The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-11-07

EdsOn notable experi- inent.
 Usual procedure for a congress sional investigation doing spade work in the field is to hold hearings in the state capital or number one metropolis, sumnoning the small town big shots in to speak their pieces. Here, the committee is go- ing right to the grass roots of the matter and so, Hastings, not far from the geographical center of the United States, will be the most im- portant guinea pig town in the country for day.
 Why HastingsP There's a mite of politics in its selection, for 1t is one of the cites in the district of Con- gressman Carl T. Curtis of Minden, Neb,, and Congressman Curtis is ranking Republican member of the Tolan committee. Aside from that, however, Hastings would still be a good spot for the committees first study of this kind. It is 0 typical American community and just as small business is the backbone of American industry, so the little city is the backbone of America. Tn Washington, at any rate, 90 per cent of the big shots seem to come from small towns.
 The committee decided to go into Hastings when Congressman Curtis called attention to the fact that his district, under defense impact; was rapidly becoming an old folks home. The young folks were pulling out to take jobs in defense industry. At first the migrations were to the two coasts to work In aircraft factories. Then when new aircraft factories were built inland, these new plants became the meccas. Wichita, Dallas, Tulsa, Kansas City, and the like. And when the new Martin factory Is opened in Omaha, 1t will draw new quotas from the surrounding small communities.
 NATIONWIDE HEADACHE
 So what happens in Hastings and all the other little cities like 1t? That's what the Tolan committee wants to find out, so 1t can deter mine what should be done.
 Dr. Robert K. Lamb. formerly of progressive Bennington College in Vermont and now chief of the Tol- an committee staff, has assembled data on Hastings that mark it as a typical little city of the type that Is being hit hardest by priorities on supplies, allocations of materials, priorities unemployment and labor migration. Here is Hastings, with 4500 homes, 2l churches, % small manufacturers, eight auto agencies, retail stores doing $9 million worth of business a year, trading center for an area in which are 37 grain elevators, a county seat, the home of Hastings College.
 Along comes defense. At least two of the % industries get defense con- tracts, one for $206,000 worth of practice shells and another for $22,- GOO worth of meat blocks for army camp butchers. Other manufactur- CTS began to feel the pinch for raw materials: the hay fever air condi- tioner plant. the culvert and grain bin makers, the tire pump plant, the fire 'extinguisher factory. The power plant has trouble getting copper wire.
 Labor starts to pick up and go 1 places. Selective service gets some Farm labor, in a year when the crops are good and there is an ac- tive demand for farm labor. hears the call of better jobs elsewhere Some of this farm labor perhaps goes into Hastings to take the johs left vacant by the men from Hast. ings who go to take jobs in Wichita and Omaha.
 A barber in a neighboring small town of 2000 noticing that his trade is falling of, starts checking up on his customers, by the head. Sixty five that he knows personally have moved out to take defense jobs.
 The picture is not all gloom. Mar ried teachers are again hired fol this school year and every graduate of Hastings College who wanted tc teach has found a job. The relief picture has changed. Nebraska un- employment is the lowest in eight years, with 43,0OO thrilled jobs in the skilled trades.
 And that, roughly; is the picture of Hastings in defense. Hastings ic a symbol, for the same thing is go- ing on from Florida to Washington state. Congressman Curtis has a hunch that after this is all over the young folks who roamed may come back home. but he doesn't know ir what shape.