Top Mass. Democrats Speak Here, Disagree About Value of A.D.A.

Foster Furcolo and Robert Murphy, two of Massachusetts' top Democratic leaders, disagreed last night on the value Americans For Democratic Action has in election campaigns.

Addressing a meeting of the Young Democratic Club, Furcolo, Massachusetts State Treasurer, said, "In my opinion, ADA's work in Massachusetts is more a hindrance than a help." A candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senator, Furcolo had similarly attacked ADA in early January.

In an interview later, Murphy, Minority Floor Leader of the State Legislature, said he would accept any all support that ADA might give him in a campaign. Political observers have listed Murphy as a possible candidate for governor.

Furcolo, in his second criticism of the ADA, pointed to the fact that "none of the eight of nine ADA-supported Representatives from Massachusetts came publicly to ADA's defense after my January speech."

"This is a true indication," he continued, "that ADA's support is neither needed nor wanted in Massachusetts politics. The Democratic Party itself encompasses almost all of ADA's liberal policies, anyway."

Murphy and a third speaker, John F. Collins, both attacked Governor Herter.