Butler Favors Greater Utilization Of Academic Men in Government

In a plea for greater governmental use of academic personnel, Democratic National Chairman Paul Butler yesterday criticized the Republican Party for "looking down its long nose at intellectuals," and claimed that the Democrats would reverse this policy in 1961, "after the victory which I confidently expect."

Butler made this statement during a press conference which preceded his speech last night at the Young Democratic Club's Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner. At the dinner, attended by Faculty members and local Democrats, Butler spoke on the principles of the Democratic Party and on foreign policy.

Despite its generally cordial atmosphere, the dinner witnessed one clash of opinion when first speaker Lt. Governor Robert F. Murphy, a recent critic of Governor Foster Furcolo's proposed sales tax, launched another attack on the Governor.

Murphy based this attack on the Governor's recent appointment of several Republicans to high state positions. Claiming the appointment policy would "demoralize the party" and prevent the implementation of Democratic platform promises, Murphy called on Furcolo to reverse his policy.

Butler Counters Murphy

The rebuttal to Murphy came from Butler himself, who in his introduction said that it was "no crime for a Governor to appoint a Republican," and expressed hope that local Democrats would settle their differences before the 1960 campaign. Butler admitted that he had more than once voted for a Republican candidate "in the belief that the particular man was a better candidate."

Later in his speech Butler launched a diatribe on Administration foreign aid policy. He called for a greater emphasis on economic assistance to the "downtrodden who struggle to realize their aspirations for a better life."

Criticizes TIME

Earlier, in his press conference, Butler criticized Time magazine, labeling it "the house organ of the Republican Party." "When George Allen was a friend of Truman, Time called him the cigar-smoking, gin-drinking crony of the president; now when he is one of Eisenhower's friends, he is called an outstanding diplomat and businessman."

Though refusing to favor any candidate for the Democratic nomination, Butler said he thought that Adlai Stevenson would not refuse nomination, were it offered to him. He stated, however, that while many party members seem to favor Stevenson, "most of the professionals are suspicious of a two-time loser."