Evening star., 1947-02-17

CHANCE u StIlhe al oN1. AAAlCileAAoA'
Notwithstanding, Mr.. Lilienthal
has established an outstanding rep
utation as an able and efficient
administrator. His character and
courage as we'll as his competency
also are generally recognized. In
addition to these attributes, he is
particularly qualified for this posi-
ton by his knowledge OF the sub
iect, reflected in the Acheson-Lil-
ienthal report, concededly the basis
of the Baruch report.
Indorsed by Secretary of War Pat
terson, DR.. Vannevar Bush. Bernard
M. Baruch and many others, he
seems unquestionably the best quail
flied and available man for the job.
The degrading efforts of Senator
McKellar to smear him, by them
selves, would not have affected his
overwhelming confirmation.
But, unhappily, last week Senator
McKellar found unexpected support.
First there was a charge that the
iva under MIR. Lilienthal had been
infested with Communists and that
he had done little about it. This
charge was exploded long ago by
the report of Representative Starnes
Of Alabama, who, as chairman OF a
subcommittee operating under the
eye Of the vigilant Mr.. Dies, made
an investigation and found it false.
Not Charged as Communist.
No one, of course-not even. Sem
ator McKe1lar. whose hatred OF Mr..
Lilienthal makes him willing to do
pretty nearly anything-has charged
that Mr.. Lilienthal himself is SYM
pathetic with Communism and no
one could read his recent statement
and entertain any doubt as to the
undiluted quality of his Ameri-
canisn1.
Actually, the only allegations at
this time against Mr.. Lilienthal,
susceptible of proof, are that he was
a devout follower of the late Mr..
Roosevelt: that he was a strong
New Dealer; that he is, in fact, a
true liberal" For these reasons,
apparently, most of the conservative
Republicans and some conservative
Democratic Senators have swung
against him and his confirmation
is in doubt.
Certainly, the writer Of this
column is not one to regard devo-
ton to the late Mr.. Roosevelt, the
New Deal and the true liberalism"
as desirable assets for public men
in high posts-quite the reverse.
Certainly, it is not the rule for men
who can be thus classed to be noted
for either unusual character or un-
usual capacity-rare, indeed, when
they are adequately endowed with
both.
But there are such men, and the
overwhelming and convincing testi-
mony is that Mr.. Lilienthal is one
of them. When to this is added his
special experience and attainments
in the field Of atomic energy, oppo-
sition of the conservatives on the
ground that he was Roosevelt man
and q New Dealer seems indefen-
sible.
II President Truman, for personal
or political reasons, had passed over
better or as good man as Mr.
Lilientha1 for this place there would
be sound ground for opposition. But
that Is not the case and his reJec-
ton would render inevitable the
nomination of an inferior man.
Would Put COP in Bad Position.
Obviously, Mr.. Lilienthals present
Senate ordeal would make the tor
men still more reluctant to serve
Under the circumstances, defeating
Mr.. Lilienthal would put the con-
servatives-particularly the Republi-
can conservatives, because the blame
would be on them-in bad position
1t will make them seem so narrow
partisan and prejudiced that they
pushed aside the best available mar
- the Nation for this supremely
important post.
That is exactly what the late Mr.
Roosevelt did in the recent wal
when, despite the fact that Mr.
Herbert Hoover was concededly the
most experienced and equipped mar
in the world to deal with tht
problem of food, he refused all sug'
eestions to make him food admin
istrator, turning the job over tc
incompetents who botched 1t dread
fully.
Clearly he sacrificed the nationa
interests to his personal spleen. I
was a vindictive, petty and dis
creditable thing to have done. L
now, for a no better reason thar
that he was a Roosevelt New Dealer
the Republicans deprive the Natior
of Mr.. Lilienthals services, th'
same indictment can be made
against them-and should be.
It will not lie in their mouths II
criticize Mr.. Roosevelt if they equa
him in pettiness and prejudice. II
addition, theirs Is a foolish com
plant. Conceding that Mr.. Lilien
thai is a liberal" look at the othe,
members of the commission. Their
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