Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-06-09
FIGHT Over Strauss

from London. said there Is
more than q passing interest
there In the spectacle which
the United States Senate is
: making Of itself concerning
the nomination Of Lewis
Strauss: and Britishers are
wondering what is back Of
the apparent vendetta. Since
much Of the opposition to
Mr.. Strauss comes from Sem
ators who favor Government
ownership Of electric-power
projects, some newsnen ask
whether our Dem Ocratic
Party Is Americas Socialist
party and whether this Is
going to be the issue In the
1860 campaign.
Not so according to Q re-
cent estimate Of the 1850
ISSUE, situation by column
list Ralph Mc0ill. Mr.. Nc
GIN said that our Democrat
friends are planning TO be
statesmen and save the
world" IN 1860. That they
had sort Of considered 'run-
ming against Hoover again"
but the economic situation
looked too healthy for that.
Since both parties seem
generally agreed that the
worlds greatest threat is the
evil Of communism, we as
sumed Mr.. McGill meant
saving the world" from
communism.
But In view Of the present
Senate spectacle" aren't we
entitled to believe that our
Democratic friends seem
mostly worried about Saving
Us" from Republicans?
Lila ID. SOnnemann.
- 4
When the Senate decides
it win not confirm 4 presi-
Dental nominee for q cabi-
net post, such q decision Is
one Of important conse-
uuences. There are many i'm
pressive reasons why the
chief executive should have
q free hand in choosing the
men TO supplements his poll
eies. A nomination should be
blocked only under the most
extreme conditions. These
conditions. I strongly feel.
are present in the case Of
Admiral Strauss.
There are various black
spots on the admiFal,s record,
such as his uncanny ability
to torture the truth without
actually lying. However, the
chief handicap is. his per-
formance as the chairman
of the Atomic Energy Com
mission In handling VITAL in
formation concerning the
dangers associated with
atomic tests. While the sci-
entific community was In vir-
tual agreement on the known
dangers or the unknown risks
resulting from these tests, he
Smugly assured us that such
fears were not justified and
that there were In fact no
real dangers. History may re-
cord this as the most costly
error ever made by man.
Because Of our form Of
government, when the Amer
lean people are denied vital
information on an important
issue, it is unlikely that they
will be able to correctly de-
eide its solution. And when
that issue is of such grave
concern that all future gen.
erations may be biologically
affected, then the suppress
sion Of this information as
sumes the proportions Of a
heinous crime. AS the head
Of the Acc and the voice Of
its policies. he must bear the
majority Of the responsible
ity.
How can the American
people elevate such q man to
membership In the cabinet
when the world over he !;
identified with mans most
hateful crirne--that of vest.
ing leukemia and genetic de.
formities on innocent chill.
dren for an indeterminatt
period2 This would be a slaI
in the face to the rest Of the
world over which the Russian
propagandists would have {
field day. Eric Cox.
Editors note: The state
ments in Mr.. Cox's letter ar,
typical of the free-wheeling
unsupported attack on Mr.
Strauss. Not even the dis
senting Senators have &C,
cused him Of the "hatefu
crime" for which he is in