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In its third experience with a question of censure the U.S. Senate will have before it the exhaustive report of a Select Committee, clearly and firmly recommending censure. This will be documentation to support the resolution introduced by Vermont Republican Flanders: "Resolved, that the conduct of the Senator from Wisconsin, Mr. McCarthy, is unbecoming a member of the U.S. Senate, is contrary to senatorial traditions and tends to bring the Senate into disrepute, and such conduct is hereby condemned."
Last week, before the Watkins report was issued (but when he surely knew its tone), Majority Leader William Knowland announced that the Senate will not be called back to face the censure question until Nov. 8, six days after the elections. Postponing the call until then, said Knowland, will permit the Senate to act "in an atmosphere free from pre-election tensions." Some Democrats immediately attacked this decision as a move to shield Republicans from the necessity of taking a stand on McCarthy until after the elections. But there is no doubt that the Senate will be able to exercise a calmer judgment after Nov. 2.
The Sick List. Until the Senate acts (and probably afterward), the Watkins report stands as the most crushing blow that has fallen upon Wisconsin's Joe McCarthy since his spectacular political career began. Last week, when the committee was putting the final touches on its report, McCarthy canceled the only three speeches he had scheduled before the election. His aides said that he was troubled by a sinus condition, would have to enter a hospital.
Politically, Joe McCarthy this week was indeed on the sick list. One of the clearest indications came out of Los Angeles, where the American Federation of Labor was holding its annual convention. In contrast to other A.F.L. conventions since McCarthy became an "ism," there was hardly any discussion of McCarthy or McCarthyism. Said a delegate from Chicago: "McCarthy is dead. Why should we bother kicking the corpse?"
* He said that Lustron paid him the $10,000 for a pamphlet on housing.
* So nicknamed because he constantly threatened to stick his adversaries with a pitchfork.
† In January 1951 Bingham returned to public life as chairman of the U.S. Government's Loyalty Review Board, served until 1953, is now living in retirement in Washington.