Three months ago, earnest, angular Editor Ben McKelway of the Washington Star called one of his reporters on the carpet. To 29-year-old Tom G. Buchanan Jr., who covered the medical beat, the boss put one question: Are you a Communist? Reporter Buchanan, an ex-Army captain, replied that he was (an admission that most good Communists regard as naive). McKelway carefully assured Buchanan that his work had been satisfactory. Then he fired him.
By being so honest with each other McKelway and Buchanan raised a clear-cut issue that had the C.I.O. American Newspaper Guild in a dither of soul-searching last week. The Star...