The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-06-05

(By Staff Writer)

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heved to have heard the Presi-
dents fireside Chat to which re-
actions have poured in from all
over the world. The talk was re-
broadcast to foreign nations in the
German, Italian, French, Spanish
and Portuguese languages, leaving
no doubt that people in every ma
ton know the stand of the admin
lstration on facing the dangers
which confront us.
The Presidents plea to the
American nation has not, how
ever, consolidated opinion in
Washington, where the debate be-
tween interventionists and isola-
tionists has become more furious
than ever, with the isolationists
realizing that they are in the mi
nority but still arguing that they
have the backing of the American
people who are opposed to a fight
ing war.
There are many congressman
who have not given a clear ex-
preston of their opinion on the
great isues at stake, some of them
waiting for further insight into
public opinion and others waiting
for the authentic report on the
present state of our defense pro-
gram which the President is sche-
duled to make in the next few
days.
The President is required by the
lease-lend law to make a report
on the progress of our defense
program every 90 days. The re-
port which he is now preparing
will cover its progress up to about
the twentieth of May. 1t is expec-
ted that the report will not speci-
fly the kind of materials already
sent to Britain, but will give in
formation on just how many dol
lars worth of goods actually have
arrived in Great Britain.
A large number of government
officials are following the pro-
gress of our defense program with |
keener interest than the develop
ments of the war in Europe itself,
realizing that whatever part we
play the safety of this nation de-
ponds on a miracle of production
only possible by united effort
Of the whole nation.
The shipyard strikes on the Pa
cific coast, brought about by a
comparatively small group of ma
chinists who were seeking a wage
increase from SLIP an hour to
$1.15 an hour, have resulted in
angry demands from people in ev-
cry state for congress or the
President to take action to make
such condition impossible in the
future.
Admiral Emory S. Land, chair
man of the maritime commission,
proposed the use of federal forces
if necessary to bring about a re-
sumption of work in the shipyards
and other navy officers have sug-
gested that the yards be taken
over by the government.
Plainly worried over our ship
ping situation, Admiral Land, who
recently gave out figures which
we're interpreted to show that few
ships carrying goods to Britain
were being sunk, explained in a !
speech to navy men, "No matter
how the figures are given out, no
matter how they are Interpreted
or misinterpreted, our shipping
service is serious to the point OF
desperation. We need ships, ships
and more ships"
Emphasizing the scope OF the
production job we have to do,
Stacy May, chief of the bureau of
research and statistics of the Of
flee of Production Management,
compared our production of dur
able goods in 1910 with plans for
1941 and 1912.
sIn 194O," said Mr.. May, "our
durable goods production totaled
in value about SIS, 5OO,OOO,O0O and
of this total only two and a half
billion was for military use. That
was only IA per cent of the total
This year, 1941, our production in
durable goods for military use
will total almost 10 billion dollars
in value, or about 81 per cent of
our 1910 production. Next year,
according to plans and contracts,
our durable goods production for
military use will total a little
more than Is billion dollars IN
value, or about 6 per cent more
than our total for both civilian
and military needs in 1940."
Thus, if our production for civ
ilian use in 1912 is as great as it
was in 1910, this nation will have
to produce twice as much durable
goods in 1912 as it did last year.
According to Mr.. May, and other
OPM officials, this can only be
done by putting every community