Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-12-16
CompIacency
OfKeyP:eop
In Plants Hit
10 Be Ahead
Of Schedule in War
BY HUGH $. JOHNSON

apparent lassitude and COM
placency that still seems to
govern some of our key people
in industry and in government,
even in the armed forces and
emergency agencies.
There certainly must be no
panic but, just-as certainly, this
is no picnic: The sooner we
realize the magnitude of the job
the SooneEWeAW -setit- done
The time for that realization
is now. In facing an unpleasant
task, we are too often inclined
to do what we think we have TO
do, and no more. A lot Of us
shaven't begun 10 catch on 10
what we have TO do.
One manufacturer, patting his
paunch complacently. said only
Monday:
well. our Arm, at least IL
ahead OF schedule on our war
contracts"
A HEAD of schedule! We can't
"A be ahead of schedule. This
poor deluded boob probably
meant that he was ahead of
a schedule set many months
ago by some buSineSS-as-usual
OPM'er or by some procurement
officer struggling in the throes
of penny-plnching peace-tlme
procurement procedures.
But that cannot and must not
be his schedule now. Doesn't he
realize what has happened since
that schedule was set? Doesn't
he remember Sunday, Decem-
Der Z?
This country is we'll behind
schedule. We can and will catch
UP. But, don't let's kid our
selves.
We are al war bloody war on
two fronts. ON one front we are
confronted with the strongest
military and naval power IN Asia
and on the other with the
strongest military power in the
whole world.
These powers have been arm
ing "all-out" for years--we have
not really started yet. How on
earth can any one say we--or
any part OF Us are ahead OF
schedule?
EARLY last week Judge Pat
IL terSon, our able underSec-
rotary of war. ordered the five
big munitions industries the
manufacturers OF ships, planes,
tanks. guns and ammunition to
go on a 24-hour day, seven-day
week.
For every day since 1888
(when Hitler started TO ARM
that we have not been produc-
ing at that rate we are just that
many days behind schedule.
And another thing, | have
heard government officials say
since last Sunday
"Oh, we would like To do this
or that but the departments pol
lev established March, 1928. or
the comptroller generals ruling
of Nav. 1921, won't let Us"
Policies, Rulings. Regula-
tons. The government must re-
move the sludge from It's own
engine before IL will get far IN
needing the rest Of the people.
Bureaucracy ruined France. II
must not rum Us
I WROTE a piece recently on
i the Smith bill regulating
Stoppages OF production due 10
labor disputes. II Is unthink-
able. now that war has been
declared. that labor viii not
control itself to the extent
necessary to abolish Stoppages
OF war production.
BY the time that piece was
printed il was out of date. But
that's not all that's out OF date.
{ o m p a cen cy, peace time
policies and procedures, endless
conferences and discussions
about what we ought 10 do and
how 10 do il. must give way
to immediate and unceasing
action.
All considerations, political,
social or otherwise that have
so far prevented us from or
ganizing ourselves 10 this end
must now give way TO one.
dominating purpose the inn
mediate building of the most
efficient most powerful and
best integrated industrial, mill
tarY and naval machine that
tho world has ever dreamed Of
even in the widest imaginlngS
OF IT. G.. Wells.
This can only. be doae by
spontaneous upSurge ot all the
peoples. That upsurge is TAX
ing place but it is being hamp-
cred from the top by a false
sense OF satisfaction. in our
progress to date. in key people
who should know better. Do
away with this and nothing can
stop us.
Distributed hy KING Features Synd Inc.
Reproduction IN whole ar In part
strictly prohibited
25 YEARS AGO TO-DAY