Evening star., 1947-02-14
KEN, New Senator,
Follows White in
Opposing LiIienthal
BY the Associoied Press

BY the Associoied Press
Republican opposition to David
E. Lilienthal as chairman of the
Atomic Energy Commission piled
up today.
Almost simultaneously with Pres
ident Truman's personal pledge to
stand behind his nominee to the
finish, Senate Majority Leader White
announced his determination to vote
against Mr.. Lilienthal because he is
"temperamentally untitled" for the
job.
Friends of the former iva chief
who speculated anxiously what effect
Senator Whites declaration might
have on his fellow Republicans,
especially the big squad of first
termers, had a quick If not con-
elusive answer.
KEN Lines Up With Foes.
Scarcely an hour after the floor
leader issued his statement, Fresh
man Senator KEN of Missouri
joined the anti-Lilienthal forces
with declaration that he cannot
countenance IAN outstanding ex-
ponent of Government ownership as
head of the Atomic Energy Com
mission"
Atomic energy may have unlim-
tied commercial and industrial po-
|tentialities, Senator KEN asserted.
II believe that the control Of this
great new force should be intrusted
to stanch supporters of our char
acteristic American system of private
initiative and free enterprise"
Senator White said his compelling
objection" to Mr.. Lilienthal springs
from his controversial and arbitrary
mental attitude towards those who
do not accept his views" He called
Mr.. Lilienthal "restive and defiant
of congressional restraints"
Wherry Led Way.
Senator White Is the second of
the "big five" Senate Republicans
to come out fatty against Mr.. Lilien-
thai. Senator Wherry of Nebraska,
the Republican whip, led the way
Monday.
The other three have not made
their positions formally known
President pro tempore Vandenberg
of Michigan, Ohio's Senator Taft,
Policy Committee chairman, and
Senator Millikin of Colorado, chair
man of the Republican Senate Con-
ference.
Support of scientists for Mr.. Lii
ienthal came from two sources.
In Tennessee the Oak Ridge As
sociation of Engineers and Scien-
fists said that Mr.. Lilienthal has its
confidence"
1--WE don't want to enter into any
discussion of Mr.. Lilienthal's quail
fications except to say that he has
the confidence of the Oak Ridge
scientists" said DR.. L. w. Nordheim,
chairman of the associations Ex-
ecutive Committee.
1--WE aren't so much concerned
with the makeup of the commission
as with some of the remarks made
by a few Congressman at the hear
ings in Washington" DR.. Nordheim
added.
Uneasy About Attacks. T
The scientists who helped make
the bomb, DR.. Nordheim told re-
porters, are very uneasy" about
what he described as attacks on
proposed international control of
atomic energy and security.
eve can have effective control of
atomic energy only if we have some
sort of international control, such
as that outlined in the Acheson-
Lilienthal report and later exposlnd-
ed by Bernard Baruch before the
United Nations" he declared. -
In Chicago, Prof. Harold G. Urey
Of the University of Chicago, who
helped develop the bomb, issued a
statement expressing belief that
atomic energy work in the United
States will be crippled for several
years if the Craftsmanship of the
Atomic Energy Commission is
changed at this time"
CMr. Lilienthal has been serv-
ing as head of the commission
under a recess" appointment
one made when Congress was not
in session. He cannot continue
unless the Senate approves his
Selection)
In the Senate fight over the nom-
ination, Senator Taft's friends say
confidently that he will vote against
Mr.. Lilienthal, although they do not
profess to say whether he will try
to put the party's machinery In
gear against Mr.. Trumans man.
Senator Vandenberg and Senator
Millikin are members of the Atomic
Energy Committee which is consid-
ering the nomination, and as such
have refrained from delivering any
Judgment of the appointment
Senator Vandenberg has ikeneo
his position to that of juror who
hasn't heard all the evidence. New.
ertheless, his questioning of Mr.
Lilienthal has been friendly, as has
that of Senator Millikin. Hence
many of their colleagues would be
surprised if either voted may" or
the showdown.
Floor Fight Shaping Up.
If any additional evidence were
needed that a sharp floor fight is
shaping up over the nomination
Mr.. Truman filled the gap late yes
terday when he told his news con-
ference he was supporting Mr.. Lii
Iienthal all the way through.
cuvM