Opinions Keep it Clean--if Possible, Evening Star (Article, August 1952)
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'Keep It Clean--If Possible'
I think your wholesome editorial of August 9, entitled, "Keep It Clean--If Possible," needs a little modification with respect to Gov. McKeldin's effort to make political capital out of Gov. Stevenson's role as a character witness for Alger Hiss.
Gov. Stevenson seems to have been one of that distinguished company who allowed themselves to be deceived by the plausible Hiss. Although, as you point out, his testimony was given before Hiss had been convicted, it was after enough evidence was publicly available to point strongly to his guilt. If Gov. Stevenson, who is a lawyer, had given due and proper heed to this evidence and to the established reputation of the FBI for not going into court unless it had the goods, he probably would not have gone to bat for Hiss.
For this lapse--call it heedlessness, gullibility, lack of discernment, mistaken judgment--it seems to me that he is fair game for honest criticism. On the other hand, any attempt to exploit it as a "smear" by insinuating that it denoted Communist affiliation or sympathy would be unfair and reprehensible.
Incidentally, the manner in which Hiss succeeded in impressing people in high places brings to mind the concluding line of Bunthorne's song in Gilbert and Sullivan's "Patience":
"What a most particularly pure young man this pure young man must be!"
J.M.P.
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You could have been a little more fair in judgment in your editorial "Keep It Clean--If Possible." Senator Dirksen's recent speech in which he denounced the "lavender lads" of the State Department was only just as "low" as was necessary to answer, on the same level, Stevenson's remarks about McCarthy and Kem and Jenner, etc. Dirksen did not originate the "low"--Stevenson did. Strange the two you criticize are Republicans; and the Democrats are the originators and champions in smear tactics. They stoop to any lie, starting with Roosevelt's smears and lies about Hoover.
G.W.
