The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-23

has a chance to do constructive work in exploring contracts that may have been too hastily made anc too expensively carried out.
 Before these committees, Mir Knudsen has handled himself SC well that he has had the commit teemen eating out of his hand and thinking everything was great, which 1t was. After Knud- sens testimony before the Tru- man committee, a little old lady edged her way through the crwod and said she just wanted to shake his hand and pat him on the back and tell him what good job he was doing.
 KNUDSEN
 KNOWS
 The mans utter simplicity and unaffectedness, plus rich sense of humor, and his knowledge oi what he's talking about, enable him to get things done.
 Giving the background of leav- ing his job In Detroit to take over defense production, he said sim ply that one day "the President called me up on the telephone to say he wanted me to come down to Washington. I asked for a day H go to New York to tell my people about 1t. The next day I came to see the President. It was all over in l5 minutes. I was working in Wash- ington."
 The story of what he has done in Washington has of course been told. How the plans for an army of 100000 were raised to provide for an array of 100000. How plane proudction schedules were raised from 1000 to 33,0W @ year. How the machine tool industry expanded from $200 million in 1889 to $400 million in 1940 to $750 million now. How tank pro- duction was stepped up, even though that meant redesigning the 27-ton medium tank, all except the run ming gear. And so on. Four big bomber plants built. New powder mills. Five new tank plants.
 Concerning the biggest of those tank plants, Knudsen said, T went to Chrysler and got Chrys- Ter to agree to make IA tanks a day" It was as simple as that. The $20 million plant was sched- uled to open April 22, and will be turning out Its IA a day by October.
 Knudsen knows all the answers and he explained patiently how his organization was set up.
 Does 1t work efficiently2" Sen- ator Ralph o. Brewster of Dexter, Me, wanted to know.
 "Oh, senator!" Knudsen replied with big grin. "I'll leave that to you" When the laugh on Brewster was over, Knudsen's modesty came to the fore again. We han dle whatever comes our way" he said, and waved the idea away with his big hand.
 Were all on the same floor" he went on to explain. we can get together every hour. HillmGn Is right next door to me. I have a private wire to Crimson and KncX and whenever want to talk to them I pick up the phone. The biggest part of my work is done on the phone." SEES FOR
 HIMSELF
 That may apply to the time Knudsen Is In the office but he spends an amazing part of the time on the road, inspecting these de- fense industry plants to find out what they're doing not to check up on them or look for trouble, but just to know.
 Knudsens office has been vitally concerned with the reliability of plants getting defense contracts. We usually get in on negotiations before they reach the contract stage. If everything isn't all right, recommended 1t be reconSid- cred" Knudsen explained, and then added, Tt usually is."
 "The esaiest thing to do," said Knudsen in summing up his case for defense production, would be to build @ lot of plants and fell 'em full of tools, and just leave 'em there to use. The trouble is, we have to try to hold down plant in- vestment.
 And we haven't got the time."