The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1941-10-16
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Farm Implement Industry
Will Try ALLEGATION Plan
Manufacturers of Agricultural Machinery
Placed Under Experimental System for
Obtaining Necessary Raw Materials.
By BAUKHAGE
National Farm and Home Hour Commentator.

BY BAl
National Farm and HI
WNU Service, 1343 H Street, NV,
Washington, D. C.
By the time these words are
printed the farmer ordering a trac-
tor or a dairy machine is going to
be able to line up at the counter
right beside the generals and the
admirals making their purchases of
tanks and ships.
This is he Interpretation that can
be put on the remark made by Don
aid Nelson, head of the priorities
division Of the OPM. to the effect
that he is going to make the agricul-
tural implement industry a guinea
pig in an experiment to remove the
bottleneck which is preventing non
defense industries from getting the
raw materials they need to op-
crate.
Nelson admits that priority
lists" are not worth the paper they
are written on in many cases and
that a system Of ALLEGATION is to
be tried out.
always create new words as well as
new meanings for old ones. In this
case the word ''priorities" covers
II not a multitude of sins and head
aches. at least a new meaning.
When it became evident that there
were not enough raw materials to
supply defense needs and civilian
needs both, the priority system was
devised.
The priority division of the Office
of Production Management was set
up to decide which order for which
raw material should be delivered to
what manufacturer. The materials
most essential to defense produc-
ton were rated with an A, and
graded in that category with num-
bers according to their importance.
For example, Al material topped
the list. The highest rating for
civilian defense materials was B-1,
while others were fitted into alpha
betical classiications and numbered
in line with their significance in the
defense program.
This was the priority system. But
It did not always work. For in
stance, the manufacturer of a dairy
machine requiring some essential
product like aluminium or rubber
might have the highest civilian rat
ing, but when he tried to get deliv-
cry for that product he found that
all he had was the letter "B" and
the number 81" on a sheet Of paper,
and you can't make dairy machines
out Of paper.
In Civilian Industries Also
This was happening in many civil
ian industries. 1t was also happen
ing in defense industries. In the
latter cases the system was changed
SO that certain defense manufacture
ers could get certain raw products
aluminium, copper. synthetic rub
Der. etc. regardless Of priority rat
ing but by "allocation." In other
words. the government ordered a spe-
cifc amount Of steel or copper de-
livered directly to the manufacturer.
And now the farm implement in
dustry is to get its raw materials
by the same method-allocation-if
the plan being prepared by the
priorities division at this writing
is carried out.
The priorities division explains
that this is to be an experiment and
that it is being tried so that expert
ence will be gained for applying the
same method of providing raw ma
terials for other civilian industries.
This is, Of course, a vital problem
since thousands are being thrown
out Of work because non-defense in
dustries are closing for want Of
supplies.
However. there is another story
behind the story of the guinea pig.
It probably began with a terse re-
mark by Gov. M. Clifford Townsend
Of the Office of Agricultural Defense
Relations. He said:
1.-THE priority system works as
well as writing a check on a bank
with no funds in it."
He was referring to the priority
lists in general but he was thinking
specifically about the farm imple-
ment industry and thinking about it
in connection with the new goals
set for farm production. For what
can the poor farmer do when he is
asked to produce more with less
labor-if he can't buy the machines
he is willing to pay for-if the manu-
facturer can't get the essential
materials to build those machines?
Donald Nelson admitted that pri-
ority lists were not worth the paper
they were written On.
Before MI. Nelson made his ad-
mission, DR.. Townsend and a few
other oficials-a few hundred be-