The Wrangell sentinel., 1940-09-13
National Defense
 As Viewed By
 Opposing Parties
THE DEMOCRATIC VIEW
 By Claude Pepper
U. s. Senator From Florida


 The national defense program long in preparation, rolled into high gear on May 26, when President Roosevelt made his speech outlining our defense needs in the present emergency.
 Two days later, the President ap- pointed a National Defense AdYis- ory Commission to insure that the defense program should proceed with the utmost efficiency Since that time, the President, as Con- mander in Chief of the Army and Navy, and the Congress have been working on legislation to increase our Army to 100000, to provide material for equipping an additional SO0,0OO men and to provide the nation with a tWo-oCean Navy and an airforce second to none
 What has been done?
 In the three and one half months that have passed since that time, over a quarter of the S10.000,000 GOO estimated 1941 defense appro- priation has been placed under con- tract.
 Already manufacturers are at work on contracts calling for 10,- 0O0 new airplanes.
 As a result of recent programs, the Navy now has 361 ships in acc tual commission and work is going forward on 122 ships.
 Vital supplies of raw materials are being stored in stock piles. h the case of rubber, arrangements have been made to increase the stock pile by 180,000 tons, bringing the reserves arranged for in this particular commodity up to 416, ,000 tons. In the case of manganese, ov- CT three-quarters of the stock pile has already been arranged for
 New contract forms have been worked out which will spread the defense program throughout the country, among manufacturers who have heretofore been unable to par ticipate Under the first of these pol icies, large orders may be split up so that the small manufacturer can take part. An adjunct to this policy calls for delivery of materials at the plant door The government then pays transportation charges, allow ing manufacturers in all parts of the country to compete on an equal basis.
 And this is not all.
 New methods by which the gov ernment shares the risk with indus try of the costs of plant expansion have been worked out and put into effect on contracts. Notable among these is single contract calling for 20,000 airplane engines.
 Production of tanks for defense is rising rapidly. Under a single con- tract, five tanks a day are being produced on a total order calling for 1,156 tanks. At the same time, a $53,500,O00 contract calls for con- struetion of a plant to build tanks on a scale and at a price never be- fore thought possible.
 Production of a new type semi automatic rifle for the Army will soon reach over 1000 a day.
 Ship construction time has been sharply cut. New ships will come into service many months ahead of original schedules.
 This policy states that all em- ployment on the defense program should comply with the federal laws protecting labor standards, as well as state an dlocal statutes affecting labor relations, hours of work, wages, workmen's compensation, safety and sanitation It further states, in accordance with American traditions, that there should be no discrimination because of age, sex, race or color and that adequate housing facilities should be made available for employees engaged in the work of defending their coun- try.
 Lastly, in regard to labor the ad- ministration of President Roosevelt, which irresponsible presons have de- clared to be inefficient, has already enrolled a hundred thousand men in the industrial labor training pro- gram.
 Thousands more are eager to par ticipate in the great work of nation al defense. For their benefit, the defense commission has made pub lie it's new labor policy.