Evening star., 1941-02-12
DiSsents From Labor Views
Of Mr.. Franklin.

To the Editor of The Star:
Jay Franklin is even more unfair than
usual in his column of January %, in
which he attempts to prove that several
OF the large industries will make huge
profits from defense, by presenting a
list of the defense orders given to these
industries. While he may not be an
economist or a businessman, it is pre-
sumed that he can distinguish between
orders for goods and the possible profits
to be made on these orders
The industries that Mr.. Franklin lists
are now using their past profits in the
construction of defense plants which
probably will be worthless when the
emergency is over. After the excess profit
taxes corporate income taxes, etc, have
been paid, together with all the wages
which will be demanded by organized
labor, the industries will be lucky if
they break even on their defense orders.
In most of these industries the Govern
ment already is taking more in taxes
than is paid out to stockholders and in
many cases more than is paid out to
labor.
The attitude of business toward de-
fense is exemplifed by the action of
Montsano Chemical Co. which has &C.
cepted a Government order for gas pro-
tective equipment to be manufactured in
a plant constructed at Government ex-
penSe on Montsano property. this prop
erty being leased to the Government
without charge. The contract provides
that Montsano will operate the plant
and furnish the equipment at no profit
whatever accruing to the company. 1t is
understood that Eastman Kodak Co is
also working on defense order which
will be completed without profit. And
Henry Ford is reported to have offered
to build aeroplanes for the Government
at cost.
Contrast the above with the attitude
OF organized labor which is out to get
everything it can during the emergency,
including the closed shop and exorbitant
wages. The men who fought in the last
war have not forgotten that, while they
were sweating in the trenches, carpenters,
bricklayers, etc. were striking to get $40
to $40 day. Is this to be repeated?
Another contrast between the atti-
tudes of business and labor Is to be
found in the Defense Council in which
several. If not all of the representatives
of business are working at 81 year, paid
by the Government, while one repre-
sentative of labor is drawing his $50, 900
a-year salary as head of labor union.
Wouldn't there be scandal if the busi-
ness representatives we're to be paid
salaries by business organizations? If
labor were half as unselfish and patriotic
as business, the defense program would
be on a seven-day, 24-hour basis and
there would be no doubt as to our effec-
tive aid to Britain.
Mr.. Franklin has berated the steel in
dustry for not doubling its present ca
pacity in order that the great American
public would not have to forego its usual
quota of new automobiles, electric re-
frigerators and the like. The people
must not be forced to sacrifice a single
luxury, even in an emergency. In the
past the thesis of these same New Deal
ers has been that the present depression
was caused by overexpansion of indus
try during the Coolidge era. Yet they
are now advocating an expansion the
like of which has never before been seen.
Can it be that this group is hoping
that, II the next depression can be made