Evening star., 1941-11-07


We are convinced that SO per cent
Of the blows delivered against the
defense effort are swung from lg-
norance. There is no telling how
many We ourselves have thrown
since June !, the date when we QUIT
reporting the activities Of athletes
and muscles and jumped into the
field of mind ard matter.
The city of Buffalo has been a
revelation to US.
From City Hall to suburb II Is filed
with capitalists and laborers who
are doing their dead level best to
get together and produce the
/ things this country needs TO be-
come a military power.
Sitting in New York it was so easy
to criticize what this combination
accomplished. From a distance OF
$50 miles it was easy 70 pick flaws.
! But when you come face 10 face
with the men who put up the
money for buildings and machines,
and with the men who run these
machines. and talk to them about
/ the problems, you get new slant.
/ This country believes in itself TOO
much. There is the feeling. as the
/ emergency mounts in intensity, that
the United States can at any time
it wants 10 start OutprOduclng all
| the countries Of the world. There
! is a feeling that with the simple
pushing of a button or the issuing
of a command our factories will
start tuning out tanks, planes,
guns and all the other implements
of war at a rate superior TO any
| other country in the world.
| We believe that feeling still exists
We believe that the biggest factor
in the lack Of confidence in the de-
| fense work up to now is based on the
deep and abiding faith Of Americans
that at any given moment Pitts
burgh. Buffalo, New York Chicago.
Birmingham, Detroit. Toledo, Akron
and 10 other cities can Just turn
loose and swamp the world with
anything from tanks to tin cans.
In Buffalo We have talked 10 men
who had an answer for bottlenecks.
In Buffalo We have talked to men
who admitted that the United States
would eventually challenge the
world in production. but who pointed
out that time was needed.
We talked to a man who manufac-
lures engines for torpedo boats.
All of a sudden the Government
threw a tremendous order in his
lap.
He is behind schedule. In the
public eye he is a failure.
He told us why he was behind
Reason No. /: He can't turn out
motor without CrankShaft. There
are two crankshaft companies in
the country. No statesman was
foresighted enough to order the en-
largement of crankshaft companies
several years ago.
/ Reason No. 2: His company bare
" struggled through the depression.
No new machinery was added. The
machinery used was old and almost
worn out. but the men who operated
it knew its weaknesses and how to
handle it. Then, all OF sudden.
the Government required that
second and third shift work the ma
chinerv. The new men couldn't
work the old stuff.
Reason No. 8: During the years
between 1882 and 1888 there vas no
need for manufacturers to build up
supply of skilled laborers. During
the depression the business of teach
ing apprentices disappeared. So,
now, there is no reserve of young
workers to call on.
/ The man I talked to is head OF
only an ordinary sized company.
/ There must be hundreds of COM
! panies the same size or larger ham
/ ding defense orders. So the prob
lem can be multiplied until you get
tired of multiplying.
So don't fuss at the American de-
fense effort. 1t is pretty good. A
year from now, when we start
throwing from the floor, thereII be
no country, therell be no combina-
ton of countries. able to tie our
shoes when it comes to turning out
weapons of war.
If you don't believe this Just come
to Buffalo and study what is going
on here.
This is the No. country In the
world. Never forget il.
| But il Is coinp IN oSk 2e5 5,yr -