Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18
Clear Victor Failed to Emerge
From Probe, Editors Agree


The bulk Of Nationwide edi-
torial comment on the Army
Mccarthy hearings today was
generally unfavorable to Senator
Mccarthy, but most newspapers
seemed agreed that no clear-cut
victory had been won by either
side.
In general, the press felt the
hearings gave the country a
first-hand view of the methods
and personality of the Wisconsin
Senator.
Here are typical editorial COM
ments as collected by the ASso-
ciated Press:
New York Times: Senator
Mccarthy has demonstrated be-
yond any possibility Of doubt |
that he has no respect for, even
if he has any understanding of,
the American system of govern
ment, based as it is on the sep
aration of powers. :. He has
demonstrated his contempt for
the executive branch :. by open
invitation to all Federal employees |
to disregard the law, violate their |
oaths of Office, to ignore all rules
and regulations in bringing in
formation to him. >. The con-
clusion is that Senator Mccarthy
as a legislative official OF the
United States was using = ana
gives every evidence of intending
to use-his high position to UNI
dermine the structure OF this
Government for his own purposes
under the guise of fighting Com
muniSts and communism. :"
Cleveland Plain Dealer: 'T'he
picture presented to the Nation
of Mccarthy was sharp and
frightening. His basic techni-
que, it was clearly shown, is to
operate under the false aSsump-
ton that since his objective is
to expose Communists. every one
who disagrees with him must be
protecting Communists. His con-
duct has enlarged the split in
the Republican Party. ;"
New Orleans States. "The
sober conclusion is that the long
drawn hearing was an uncon-
scionable waste of time in a day
in national history when every
minute is precious, and a reflec-
ton on national prestige at a
time when that prestige needs
bolsterfng instead of diminu- !
ton"
New York Herald Tribune:
Secretary Stevens was doing
his, best to protect the Army
against abuses of congressional
power. Certainly these hear
ings have not helped to raise the
prestige of the United States.
Yet events had made them
necessary. and in the end they
may well be found to have been
q political turning point"
Des MOines Register: "a great
many Americans, we believe, are
now far better equipped to recog-
nize the dangers and the subtle
mechanics of emotional and
hysterical witch hunting and
irresponsible demagoguery than
they were before. -. (The
public's) verdict calls for the
swift and certain removal of
Senator Mccarthy from the
craftsmanship of the Govern
ment Operations Committee and
its investigating subcommittee.
Louisville Courier Journal:
in this long, degrading
travesty of the democratic proc
ess, there have been no heroes.
There was no virtue to rise tri-
umphant, no truth to cry aloud,
no man whom we can honor, no
principle indicated at the last.
Senator Mccarthy has shown
himself to be evil and unmatched
in malice. But Secretary Stevens
also stands naked as a man of
weak principle and little pride"
Charlotte IN. c. Observer:
Nobody proved anything. Some
body frequently lied. Millions Of
Americans who could take Nc
Carthy or leave him have now
departed the neutral path and
formed an opinion-good or bad,
mild or inflamed. And that may
prove to be the most significant
truth to emerge from the con-
test"
Oregon Journal: "Who'S lying?
Who's committing perjury, who's
violating the law, and who is to
be punished for it? This puts
Attorney General Brownen
squarely on the spot. The At
torney General can get himself
of the spot only by doing his
utmost to bring to trial those
who have perjured themselves"
Charlotte IN. CO. News: Eat
home and abroad, the picture Of |
q strong, dynamic justice-bent |
America has been distorted by
the Army Nice arthy spectacle.
The picture will remain distorted
until the United States Senate |
itself faces up to two long
ignored responsibilities: Cd the
censure and firm control of Sen
ator Mccarthy, and (2) full
scale Lewiston of the investigat-
ing system to prevent its abuse
for personal and political adj
vantage"
New York Daily News: ''The
criminal Communist conspiracy
is a continuing peril to this Ma