Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-05
u. S. Facing
Problems in
Fewer Autos
Knudsen. Urged TO Move
Slowly in New Plan
D ETR OFT
JLY 5, l94l
BY HUGH s. JOHNSON

BY HUGH >. JOHNSON
DIG Bill Knudsen is a great
~ Dane-literally and figura-
tiyely. In a company with Wal
ter Chrysler. Henry Ford. Char
lie Nash and few others, he is
among the best factory produc-
ton men this country ever pro-
duced.
BY that is meant clear genius
for supervising or even by mere
inspection of mechanical design
and industrial method, seeing at
once ways in which TO improve
and reduce costs of product in
any Woodworking n d ustry
with greatly increased speed and
reduced effort.
Beginning years ago, and long
before any action was taken,
this column in its long crusade
for industrial preparedness for
war vainly insisted that the war
department bring him in 10 in
spect its plans and facilities for
the war production that is Sorely
tagging now.
But neither this column nor
any of his many devoted friends
ever cast Mr. KnudSen for the
complex overhead control, plan
ming and policy of the combined
industrial effort of our entire
nation. This is no reflection on
him. Neither his training. ex-
perience or mentality recon-
mended such an assignment.
-Superlative genius in one field
is enough to expect from any
one man, and Mr.. knudsen'S
peculiar genius is so necessary
and so valuable that il is a
shame TO expect more of him
in what is essentially a COM
pletely different field.
/ have a shrewd idea that no.
body is AT heart more aware and
confident of this than Mr.. Knud-
sen himself
4 PINCH in production facili-
"A ties is coming. Quite natu-
rally il was easier in placing
early defense contracts for Mr..
KnudSen 10 turn 10 the field he
knew best 10 acquit himself Of
his responsibility for early out
put the automobile industry.
There were and there still are
loud and voluminous complaints
that capacity in many other in
duStrieS is idle.
There are more bitter COM
plants that. because the auto
mobile industry is concentrated
in a very few already congested
areas. this policy has also dis
eliminated territorially so that
these favored localities are reap
ing most of the benefits of the
defense program in re-employ-
ment and increased business,
while a vast majority Of other
areas which are paying and will
pay just as heavily, are getting
no benefit at all.
Now Mr.. KnudSen intimateS
that automotive production for
the civil population is soon 10
cease. that this great segment
OF our national industrial life is
to he completely absorbed by
munition production
Maybe that is necessary, hut
the whole population and all the
states deserve 10 have a case
made before any such dogmatic
ipSe dxit is accepted with no
clear showing Of need This par
ticular column is being written
too close to a deadlinc 10 dig
up the exact figure on the en-
ployment Of various segments Of
our people in making. distribut-
ing and servicing automobiles
but everybody knows that il is
very great II Is becoming q
propaganda GUS m TO call
them pleasure" automobiles.
WE ALL know that our whole
w population has been reshuf-
fled and rediStributed in both
agricultural and industrial areas
by the automobile. II is pleas
ure" car only on occasion. In
most cases and most Of the time
il is a necessary and highly util-
itarian facility Of American life.
Both for this reason and for
tho reason of possible tremen-
dous disruption in the automo-
bile business and employment of
hundreds Of thousands of poor
and middle-claSS heads of fam
lies or breadwinners for others.
whatever is attempted in this
regard should be done with
StudiouS and expert care.
No emergency administration
can afford 10 overlook this fun
damental principle Of modern
total war-that the morale Of
the civilian population is just as
vital 10 victory as the morale OF
the armed forces.
Neglect of that principle de-
stroyed Germany in 1918. Rec
ognition and preservation of it
were large elements in the
American contribution TO allied
victory. If anybody is giving in
telligent consideration to it now.
1 don't know the color of his
hair.