down, the Senate has
been pushed into position where 1t is
going to Investigate" the Senator again.
In all the history of the Upper House
Of Congress, it is doubtful that any
member has been the subject-or the
allied subject4-of so many investiga-
tons. Incidentally, the Wisconsin Sen
ator has done lot Of investigating
himself.
The round Of Investigations started
when Senator Mccarthy made his first
charges, back in the Truman admins
tration. that the State Department was
honeycombed with Communists and
fellow travellers. The Democratic reac-
ton was immediate. The Tydings COM
mittee, headed by the former Senator
from Maryland. took over the inquiry
into the Mccarthy chargeS-and largely
made Senator Mccarthy the butt Of its
investigation. The next round was an
investigation by subcommittee Of the
Senate Committee on Privileges and
Elections - after the 1850 senatorial
election in Maryland. Senator Tydings
in that election was defeated by Re-
publican Senator Butler, and Mr.. Butler
had the aid Of Senator Mccarthy.
Benton,s Charges.
Senator Tydings charged that corrupt
and unethical tactics had been EN-
ployed to defeat him. and that Senator
Mccarthy was involved, and took his
case before the Privileges and Elections
Subcommittee. Then the late Senator
Benton of Connecticut. Democrat. got
into the picture with other charges
against Senator Mccarthy. involving his
financial transactions. The subcommit-
tee ultimately brought in report which
scored Senator Mccarthy, but did not
call for q vote Of censure or his -ex-
pulsion.
The Republicans in 1853 took over
the Government, and Senator Nc
Carthy became chairman Of the Senate
Investigating Subcommittee. His con-
duct of Investigations. In which he tried
to ferret out Communists and fellow
travellers, was harshly criticized. A new
term" Nice arthyism"-was added to
the language of the day. He tangled
with the Eisenhower administration,
particularly the Army, resulting in the
weeks of televised hearings before the
Senate Investigating Subcommittee.
with Senator Mundt of South Dakota
acting as chairman, and with Senator
Mccarthy himself as principal in the
investigation. The committee is work.
ing now to draft report.
This present attempt to investigate
the Wisconsin Senator grew out of the
Flanders resolution calling for vote
of censure by the Senate. The resolu-
ton, fathered by the Senator from
Vermont, panied both Republicans and
Democrats who did not wish to stand
up and be counted for or against the
controversial Mccarthy on the eve of
congressional election. Further, 1t ran
contrary to the precedents and prac-
tees of the Senate, which called for
q resolution, with q chance for Sem
ator to make answer to the charges
: against him. It became evident that
It would not pass-and Senators, for
one reason or another, would support
a proposal. for another committee to
look into the ch-investigated Nc
earthly.
Smith Substitute.
Senator Smith of New Jersey, Re-
publican, who on occasion had been
a sharp critic Of Senator Mccarthy,
offered a substitute for the Flanders
resolution, creating special committee
Of three Republicans and three Demo-
Gratis, with Vice President Nixon as
chairman, to investigate the charges
against Senator Mccarthy. Majority
Leader Knowland capped this pro-
posal with new version, calling for .
special committee Of six Senators, three
Republicans and three Democrats
completely bipartisan-to make the In.
vestigation and report back to the
Senate.
Sooner or later the Senate is going
to face q showdown vote on Senator
McCarthy-much as 1t may like to
avoid it. Some Senators would prefer
to see it postponed until after the
November elections, and others want
it before the present session adjournS.
But the issue has gone too long; the
feeling on both sides Of the Mccarthy
issue runs too high to permit the
Senate to postpone action indefinitely.
1t will come. presumably. on the COM
mittee report Of the Army -McC arthy
hearings. and then again. on the re-
port Of the special committee recon-
mended by Senator Knowland
The Senate cannot duck forever the
issue Of Mccarthy. nor will the country
be patient If the Senate tries to duck
1t, Senator McCarthy's strength lies
in the fact that he has seized the Red"
issue and Rugged 1t to his bosom. This
has brought him a large and fanatical
following. II he is saved from sena-
torial censure-that issue viii have
been responsible.
NlS