Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-09

said last night Gen. Eisenhower
suggested that the Republican
National Committee seek free
radio-TV time to answer Mr.
Stevenson and that it was the
President who chose Mr.. Nixon
to speak for the party. The
President, it was reported. tele-
phoned the idea to Mr.. Hall
who already had moved in the
same direction.
One informed source indicated
that the strategy was ito get
Mccarthy out Of the headlines
and get our story across"
It was understood in this con-
nection that Mr.. Hall did not
contact Mccarthy before asking
the networks for rebuttal oppor-
tunity.
Senator Mccarthy was flying
to New York after a biref Miami
vacation when the committee
announced that Mr.. Nixon would
be the Republican spokesman.
Learning Of this when he landed.
Senator Mccarthy voiced no
quarrel with Mr.. Halls move or
with the selection of Mr.. Nixon
to present the party's case.
Senator Mccarthy said Mr..
Hall was entirely correct" in
regarding the Stevenson speech
as an attack on the Republicans.
Senator Mccarthy, in fact. called
it an "intemperate attack" But
the Senator added:
a.. Mr.. Nixon is speaking for
the party. I'm speaking for my
self"
The Wisconsin Senator thus
served notice he would continue
to demand time for his own re-
ply land / will not countenance
anything else"
1.-THE FEC rules" he asserted
provide that I must be given
time to answer these charges
I intend to do everything
can to make the television COM
panies live up to their obliga.
tions."
Commission sources said las
night fees basic law require:
that candidates for public Office
be given equal opportunities" or
the air. But'this would not seen
to cover the present situation
since no one involved is an active
candidate.
However, these sources also
said the commission has tried ir
the past to see to it that broad
casters treated all controversial.
issues fairly.
They pointed out that FEC ha.
no authority to order a station
of the air forthwith. It could
however, take noncompliance
into consideration when a sta
ton applies for license renewal
The FEC sources explained
the commission generally refers
complaints of alleged unfair
treatment to the outlet involved
to get both side of the story
The commission then considers
the dispute.
Got Halls Bid First.
In announcing that it was hon.
oring Mr.. Halls request. CHS
said it got the Republican chair
mans bid first and would not
grant Senator Mccarthy the free
time he asked because time al
ready has been given the Re-
publican Party to answer Steven
son."
NBC said it would give "com-
mensurate time" to the party
not Senator Mccarthy. Both net
works allotted the Republicans
the 10:30-11 pm. period next
Saturday-the same as that filled
by Mr.. Stevenson last week.
After Senator Mccarthy had
voiced his intention to take the
case to the FEC if necessary
CHS issued another statement
contending that it had complied
with both the spirit and the
letter Of the law and the FEC
requirements"
CHS reasoned that because the
Democratic National Committee
was the actual recipient of the
time during which Mr.. Steven
son spoke, ut is logical and
equitable to provide equal
time for reply to the Republican
National Committee. rather than
to any individual"
2 Republicans Back Move.
On Capitol Hill two Repub-
lican members Of Senator Nc
Carthy's Senate Investigations
Subcommittee Endorsed the se-
lection by the Republican Ma
tional Committee of a party
spokesman to carry the Repub-
lican story to the Nation.
Senator Mundt, Republican,
Of South Dakota said 1T makes
sense" to follow this procedure.
He called Mr.. Stevenson's speech
q Wholesale attack on the
party" and he added that the
Republicans shouldn't just let
| whoever gets to the telegraph