Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-18
The Political Mill
Both Parties Have Stoke
In the Mccarthy Issue
Republicans Feel He Could
Help Them in Some Areas
By Gould Lincoln

W 9Oot0 6uH~ObU
Senator Joe Mccarthy of Wisconsin
has just done two things: (a) Declared
his great interest in the election Of an
84th Congress controlled by Republic
cans and (b) announced his intention
not to make wide speaking tour in
the interests of many individual can
didates who have asked his aid. On the
surface, these statements appear alb
solutely at odds with each other.
In explanation of the discrepancy.
Senator Mccarthy said he believed he
could do more for Republican success
by starting again his Investigations.
of hearings by the investigating COM
mittee Of which he is chairman, how
ever. If and when he does, undoubtedly
the Red issue viii be injected into
the congressional campaign to greater
degree. To MANY in this country Sem
ator Mccarthy personifies and drama
tizes that issue as no one else does.
Could Help Some Candidates.
Republicans on Capitol Hill freely
Of real assistance to G. o. p. candi-
dates in number of States and dis
trictS. These districts are not concen-
trated in any one section of the coun-
try, either For Senator Mccarthy has
had a widespread following-and he
still has much of it. despite the recent
attacks upon him. and setbacks arising
from the Army-McC arthy hearings and
the hearings conducted by the special
Senate committee considering charges
that he has acted in a manner unbe-
coming Senator. For example. it has
been said that speech by Senator
Mccarthy for Senator Saltonstall, Re-
publican, delivered in Boston, would
make Senator Saltonstalls reelection
as certain as day follows night. Also,
that Senator Mccarthy could easily
swing the senatorial election to Joseph
T. Meek, Republican nominee against
Senator Douglas, Democrat.
There are other States and districts,
however, where the entry, or even the
proposed entry, of Senator Mccarthy
to make campaign speeches would split
Republicans wide 'open. So, on the
whole Capitol Hill Republicans are &C
cepting the Mccarthy decision not to
campaign on a wide scale with equa-
nimity. Indeed, some of them appear to
see in his decision acceptance by the
Senator of the picture as they see it.
Many months ago, Senator Mccarthy
offered to make himself and his drive
against Communists and fellow trav-
elers in Government the major issue in
the 1854 campaign. Some Of the Demo-
Gratis today, feeling that Senator Nc
Carthy has lost ground, would welcome
such an issue. There are other Demo-
Gratis, however. who do not relish That
idea. The Red issue has for the last
four or five years been thorn in the
side of the Democrats, with reason. If
the Democrats persist in their attempt
to make Senator Mccarthy an issue,
the elections in November may surprise
some of them, and sadly.
Serious Consequences.
Both Republicans and Democrats
realize that vote in the Senate on
a motion to censure Senator Mccarthy.
before election day, may have serious
consequences for Republican and Dem
ocratic senatorial candidates. 1t is being
argued in some quarters now that such
a vote should be postponed until at least
. Vic uAlONlC VI 4NONCA1OCA, UAidu q NOtV
now would be Influenced to large
degree by partisan politics. Certainly
if in advance of the election the great
majority of Democratic Senators should
vote for censure Of Senator Mccarthy,
they would probably arouse bitter re-
sentiment on the part of large number
of voters.
The special "censure" committee Of
the Senate is now engaged in writing
report on it's findings as result of
it's investigation of Senator Mccarthy.
It has not been disclosed whether the
committee will submit recommended
tions to the Senate or merely lay the
findings before that body for it's con-
sideration. The order adopted by the
Senate prior to its adjournment in
August leaves it to the Republican and
Democratic leaders of the Senate to
call the body back to deal with the
report of the censure committee It
named December Is as the deadline
for calling the Senate into session. Sem
ator Knowland of California, Repub-
lican, and Senator johnson of Texas,
Democrat, therefore, acting together
can bring the Senate back before the
elections, November 2, or postpone the
Senate meeting until later. Much may
depend on the character of the report
of the censure committee.