Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-16
The Political Mil
Army-McCorthy Row
Showdown imperative
Bottle to the Finish Is Seen
On Issue Involving Schins
By Gould Lincoln

ny GouId Lincoln
A showdown investigation Of the
Mccarthy Army veracity case has be-
come imperative. The sooner It's under-
taken and over. the better for the
country and the sooner Coneess and
the American people can give their
undivided attention to the sound pro-
gram President Eisenhower has pro-
posed. Vice President Nixon, In his
Saturday night broadcast, answering
the Stevenson charges against Presi-
dent Eisenhower and the Republicans
in Congress. wisely called for concen-
tration on the great and forward
looking" program which the President
has proposed.
Involved IN the McCarthy-Ar con-
troversy are charges that Mccarthy.
and particularly Chief Counsel Roy M.
Cohn OF the Mccarthy investigating
committee, sought to use their influence
to obtain preferential treatment for
Pvt. G. David Schine, former investi-
gator for the Mccarthy committee, be-
fore and after he was drafted. Involved,
also, are charges by Senator Mccarthy
that the Army. through its chief coun.
sci. John G. Adams, attempted to
"blackmail" Mccarthy and his com.
mittee into giving up their investiga-
ton of Communist infiltration into the
Army. The lie has been given.
All kinds of suggestions have been
made as to how the investigation
shall be made and by whom. It doesn't
matter q lot-provided the witnesses
are put under oath and questioned.
Once that has been done the testimony
can be evaluated and turned over to
the Department of Justice and the
FBI. It will be up to the department
then to decide whether prosecutions
for perjury are to be initiated. Other
committees Of Congress have followed
such course in dealing with witnesses
who may have given perjured testi-
mony.
Mccarthy Volunteers Testimony.
Senator Mccarthy has volunteered
to testify under oath. The Republican
leadership. represented by Senator
Knowland. Of California, has suggested
the inquiry should be conducted by the
Mccarthy committee-since Senator
Mccarthy has volunteered to step
down, take the stand himself, and have
Senator Mundt. South Dakota Repub-
lican and next ranking member Of the
committee, act as chairman during
these proceedings. A question has been
raised regarding the propriety and
soundness of a committee and It's staff
virtually investigating itself. On the
other hand, there is a serious question
whether a second Senate committee
should undertake an investigation OF
an investigation being carried on by
another Senate committee. The Nc.
Carthy committee could. If 1t desired,
hire special counsel for this inquiry.
since its present chief counsel is up to
his ears in the controversy with the
Army.
The seriousness of the charges
brought against Senator Mccarthy and
his committee counsel by the Army,
and by them against the Army. leave
no doubt this is battle to the finish.
It is fact, however, that conversations
carried on between individuals are
often variously interpreted by those
individuals. Mccarthy has insisted
that he did not seek preferential treat
ment for Pvt. Schine. The Army. in
its report recently made public. insists
he did, and that Cohn not only sought
preferential treatment but threatened
to wreck" the Army if it were not
given, and was abusive about 1t.
McCarthy's "Defense."
Mccarthy. it is believed. will insist
that the Army has charged he was
exerting pressure for Schine. when, as
a matter of fact, he was only asking
what steps should be taken in the
ordinary course by Schine to obtain
a commission in the armed services.
Mccarthy, for his part, has charged
that an attempt was made to blackmail
him and his committee into dropping
the investigation Of communism in the
Army when Army Chief Counsel Adams
visited him in his home and told him
that a report was being drafted pre-
sumably for publication. showing the
alleged activities of Mccarthy and
Cohn in behalf of Schine. Mr.. Adams
vehemently denies any effort at black
mail or any threat to Senator Nc
earthly on his part.
Whatever committee undertakes this
investigation-and the Mccarthy COM
mittee is in position to act without
delay-the inquiry should 60 forward
promptly and all the facts be laid bare.
Senator Mccarthy might resist an at
tempt of another Senate committee to
take over jurisdiction in this matter
but if the Senate itself should direct
another committee than his to make
an investigation he undoubtedly would
appear before that committee and give
testimony.
Opponents of Senator Mccarthy
have expressed an opinion that the
Wisconsin Senator has finally hanged
himself. An unfortunate corollary is
found in the fact that discrediting OF
Mccarthy and his drive to uncover
Communist infltration in this country.
and particularly into the Government,
might prove boon to the Communists