Evening star., 1941-06-10
U. 5. Way Of Life
May Be Lost Through
Strikes, Says Tydings
Forum Speaker Urges
Bourd to Work Out
Defense Plant Disputes

last night on the National Radio
Forum, arranged by The Star. .
The speech was broadcast over a
national hookup of the National
Broadcasting Co. and was heard
here over Station WMAL. The text
Of the address follows:
The greatest danger to the United
States tonight is not from without,
but from within. That danger Is
the increasing number of strikes in
industries where materials vitality
necessary to our national defense
are to be manufactured.
In the face of the tragic events in
Europe, Africa and Asia, and con-
sidering the possible consequences
of these events upon our country, it
is imperative that we find solution
for the strike menace now. The time
for words has passed. The time for
action has come.
Combined reports of the War
Navy and other Government depart
ments show that there were more
persons on strike in plants making
equipment for our national defense
during last week than at any pre-
vious time since our defense prepa-
rations began.
Cannot Be Tolerated.
President Roosevelt recently said
Never before since Jamestown and
Plymouth Rock has our American
civilization been in such danger as
now" In the light of this warning
1t seems unbelievable that strikes
in essential defense industries, in
stead of decreasing. are constantly
increasing both in number and
extent.
This condition cannot longer be
tolerated by either the Government
or by the people of the United
States. 1t Is our No. l problem.
Neither can we forget that the
United States is formally pledged
by law to furnish all aid to Britain,
short of war. Billions of American
dollars have been appropriated to
provide this aid, in weapons, NUM-
tions and equipment.
1t was but a few days ago that
there was much debate in and out
of our Government over whether or
not the United States Navy should
actually convoy ships to England
Many in our country favored this
course, in spite Of President Roose-
eelt's' statement that conveys mean
shooting and shooting means war"
However, I believe that even If
We did convoy and by that means
succeeded in taking every shipload
of war equipment safely to the
British that conveying would not
have prevented the loss of as much
material for Britain as had already
been lost through production fail
ures due to strikes.
Same Results With Less Risk.
In short, more goods would likely
reach the British without conveys
If strikes we're entirely eliminated
here than would reach England
with conveys but with strikes con-
tinuing.
Likewise, consider that taking
more goods to Britain by the con-
voy method would involve this
country In war, whereas getting
more goods to Britain through the
elimination of strikes in the United
States would accomplish the same
results and not involve us in war
at all
1t seems clear to me. therefore,
that all steps urged upon our Gov
eminent which will likely involve
us in actual war are out of place
until we do all we can to prepare
ourselves and to aid Britain through
measures short of war.
Now let me show you how very
much we could do for our national
defense, or for the aid of the Brit
ish. without our involvement in
war, by successfully solving the
strike problem.
From January l to June l this
year strikes in plants making ma
terials for national defense have
resulted in the loss of approximately
100000 man-days of work
Would Build 1.400 Bombers.
Do YOU know that in 1000, 900 man.
days it is possible to build 1.400 me-
dium bombing planes-planes weigh
ing IS tons each and each capable
of carrying three tons of bombs:
Think what 1,400 of these powerful
weapons of the air would mean tc
our national defense if we had then
today And consider, too. what these
1.400 bombers would have meant t
Great Britain, either at home ol
In Greece or in Asia and Africa.
In these lost 4,000,0 900 man-day:
we could build 4100 modern pursuit
fighter planes. Think what thest
planes would mean to our nationa
defense If we had them now! Anc
what they would have meant ir
Britain or in Crete!
To show you what else might have
been done with those lost 1000 ,00(
man-days resulting from strikes LEI
me tell you that In that time WI
could have built AIS Flying For
GTeSS6S, IDOSt SlSdliGiC SHIPS ellone
dreadnaughts of the skies, that have
g cruising range sufficient to fly al
the wav across the ocean and bach
and capable of carrying tons anc
tons of bombs. Those Flying For
tresses are recognized by all as thu
very finest defensive and offensive
weapons that any nation can pos
cess.
We all know that>our lack of ade
euate defense at home is dangerous
as is our failure to supply the Brit
ish with more weapons. Delay in &C
somplishing these objectives but pro
longs the struggle and lengthen
tragically the casualty lists. More
over, such delays actually invit,
aggression, actually make attacl
upon our country more probable.
Others Drawn Into Army.
Remember, too, there are hun
dreds of thousands of young men II
the military training camps of this
country, men who but few month
ago In the shop and the foundry, II
the counting house and on the farm
were following the pursuits Of peace
From such work they were taker
upon the order of our Government