Glacier County chief., 1940-12-20
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HUGH S.
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Washington, d. C.
REARMAMENT DAWDLING

ment is not organized for industrial
mobilization, and neither is indus
Try.
This is not the fault of the war
department.. This country made
two startling contributions to the art
and science of major modern war
in 1917 and 1918. One was the selec-
tive service idea for the mobiliza-
ton of man power. The other was
the War Industries board method
for mobilizing industry.
Neither was fished out of a hat.
Both were perfected through a pain
ful period of trial and error-mis-
take and correction-until, at the
end, they were working well.
Almost as soon as the war was
over, the war department began
careful study of both. Few regular
officers had been included in either
effort, but nearly all the principal
actors were living and the records
and reports were copious.
Year after year, these expert
enced men were brought back to
lecture class after class of officers
In the war college and army indus
trial college on all these experiences
the underlying principles, the blum
ders and triumphs, the blind alleys
explored and all the stone walls
against which these pioneers had
butted and bloodied their heads.
AS result of all these studies and
stories, the war department drew
up plans for both notifications for
major war-men and materials.
Year after year, these plans were
revised and carefully checked with
the veterans of the earlier effort.
On the principle of industrial mo-
bllIzation, of which he had directed
the 1918 effort, Bernard M. Baruch
devoted much of his time and ener-
gy, patiently helping the war de-
partment to perfect an adaptation
OF his original plan to every chang
ing circumstance.
When this emergency arrived, the
war department was ready with
plans complete almost to the last
comma for both selective service
and the industrial effort.
The war department. draft plan
was permitted to be put into effect
with very few changes, but, for
some reason, its equally well con-
structed and war tested plan for
Industrial mobilization was ditched.
The result is before our eyes. The
draft machinery is running as well
as any such great effort could be
expected to run. In industrial mo-
oLlzation we are repeating by page
and number and almost by date ev-
cry single blunder of 1917 and 1918.
These all had been plotted and pro-
Vlded against in the war depart
ment plan.
1t is impossible to carry on with
out confusion, waste and delay an
armament program running into bill
lions by simply flinging it to peace
eeared industry as bone is tossed
10 dog. 1t requires careful or
ganization of both demand and sup
ply, organization of the many and
sometimes conflicting government
Procurement agencies, as well as
organization of the myriad produc-
ing agencies of industry. That has
not been done at all and that is what
is the matter with things.
WASHINGTON-THE CENTER
This City of Washington was es-
tablished as our seat of govern
ment, partly on the argument that
II was a central location and partly
In kind of trade to insure national
assumption of the debts of the states.
Perhaps the Founding Fathers
could not possibly have foreseen the
astonishing expansion of our coun-
Try, but now our central location in
area is somewhere in Kansas, and
our center of population, (not yet
announced from the last census) is
probably in Indiana.
As result, Washington is about
as inconveniently located as posi-
Ole for most u. S. citizens to exer-
else their constitutional right to
visit the seat of the government.
Nobody would dream of suggest
ng that the capital be moved. Its
ocation is hallowed in our history.
What with its own advance and the |
iecline of others due to war and |
it is, by all odds, the
most beautiful city in the world. 1t |
$ advancing yearly in beauty as
veil as in wealth and population.
No, the capital will never be
hanged, but why are other cities
md all the states SO complacent
bout permitting so much Of their
money to be drained away to be
pent in this one spot? The great
ead administrative offices have to
e grouped about the Chief Execu-
i've. but why do the hundreds Of
Of workers?