Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-30
BY HUGH S. JOHNSON


THERE is about to issue in
Washington. an executive
order recreating something very
close, in form at least. TO the
war industries board of 1918.
While it will not. disturb the
recent quadumvirate of Stimson
for the army, Knox for the, navy,
Knudsen for industry and Hill
man for organized labor, Knud-
sen Will-he the actual working
member and the show will CEN
ter around him.
Like the 1918 organization,
there will be departments for
priorities. communicating and
price control. Some of the latter
will not be the central organiza-
tion, Neither were they allthere
in the World War.
Tfft.- price-iiNlng commission
L was then separate organ
ization. housed with the war
industries board. the chairman
of which was a member. But
the commission itself was headed
by a chairman. Robert Brook
ingS. and reported directly TO
the President.
The communicating section
was composed of officials of the
various purchasing departments
and. while il orders had all 10 be
signed by the chairman Of the
big board. its organization was
separate.
OF these three key depart
mentS. only the priorities COM
mission was an integral part OF
the big board. In practice it
made no difference. They all
worked in perfect harmony.
THIS is the general pattern of
l. the new proposal with Mr..
StettiniuS probably at the head
of the priorities division Mr..
Sidney Hillman conducting labor
ar1ri-t.enn henderson
presiding over prices.
IF this happens. prierities and
price. control will both be out
side the production office Of the
four-man control and in the adj
viSory commission.
That need not necessarily
make any difference if these
turn out to be the right men,
and there are no inherent weak
neSses. stresses and strains.
1T is not altogether clear that
L this is so. Sidney Hillman
is a good man. but is only barely
tolerated by the American Fed
Grafton of Labor and is no
object of glowing affection TO
John Lewis.
In the continuing conflict be-
tween industry and labor, and
whether they so intend or not.
Mr.. Knudsen represents manage
ment and Mr.. Hillman s labor's
man.
If there is a disagreement be-
tween these two. the army and
the navy secretaries will have
the deciding votes.
THIS is unfortunate. These
i gentlemen want cver-in-
creasing production and are
bound to be impatient with
delay.
The most obvious delays viii
he labor strikes and disputes.
If the army and navy side with
industry (Mr. Knudsen) the
welkin will ring with complaints
not only from labor but from
every radical element in Wash
ington. none of which likes this
arrangement anyway. and all Of
whom think business men should
not be in il.
So the armed services will
come in for a hail of epithets-
reactionary. tory. brass-hat.
martinets. dictatorial and even
Nazis or Fascists.
THIS is too bad. Neither the
Il army nor the navy should be
put in a position of having to
decide such disputes.
Some wholly impartial agency
should do that and this organ
ization does not provide such a
tribunal. The split in the. ranks
of organized labor makes Mr..
Hillmans position doubly diff
cult.
This situation requires vastly
increased speed. That can come
only from unity and a driving
force amounting to fiery inspira-
ton.
Maybe patience. patriotism
and cooperation will overcome
this apparent weakness and
spark us out of our present
lethargy-but it is not doing it
now and there are few signs of
such Improvement.
by United Features synd.. Inc