Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-06
By HUGH S. JOHNSON

BY HUGH S. JOHNSON
I ATE as it is. we are finally
~ aware that the Industrial
side of war is just as important
as the military side-more i'm
portant just now. At last we
know that the battle of produc-
ton is more vital TO us at this
stage than any battle in the
Balkans ever was.
We should have known all this
long long ago. We learned and
led the world in the lesson in
1918.
But we forgot it-forgot, not
withstanding the constant warm
lngS of such veterans of that
effort as b. NJ. Baruch and, with
becoming modCSty. the constant
yammefinE of this column for
SIX years past.
Yes, we now recognize that
our industry must be organized
and modified for war as an
army Is organized and mobilized.
But what are we doing about
that? II is sad 10 report that
We arc footing and "galloping in
place
TlIE outstanding lesson Of the
World War was that. to get
fun war effort out of industry.
IT must be marShaled as a regi-
mcnt IS marShalcd
In peace our rule is COMPETE
ton Is the Life of Trade" In
war the industrial rule must be
Cooperation to the Utter1nost
Without Stint or Limit
Competitors must become CO.
operators, and, under the lead
erShlp of government, each great
competitive industry. within it,
self and in respect of all others,
must become n team fighting
toward a common goal and not
a battle royal by a Iingful OF
blindfold slugeers.
Patents, facilities and shortage
Inventories must be pooled and
trade secrets shared Regard
less Of primary contracts, the
manufacture of component parts
must be farmed out until every
wheel m the nation is turning
in a common concert of action.
TliIS isn't any theoretical es-
Il say. This is the necessary
key principle of industrial war
effort. What arc we doing about
that?
From time 10 time for several
years this column has pointed
out that we can't do anything
effective about it and still en-
force 10 the letter the antitrust
act and that the first step in
industrial mobilization is the
creation of ''war-Service COM
mitteeS' for bellwethers in each
industry to receive the direc-
tons Of government and get CO.
operation IN carrying them out.
That should have been the
very first step Of the Knudsen-
Hillman OPM. II Is turning out
to be about the last one. II is
going forward now. and the
Presidents letter about pooling
machine-tool facilities is one OF
the outward and visible signs.
WHY wasn't it done before,
Because the Sherman and
Clayton acts forbid II.
Now both Attorney General
Jackson and his antitrust as
SiStant specialist. Thurman Ar
mold. are on record as saying
that such combinations in re-
Straint of trade" - if made at the
request of government and
under government supervision,
will not be prosecuted.
That is highly commendable
patriotic common sense on their
part. II could have been done
much earlier had OPM Sensed
the principles of its problem and
requested il.
But IS II enough
The~last time ala industry tried
that was when the petroleum
industry at Mr. Ickes request
or with his blessing attempted
10 take distress oil off the mar
ket.'
Government request and sup
erviSion didn't save those CO.
operators. Many were indicted
and some were convicted
IndustrialiSts CT hardly for
get that.
EXECUTINE officials have no
II right 10 amend or repeal
laws. Too much OF that is being
either done or considered.
1t is said that the statutory
draft age limits are TO be
changed without recourse to
Congress because debate might
hurt the project and that convoy
legislation mustn't be debated be-
cause il would be misunderstood
abroad.
That tendency toward govern
ment by decree is bad medicine.
Needed changes in the defense
laws should be made openly, and
the greatest need just now is
statutory Qualification of the
antitrust acts.
n4asr -