Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-18
REAL REASON FOUND FOR SUD
DEN RETIREMENT FROM WAR
INDUSTRIES BOARD
EFFORT TO SPEED PRoDUc-
TON OF MATERIALS FUTILE
Washington 5ureauerats and Willard
Finds Board Is Entirely Without
Power-Effort to Delay Announce
ment of Retire ment Unsuccessful.
fArthur Sears Henning in Chicago
Trihunel.

Arthur sears HennlnS IN NH.N|-'
Tribune7.
WASHINGTON. Jan. lS.-Ano;her up
heaval has occurred in the war or
ganization Of ne administration.
Daniel Willard. chairman Of thc Wal
industries board. sent his rcslCnat"r
to the president after six weeks trla
of the Job, constituting an unsuccessful
effor- to bring order out Of chaos and
put punch" in the work behind The
firing line.
1t is not unlikely the president VIII
seek legislation lega.!zinS the war IN
dustries board, and Conterr.r= large
powers on It's chairman, who may "
made a SORT Of director Of munitions,
in concession 10 demands II CONGRESS
for the creation Of such department.
In Offering his resignation, Mr.. VIII
lard made statement il which ne
gave as his reason that the Baltimore
& Ohio railroad required MS entire
attention. The announcement stated
his resignation was not brought about
by any apparent conflict between the
war industries board and the -eo--
sanizatior Of the war department.
Chairman Leaves Washington.
The RESIGNATION Q: M. Willard Gre
ated a sensation IN official circles. and
effort wa. made to suppress The TACT
until arrangements could be made FOR
the appointment 81 his successor,
Mr.. Willard LETT Washington for a
Trip over the lines Of the Baltimore &
Ohio. of which he IS president and his
secretary said he did not know when
Mr.. Willard intended 20 return.
Mr.. Willard was drafted ~ me
president 70 preside over the war in
drstries board about SIX weeks ago.
shortly after the retirement o. Fran r.
Scott. because Of Ill health. Mr.. WI
lard knew nothing Of the mater un;H
informed o. his appointment by ths
president. but ne tackled the JOB th=
next day.
The first thing Nj. Willard Giscov-
cred was that ne had no power. The
war industries board IS q volunteer
organization. without legal standing.
charged with the duty OF MODELLING
and co-ordina.inE the industries turn
ing out war supplies determining prices
70 be paid by the government for
munitions and other supplies. and
otherwise ASSISTING the army and
navy in obtaining equipment.
Mr.. willard -ound that re could 60
nothing but make recommendations 20
the industries on the one side and ne
war and navy departments on the
other. He could not compel speeding
NJ production. His -econn er dations
are said TO have been p!seonholed Or
smothered in red tape. chiefly IN The
war department
Real Power for Board Proposed.
In his testimony before the serat"
investigating committee. Mr.. willard
indirectly made complaint ~ the hand!-
caps ne had encountered when ~
pleaded for legal:zation Of the war IN
dustries board ard the clothing q rs
chairman with real power. AGENCIES
tina. advise. he said. are not needed 50
much as agencies that DO things and
do them on large scale. Re saw 10
special need for & minister Of mum
tons.
The members c- The senate commit
tee did not knc-r then that he had al
ready drafted his letter OF RESIGNATION
It is understood that in his letter 20
the president ne asks 70 be relieved
because Il has become imperative Tor
him to return to active management
OF the Baltimore &Ohio railroad
Among the friends OF NJ. willard L
is recognized however that tt" pri-
mary reason for MS rec'2na ion is his
lack Of power 10 override bureau
cratic ine1iciency and get big things
done In a big way.