Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-09-09
Defense
Chiefs Need
Authority
Nelson Might Run Show.
if Given Backing
BY HUGH S. JOHNSON


statement. following luncheon
with the President, that the new
War Industries Board (SPAB)
is only a "faltering step" and
the Presidents later statement
to the effect that this view did
not reflect the discussion at
luncheon.
The explanation could be that
the discussion at luncheon didn't
explore details of the new or
ganization at all.
This would seem rather
strange in view of the fact that
much of the organization did
follow Mr.. Baruchs idea and
specific plan. Yet. strange at it
may seem, it is pretty close to
the truth.
AS this column has frequently
pointed out. the plan and chart
are not half so important AS the
men and principles which are 10
govern action. Mr.. Baruch is
reported TO have said, as has
beeen suggested here also, that
Mr.. Donald Nelson could save
the situation if he is given
proper authority and support
and, it must be added. if he has
the stuff on the ball as an adj
ministrator and leader.
LAS he? I don't know. His
II reputation in industry and
in ears-Roebuck, whence he
came. was that, as a second
man, he was tops. but that, as "A
team leader, he left a good deal
TO be desired. Maybe he has
outgrown that. Good men have
a way OF rising 10 greater re-
sponsibilities to uncover unsus-
peeted strength.
But. right off the bat, one
thing is clear. He can't possibly
become the spark-plug and CO.
ordinator of that mighty effort
and at the same time run the
detail of the priorities system.
The latter alone is full-time
job for giant. I'm not Just
guessing. / know because l saw
this system working at full
stress in World War One. If that
point is not recognized and that
fault cured at once the, whole
scheme will collapse.
To those who urge appoint
ment of the best man in the
country" as an absolute one-man
car Of all defense mobilization
and who do not yet know that
there was no such thing in World
War One, a very embarrassing
question is what man"
l have asked and been asked
that question frequently. / have
never yet heard a satisfactory
answer or even, l might add, any
answer at all.
TIIE best answer I know is:
i For each major head Of
effort transportation, shipbuild-
ing. fuel, food. industry. etc.
one man as chairman OF board
but with his decision final.
All such chairmen TO cooper
ate on a board or overall cabi-
net with the Presidents decision
final in case of disagreement.
That was the plan of World War
One.
But IL depends upon two
things. First, final decision in
each great department must
really rest in the chairman OF its
board. Second, each chairman
must have the unqualified sup
port of the President. With those
two things and that form OF or
ganization, almost any good and
experienced men can do those
Jobs. Without those two things
no man walks the earth who can
do any of those jobs.
The addition of small indus
tries division, under Mr.. Odlum,
TO spread defense contracts TO
little fellows was a belated but
excellent move. Yet this must be
said with several qualifications
to temper possible widespread
diSappointments. II will not
speed defense production. II Will
delay il. increase its cost. reduce
it's quality and immobilize
greater quantities Of scarce ma
terials.
TT HAD TO be done TO help pre-
i serve the body of our business
structure from destruction. But,
even on that score, word OF
caution is necessary. Defense
production is largely in metals
and metal working and in chem
icals. I doubt if 20 per cent OF
the little fellows in manufacture
ing can take any Of it.
Unless the priorities policy is
changed 10 withhold a reason
able amount of raw materials
for the civilian population, all
the rest, including the whole
little business" of retail distri-
button, are going 10 be COM
pletely folded up or seriously
impaired.
You can't do that and preserve
civilian morale. The havoc. in
immediate prospect, resulting
from present implanted and
headlong priority policies has