The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-05-21
It's a Great TV Show, But What Is II
Accomplishing?


Seldom in Americas screWy history of potica
buffoonery has there been anything to equal the
bizarre spectacle being enacted in Washington now
Because of the Vaccinations of group of slick poll
teal showmen, the American public is being sub
Jected to watching and listening to its senior legSa
tive body become big tent.
Distinguished Senators play the clowns Tonnes
see hill country lawyer acts ringmaster former
Wisconsin district judge grown too big for his
britches growls like the untamed lion an exschool-
teacher from South Dakota is the harassed general
manager who is attempting to bring order out of
Chaos and the secretary of the army the unhappy
spectator who called upon by the prestidigitator
to help out with the act and who wishes to high
heaven he were settled down in his easy chair at
home with good book.
The ugubrious and the ludicrous are merged in
scene Americans shed tears for the forgotten
principles of Congressional dignity while persons
IN other parts of the world laugh heartily at U. S.
politicians of the party making ounces of each
other. 1t is becoming firmly established that given
enough free TV and radio time, any politico these
days will succeed in making himself appear moron.
1t is indeed some sort of sad commentary upon
the state of U. S. public affairs when permanent
committee of the United States Senate becomes the
instrument for washing the dirty linen of political
party.
In the final essence, the squabble between Joe
Mccarthy and the U. S. Army boils down to a dis
agreement or misunderstanding between one of the
COZ administrators most highly placed appOintees
and that partys most vociferous Senator.
Stripped of all the circus trimmings and Jockey
ing around, the questions at stake Cd Did Sena-
tor Mccarthy accomplish anything with his Fort
Monmouth investigation which the army could not
have handled alone? (2) Was the army purposelv
negligent in dischargng the dentist Peress ahead
of possible court martial? and 90 did the army
suffer any actual damage if Mccarthy and his
assistant Coin did press for favors for Private
Schine?
If the national security actually suffered as the
result of any of these situations surely the mat
ter can be settled with less public rumpus as we ;
view the affair
We can not become excited over favors asked for !
Private Schine which Private Schne apparently did
not get. Senators and Representatives are always J.
given careful handling by the services because Con-
gress is the of appropriations The process is
known to the military "apple polishing" and it
an old story in echelons far beneath the Secretary
OF the Army. 1t is common enough in private bust
nes too when junior executives attempt to leapfrog
one another in search of higher positions 1t is only
dangerous when they get by with it, which Private
ochne's friends apparently did not
Regardless which of the principals wins the fight ~
both the country and the Republican party stand to
ose heavily Uncle Sans stature abroad will be re- e
duced considerably in the eyes of people who look
us to provide calm, fore-sghted leadership in the
oattle against Communism. The COP is bound to -
ose votes of those independents who believe that X
progress can be made only through the concerted ~
Efforts of the executive and legislative branches of @
he government working in harmony. ~
This is no time for grandstanding. We need team -.
LAY and lots of it, So let's hope the boys in Wash Wv
ngton will compose their differences and get back
the important business at hand and do away with IL
he expensive luxury party-wrecking Congress
onal hearings PEW in PHILLIPS COUNTY DC
JEWS, Malta. lo