Blackball

A fortnight ago, the Atomic Energy Commission had reserved the right to say what unions are acceptable on atomic projects. It had barred the C.I.O.'s United Electrical Workers and United Public Workers--on AEC's suspicion that there are Communists in its leadership.

Protests rolled in from C.I.O. President Philip Murray, who does not like Communists, and from U.E. President Albert J. Fitzgerald, who is a stooge for the Communist-line bosses of his union. Murray complained on the ground that the C.I.O. is testing the constitutionality of the non-Communist oath requirement far union officers, turned down by U.E. and U.P.W. chiefs. Fitzgerald denounced the order as "cheap political maneuvering."

To Murray, AEC Chairman David Lilienthal replied last week that refusal to take the oath was not the sole complaint; there was "a serious question" about loyalty. To Fitzgerald, Lilienthal said that AEC was ready to talk the issue over with U.E. leaders, but would demand "full and candid" statements on their past & present Communist affiliations, if any. At week's end, there was no answer from Fitzgerald. The blackball stood.

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