Evening star., 1940-05-29
National Defense Council

al 4eVlVlllS I1le pre- WOrld War
Council of National Defense and in
naming as full-time advisory men,
bers such distinguished industrialists
as Edward R. Stettinius, jr., chairman
OF the Board of Directors of the
United States Steel Corporation, and
William S. Knudsen, president of the
General Motors Corporation, Presi-
dent Roosevelt has made a tangible
start toward putting the defense
program into effect. There will be
healthy skepticism, no doubt, as to
whether the group is merely to sup
plement the New Deal cabinet with
its advice, or whether it is going
ahead and take the leadership-with
authority-that the crisis demands.
But these questions can be answered
only by developments.
There is urgent need that men of
the business attainments and execu-
tive capabilities of Mr.. Stettinius and
MIR. Knudsen should take an active
hand in the gigantic industrial mobi-
lization job which cataclysmic world
events have forced upon this Nation
almost overnight. If ever there was
an occasion for injecting more busi-
ness into government-andb big busi-
ness at that-this is that occasion.
The act of August 90, 1916, creating
the Council Of National Defense, was
designed ito increase and develop
domestic production and to concen-
trate, mobilize and coordinate the
country's resources, both in men and
supplies, in time of need" President
Wilson named Bernard M. Baruch as
a member of the original Advisory
Commission set up under the act,
and after our entry into the war Mr..
Baruch was made chairman of a new
group, the War Industries Board. He
was given dictatorial powers over the
Nations wartime industries. In the
present crisis, President Roosevelt
has taken only the preliminary step
of setting up an advisory commission
OF experts in the fields of manufac-
turing, transportation, labor, agri-
culture and price control. There is as
yet no plan for "czar" to head up
the whole organization, unless Mr..
Roosevelt himself intends to fill that
role. In this respect the Presidents
plan will not satisfy completely many
responsible persons who have been
pressing the administration to take
the national defense program away
from the politicians" and turn it
over to a nonpartisan, hard-headed
businessman or to an independent
board OF such men.
While the original act contem-
plated a body dominated largely
by members of the Presidents cabi-
net, Mr.. Roosevelt told reporters yes
terday that they could forget" the
cabinet in the proposed setup. That
would be desirable, of course, in view
OF the difficulties under which Ger
tain vital departments affecting ma
tional defense are operating at pres
ent, but it is scarcely possible to for
get the cabinet as long as actual
administration of the defense pro-
gram remains under control of the
present departmental heads It is
exceedingly unfortunate that the
Navy Department at this critical
period should be in charge of man
who is preparing to run for political
office, that the War Department
should be the scene of undercover
controversy in high quarters, that
the Secretary of Commerce should
be an official with little actual busi-
ness experience and that the Secre-
tary of Labor should be an estimable
lady who lacks the confidence of war
ring labor factions.
Undoubtedly, the appointment of
the Advisory Commission will help to
allay the fears that have been ex-
pressed regarding ability of the Gov
ernment quickly and efficiently to
convert the billions of appropriated
dollars into warplanes and ships and
tanks and munitions. The two full
time members will have the aid of
five assistants, including Ralph Budd
to direct transportation activities,
and Sidney Hillman to handle labor
problems. The commission is to act
as clearing house of information on
productive capacity of industry,
Standardization of designs, training
OF workmen and speeding up of
transportation of raw materials and
finished implements of war. Extent
of its authority apparently will be
limited at this stage of the councils
development, so that it's effectiveness
will depend largely on the degree of
cooperation which its members are
able to obtain from governmental
bureaucracy. That American indus
try-employers and employees alike
may be depended upon to put their
shoulders to the wheel without stint
In this crucial hour of the country's
need goes without saying. There will
have to be certain temporary sacri-