SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1950, THE MOST WANTED LIST HAS BEEN AN EFFECTIVE PUBLICITY TOOL FOR THE BUREAU CULMINATING IN THE ARREST OF MANY FUGITIVES. HOWEVER, CRITICS EVENTUALLY CAME TO QUESTION WHETHER ALL THOSE ON THE LIST DURING THE PAST TWO DECADES WERE REALLY THE 10 WORST PUBLIC ENEMIES. ACCORDING TO A FORMER FBI AGENT, THE FUGITIVES MOST COMMONLY ON THE LIST WERE PETTY CRIMINALS, SUCH AAS BARROOM KNIFERS, BANK ROBBERS, CAR THIEVES, AND IN THE EARLY 1970'S, POLITICAL RADICALS. UNDER DIRECTOR J. EDGAR HOOVER, THE FBI TENDED TO CONCENTRATE ON LOW-LEVEL FEDERAL CRIMES SUCH AS AUTO THEFT AND BANK ROBBERY BECAUSE CONVICTIONS WERE EASY TO OBTAIN. NARCOTICS CASES WERE LEFT TO THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ORGANIZED CRIME WAS A LOW PRIORITY. IN THE BUREAU'S FIRST 20 YEARS, ONLY ONE ORGANIZED CRIME FIGURE MADE THE MOST WANTED LIST. CURRENTLY, THE BUREAU'S ANNOUNCED PRIORITIES ARE ORGANIZED CRIME, WHITE-COLLAR CRIME, AND FOREIGN COUNTERINTELLIGENCE. THE NEW FACES ON THE 1979 LIST INCLUDE FOUR FUGITIVES WITH TIES TO THE RADICAL LEFT, THREE MEN WHO ESCAPED FEDERAL OR LOCAL PRISONS, TWO ORGANIZED CRIME FIGURES, AND A MURDERER. THE LIST IS A MIXTURE OF SOLID LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SLICK PUBLIC RELATIONS. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)