Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-04-05
The World of Gen. Walker
By MARY McGRORY
Star staff Writer

The world Of former Maj.
Gen. Edwin A. Walker is q
world where only he identifies
the enemy. where the Secre-
tary Of Defense Is a slanderer
and where the press runs the
Army.
Things are seldom what they
seem in the world Of Mr.. Walk
er. For instance, those who at
tack the John Birch Society
are really striking at the mill
tary establishment. The Ber-
lin crisis is a cover-up for what
is going on in Cuba.
In the world of Mr.. Walker,
sentences have no beginnings,
no endings, no verbs. AS yes
terday wore on, the "muzzled"
martyrs answers got longer and
longer. No matter where they
started. they always ended with
his declaration that what is
wrong with the world is the
'no-win" policy of the admin
istration, a policy of which he
and the country are victims.
He said it over and over again.
Aids Supply Ammunition
Mr.. Walker is not completely
alone in this world of his. Yes
terday he was thanked by two
aides who kept him supplied
with ammunition. On his right
was his counsel, c. j. Watts
Of Oklahoma City; on his left,
his consultant, Medford Evans
Of Dallas. They scrubbed
prompt-cards for him, whis-
pered in his ear, furiously 4,
marked up booklets and pam
phlets for his attention.
One member of the Senate
Armed Services Subcommittee,
Senator jackson, Democrat of
Washington, was able to elicit
a yes-or-no answer from Mr..
Walker, who is now a candi-
date for governor Of Texas.
Senator jackson mildly sug-
gested that the former gen.
erals jealous political activities
while he was q division COM
mander in Germany had been
excessive. Possibly, the Sena-
tor said, Mr.. Walker had made
a mistake-everyone does from
time to time.
mo, SIR" replied the witness
with an uncharacteristic lapse
into military briskness. II
made no mistake. If you think
what I did was a mistake, we
will lose the cold war"
Combat Record Praised
4
Mr.. Walker is a tall, dark
haired, erect man with an out
thrust underlip and long chin
that might tempt caricaturists.
He seemed nervous in the Cau-
Gus Room, although he was
treated with great respect by
the Senators, who praised his
combat record but could not
always agree with or even
fathom his psychological war
fare tactics.
Senator Symington, Demo-
crat Of Missouri, asked him. for
instance, what he had against
What You Should Know About
Communism" a book by Harry
and Bonaro Overstreet which
was recommended by former
President Eisenhower.
President Eisenhower got
help in writing Crusade for
Europe from Joseph Barnes"
said Mr.. Walker with one Of
the lightning-qu non-sequi-
turs which were characters
tic of his testimony.
I'm afraid you've lost me,
General" said Senator Syming-
ton.
Hadn't Read Book
The Senator returned to the J
Overstreet book, pressing the
witness for his objections to
such a generally admired study
of the enemy. Mr.. Walker, 1t
developed, had not read the
book, but had "heard it dis
cussed many times" and I'M
derstood it had "insinuations
of pacificism."
It was Senator Symington
who indicated that Mr.. Walker
was perhaps a pathetic. rather
than a sinister figure.
IT find it rather sad in some |
ways we are having this hear {
ing" he said.
Mr.. Walker. having given
Washington a glimpse Of his
world, did not appear down. {
cast. On the way out, he ex-
changed V-for-Victory signs
with some of his fans.