The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-04-11
GOVERNMENT FACTORIES

Looming today is the possibility
that the Ford River Rouge plant
may be the first to be taken over
by the government. IL government
control of industry becomes real.
ity as advocated by some Of the
Presidents advisors. Mr.. Ford has
said that he would not operate un'
der the closed shop plan. He has
also indicated that bombers would
be built at cost in the new Ypsi-
lanti factory.
II he maintains that position the
government is left with the choice
OF support for Mr.. Ford against the
closed shop and having bombers
supplied al cost, or support for the
closed shop and assuming control
of the worlds greatest factories.
Members OF the House Military
Affairs Committee are asking more
power to enable the government 10
take over defense plants where
production has been interrupted by
strikes.
Decision to take this stand fol.
lowed testimony by Defense Direc-
tor William 5. knudsen that strikes
really are curtailing production
and that he feels il would be all
right" for the government to oper-
ate strike bound plants until dis
putes are ironed out.
With the committees iuvestiga-
ton OF the defense program in re
cess until Tuesday. members also
are considering other possible leg
islative steps TO alleviate the labor
situation. Those which seem TO have
the greatest support include;
a compulsory cooling off"
period before q strike could be
called.
.. Possible requirement that la
boz unions be incorporated so as to
share corporate responsibilities
with management.
g. Outlawing jurisdictlonal and
Urganizational strikes during the
emergency.
I. Elimination OF cost-plus-fee
contracts in which increased labor
costs can be passed along to the
government.
Although Secretary OF Labor Per
kins and Defense Labor Director
Sidney Hillman have both opposed
any additional labor legislation at
this time, committeeman indicate
they will support some such pro-
gram.
Discussing government operation
OF strike bound plants, Knudsen
says this should only be attempted
after labor mediation has failed and
only for so long as the strike re-
mains unsettled.
The present provision IN the Sc
lective service Law permits the gov
eminent TO take over a plant II
there is a refusal 10 produce de-
Tense goods. About all that is need
ed is TO change that word refusal"
TO read failure" Then the govern
ment can take over any strike
bound plant.
Whether the government would
be wise in attempting to step into
Mr. Fords shoes is a political ques-
ton on whfch- there ia sharp dis
agreement. The question Of allowing
Mr.. Ford to win in his stand for
an open shop is also a serious Do
litical problem. Interest OF the
whole political world is therefore
conferred upon the Ford strike. Ypsi-
lanti is particularly interested, Of
course, because the final decision
will answer the question as to
whether the new airplane factory
d is TO be Luilt east OF the city.
-- Unofficial reports-were TO the
effect that work on his new plant
was to have started several days
ago with appropriate ceremonies as
the first shovel Of dirt was turned.
Surveyors flags outline the bound
aries OF the proposed factory, but at
that point the work seems to be
resting.
To a nation hard pressed for de-
Tense production such delays are
costly. They are also costly for
men who might otherwise be EN-.
ployed. Certainly the government
cannot act too quickly In taking
steps TO put industry on the same
basis OF loyalty that prevails in
army camps where young men are
giving their services at wages far
below any paid in factories. These
men are serving willingly, but that
spirit Of willingness will not con
tinue n the support back homo ron.