Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-03-17
Right 10 Work Law
In Virginia Upheld;
Further Tests Seen
By Robert K. Welsh

Dy ROBERT Il. WotSn
Further challenges Of vir-
ginia'S fright to work" law
seemed likely today in view of a
Supreme Court decision that
labor union picketing can be
conStitutionally forbidden under
that law.
The Ia ruling, handed down
yesterday as the court recessed
to April 6, had the effect Of up
holding validity Of the contro-
versial Virginia statute.
It also was regarded as apply
ing to several other States which
have similar legislation.
The opinion read by Justice
Burton indicated the decision
rested to a considerable extent
on a specific set of circumstances
in Richmond. It apparently left
the door open for attacks on en-
forcement Of the law under other
conditions.
Still Not Safe.
The dissent by Justices Doug
las and Black raised the posi-
hility that some future court in
functions under the Virginia law
might have a harder time in
the Supreme Court unless based
on unusually strong reasons and
the most detailed kind Of factual
findings.
The Virginia law says a per-
sons right to work must not be
denied or restricted because he
is or is not a union member. An
ALL plumbers union local, in
picketing a Richmond school
construction job. contended it
merely wanted to communicate
information" that some nom
union workers were employed
there. The seneral contractor
sued for damages. He won in
court on a claim that the picket
ing was aimed at preventing en-
ployment Of the non-union
people.
The Supreme Court ruled, 6 to
3, in another decision that the
Federal Power Commission had
authority to license the Virginia
Electric Power Co. to build
and operate hydroelectric
power plant at Roanoke Rapids.
N. C.
Former Secretary Of the In
terror Oscar Chapman had con-
tended that his department was
authorized by Congress to carry
out a power development project
at the Roanoke Rapids site. He
said FPC had no authority to let
any private group move in for
such a project designed to bene-
At Virginia as we'll as North
Carolina.
The Supreme Court, rapidly
clearing it's docket and heading
into the home stretch toward
June adjournment, acted on
these other major matters yes
terday:
Alien exclusion. Decided, 5-4,
that an alien excluded from this
country but denied admission
into IS other countries may be
kept indefinitely at Ellis Island.
This man without a country
lived in the United States for IS I
years. He was refused re-entryit
after a two-year trip behind the
Iron Curtain.
Alien deportation. Refused to
rule directly on constitutionality
Of a McCarran Act provision for
deportation of non-citizens for
past membership in the Com
munist party. The To ruling was
on procedural grounds.
Communists. Declined to rule
on constitutionality of a Michi-
gan law requiring Communists to
register with state police and
prohibiting Communists from
running for state Offices.
NSubverSiveS. Turned down a
request for an immediate hear
ing on a test case involving a
Government attempt to evict
members of the International
Workers Order from a Federally-
aided low-coSt housing project
in New York. The TWO is on the
Attorney Generals list of sub
versive organizations.