Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-06-06
backers See
Strauss 0kay
Expect Margin
To Be Slender
By J. A. OLEARY
star star writer

The outcome Of the battle
over confirmation Of Lewis L.
Strauss as Secretary of Conn
merce rested with . snail group
of undecided members as the
Senate took a week end recess.
With the debate still In its
early stages. and likely TO go at
least a week, supporters OF Mr..
Strauss believe that, as Of now.
he would win by . slender
margin.
But they make this forecast
cautiously and with the knowl-
edge that q few OBJECTIONS could
change the outcome.
The Senate is not in session
today. and leaders have agreed
to give the Interior Department
appropriation bill the right-0f-
way Monday. This may put OF
resumption Of debate on Mr..
Strauss until Tuesday.
LIBERAL Conservative Issue
As the debate began late yes
terday there were signs that 1t
may turn into q contest between
liberals and conservatives.
This was suggested by the
opening remarks Of Senator
Schoeppel. Republican Of KAN
sas. who charged that as q con-
sentative Mr.. Strauss is draw
ing the FIRE "of many militant
advocates of change"
Senator Magnusoh, Democrat
of Washington, chairman Of the
Commerce Committee. made
the first speech for the opposi-
ton. defending the fairness OF
his committee hearings and
denying that Mr.. Strauss was
subjected to "some kind Of an
inquisition."
Secs Inqnisition
Senator Schoeppel. had sug-
gested that q reading of the
record would show that I'VE
departed from the role Of in
quiry on qualifications Of q man
for this important position to
the role OF grand inquisitors."
Senator Schoeppel said ear
lier that most Of the ''hulla-
balloo" surrounding this nomi-
nation boils down to the simple
fact that Admiral Strauss is q
conservative who errs, II at
all, on the side Of caution In
interpreting the legal rights
Of the Legislative Branch, and
his own legal duties toward II"
The Kansan closed his speech
by declaring that opponents Of
Mr.. Strauss include members
who take greatest pride in the
label liberal and who look
hopefully for the day when the
last conservative will be stuffed
and in a glass case at the
Smithsonian"
Senator 'rhurmond Of South
Carolina, one Of three conrmit-
tee Democrats who voted for
Mr.. Strauss, praised Mr.. Strauss
for his ong record blic
service under President Roose-
veil, truman and Eisenhower.
Referring to his service on the
Atomic Energy Commission,
Senator Thurmond said 1t was
in this field that the nominee
applied his experience as an
"''~-'"'rt"stn" and his clear
judgment in the public interest.
Conflict Inevitable
Senator Thurmond said it
was inevitable that any man
who took Arm stands would be-
come the subject Of serious
conflict in judgment. He said
Mr.. Strauss has been "unflinch-
ingly diiigent in enforcing Sc
curity laws and has "unques-
tionably been a thorn in the
flesh of subversive elements"
II do not mean to imply that
the Communists are in any way
directly responsible for the OPP
position to this nomination In
the Senate" said Senator
Thurmond."
"Nevertheless-and this is
my point-if the confirmation
Of the nomination of Admiral
Strauss as Secretary Of Com
merce is defeated, the Com.
munists will undoubtedly, al-
belt falsely. claim credit for
having purged another strong
advocate Of security from the
Government"