Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1941-06-13
Greatest Danger
Lies Within The
United States


but from within. That danger is the
increasing number of strikes in indus
tries where materials vitality neces-
sary to our national defense are to
be manufactured.
In the face of the tragic events in
Europe, Africa, and Asia, and consid-
ering the possible consequences of
these events upon our country, it is
imperative that we find a solution
for the strike menace now. The time
for words has passed. The time for
action has come.
Combined reports of the War,
Navy and other government depart
ments show that there were more per-
sons on strike in plants making equip
ment for our national defense during
last week than at any previous time
since our defense preparations began.
President Roosevelt recently said,
"Never before since jamestown and
Plymouth Rock has our American
civilization been in such danger as
now" In the light of this warning
it seems unbelievable that strikes in
essential defense industries, instead
Of decreasing, are constantly increas-
ing both in number and extent.
This condition cannot longer be toll
Grated by either the government or by
the people of the United States. It
is our NUMBER ONE problem.
Neither can we forget that the Uni
ted States is formally pledged by law
to furnish all aid to Britain, short
of war. Billions of American dollars
have been appropriated to provide
this aid, in weapons, munitions and
equipment.
It was but a few days ago that
there was much debate in and out Of
our government over whether or not
the United States Navy should actual
ly convoy ships to England. Many in
our country favored this course, in
spite of President Roosevelt's state
ment that Conveys mean shooting
and shooting means war;
However, believe that even if we
did convoy and by that means sue
ceeded in taking every shipload of
war equipment safely to the British,
that conveying would not have pre-
vented the loss of as much material
for Britain as had already been lost
through production failure due to
strikes.
In short, more goods would likely
reach the British wi Dhout conveys if
strikes were entirely eliminated here,
than would reach England with con-
voys but with strikes continuing.
Likewise, consider that taking more
goods to Britain by the convoy meth
cd would involve this country in war,
whereas getting more goods to Brit
I'm through the elimination Of strikes
IN the United States would accomplish
the same results and not involve US
in war at all.
It seems clear to me, therefore,
that all steps urged upon our govern
ment which will likely involve us in
actual war are out of place until we
do all we can to prepare ourselves
and to aid Britain through measures
short of war.
Now let me show you how very
much we could do for our national
defense, or for the aid of the Brit
ish, without our involvement in war,
by successfully solving the strike
problem.
From January LIST to June LIST this
year, strikes in plants making mater
ials for national defense have result
ed in the loss of approximately four
million man days of work.
Do you know that in four million
man day it is possible to build 14OO
medium bombing planes planes
weighing Is tons each and each ca
pable of carrying three tons of
bombs? Think what 140O of these
powerful weapons of the air would
mean to our national defense, if we
had them today. And consider, too,
what these 140O bombers would have
meant to Great Britain either at home
or in Greece, or in Asia and Africa.
In these lost four million man days
we could build 41O0 modern pursuit
fighter planes. Think what these
planes would mean to our national
defense if we had them now! And
what they would have meant in Brit
ain, or in Crete!
To show you what else might have
been done with these lost four mil
lion man days resulting from strikes,
let me tell you that in that time we
could have built 425 Flying Fortress