Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-10
johnson W arms
OF Revolution if
Defense Fails
By II. 6. WALESBY
Times Anto Editor

BY II. y. NALbSbf
Times Aato Edltos
Gen. Hugh 6. johnson. speaking
at a production meeting OF the
Society of Automotive Engineers.
warned that failure of American
Industry or the office OF produc-
ton mobilization may result in So
cial revolution and government
control of all industry.
Speaking in place of William S.
Knudsen. who was forced TO can
eel his scheduled talk last night
because of pressing business.
General johnson told the engi-
neers that II The OPM fails, OF
even falters. the country will hear
one Of the most sinister cries ever
echoed in America.
SINISTER CRY
THE people" he said, will
Immediately cry out The CAPT
talistic system IL no good. We
gave IL every opportunity. IL
tried and failed. Industrial lead
eEship IL incompetent NOW let
the government take over in
dustry. Let the peoples repre-
sentatives. the socialists and the
revolutionists run this effort.
We should he better of In the
hands of social minded amateurs
than in those of capitalistic mis-
fits"
General johnson said that his
warning is not idle talk.
"Mutterings already are In
the air" he said THE OPM
must produce. Industry must
produce. And production cannot
be in the ordinary business as
usual workaday performance
we see i'm peace time"
you've got 10 produce mir
acles," he told sac members
and representatives of industry
who damned the Book-Cadillac
Ballroom TO hear his message.
ECONOMIC DEATH STRUGGLE
General Johnson said that war
is no longer merely matter of
armies and navies. But death
struggle between economic sYs-
tens.
1.-The nation which can more
quickly and massively drench Its
enemies with lethal tornadoes
OF the products of industry
the heaviest tonnages OF steel,
chemicals, tanks, submarines,
explosives and battering rams
of mechanical continuance, II the
nation most apt to win regard
less of the valor devotion and
mere manpower of Its enemies"
the general said.
He criticized the administra-
tons procedure of dumping bill
lions in orders" into the laps of
industry without warning. and
then suddenly demanding that the
orders be turned out the day
before yesterday" and no ahbis
accepted.
Utmost confidence in the pa
triotism and ability of American
industry to meet defense needs
was expressed by General john
son. who said:
81 have not the remotest
doubt that our industry Is going
TO do the job. 1t will break all
precedents with rs spectacular
n result rs the German reversal
of all military records in the
blitzkriegs OF both Poland and
the west-whlch shows that or
IL xtro
II IL il so minded.
HIGH ATTAINMENT
at will make what II did In
1918 pale by comparison. But 1t
can do that only If IL has made
up its mind to do it"
This has not happened the gen.
eral said. because until now it has
been given no unified. authorized
and responsible leadership. In
dustry has that gift today. ne
said. in the new office of pro-
duction management headed by
Knudsen.
Earlier in the day engineers
had heard a plea from Lieut.. Com.
Marshall M. Dana or the navy for
more high speed, lightweight
Diesel engines,
Commander Dana told the en-
gineers at the afternoon session
of their 1871 convention that the
navy is making such heavy de-
mands upon its usual suppliers
that il has become necessary to
develop new sources of supply.
Diesel engines are essential for
the creation of an effective mobile
force to defend the Western Hem
isphere. he said. adding that the
automobile industry, which is or
gained for mass production of
Diesel engines not only would save
our way of living by providing
Diesels IN quantity, but would
also preserve the automobile
market for the future.
when totalitarianism comes.
bicycles replace the automobile"
he warned
Final sessions Of the sac con-
Vention 10 he held today will be
devoted to fuels and lubricants"