Evening star., 1941-06-26

that at present y. T.. M. is SynOny-
nous with the President.
Mr.. Roosevelt's delay of a year
in taking this essential step, though
blueprints were at hand in the rec
ord of President Wilson's War In
dustries Board, is ascribed to the
formers temperamental aversion
against delegating authority, as well
as his inability TO decide on the
right man for the place.
Already various personages are
discussed as possible nominees to
the post, which would be equiva-
lent to that of Bernard M. Baruch
as chairman of the War Industries
Board in 1918. Among them are
Mr.. Baruch himself, as foremost
American authority on the subject;
Owen D. Young. honorary chairman
of the General Electric Co.; Eugene
Grace, president of the Bethlehem
Steel Corp, and Judge Robert P.
Patterson, Undersecretary of War.
Baruch Enjoys Prestige.
Mr.. Baruch's name enjoys high
prestige and public esteem. His
wisdom has mellowed at the age
of II, without dulling his genius
for mastering facts and making
instant, confident decisions. He
would not accept, it is thought,
without full power, together with
full responsibility. This is not be-
cause of lust for authority, but on
account of his belief, based on ex-
perience, that the job could not
be administered with less.
In addition to eminence as a
corporation executive, Mr.. Young
has had distinguished career of
public service. Mr.. Grace, a bitter
and irreconcilable foe of the New
Deal, is described as possessing self
assurance equal to Mr.. Baruch's,
the habit of sharp and rapid deci-
sion, and mind sufficiently tough
to welcome responsibility and take
the raps." Mr.. Patterson is cred
1ted with bringing the Army's pro-
curement service to-a high state of
efficiency.
Off1cial charts and schedules for
the last four months have displayed
the Office for Emergency Manage
ment as being in the position of
parent corporation" to some l3
subsidiaries" including the Office
OF Production MANAGEMENT itself
National Defense Mediation Board.
Once of Civilian Defense, Office
OF Price Administration and Civil
ian Supply, Defense Housing Divi-
sion, Defense Communication
Board and the Office of CONNER
cial and Cultural Relations between
the American Republics.
Slumbered on Paper.
Only today it occurred to the
writer to discover whether o. E.M
possesses a local habitation as well
as name. After several false starts
II was unearthed in the cloistered
remoteness of the State Department.
Where 1t occupies two rooms. The
staff consists of Wayne Coy, liaison
ofhcer between o. E. M. and the
White House, and two stenographers.
Since the agency possesses neither
board nor members, it has never
found it possible to hold a meeting.
This overall agency of the in
dustrial defense program came into
being two years ago under the
second reorganization plan. 1t
slumbered on paper while the Ma
tional Defense Advisory Commission
anguished and died. 1t slept on
while the commissions successor,
o. P. M, begged down under lack
OF power and a two-headed COM
mand. Then it awakened suddenly
last February to find itself the top
most establishment of the defense
setup.
Now, according to the Wilsonian
precedent, Mr.. Roosevelt would need
only to write letter naming some
one as chairman of that spectral
and elusive agency. Thereupon the
nominee would become chief of staff
of the Nations industrial war cam
paign.
AS 1t stands today, there is no
man throughout the defense or
ganization, except the President,