The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1942-02-26
CONVERSION BENEFITS
A WARTIME NECESSITY

The executive boord Of the Stote CLIO
Council characterized the detect OF the $500
ooo, 900 conversion unemployment request OF
President Roosevelt os bringing "oid ond COM
fort to the Axis powers ond their fifth column
Spokesman in America"
Thot is the only way TO look upon the
House Woys and Means Committee decision
to shelve the bill.
Consideration OF any proposal today
should be guided by the main question:
Does it help bring victory eioser?"
Significantly the members Of the House
committee did not look upon the importont
bill in that light, but were opporentIy led to
their conclusions by the fontostic arguments
of number of governors concerned with
"stotes' rights "-ond by number Of Wosh-
inetonons labeled the "Cliveden Set" by
President Roosevelt
Let US not mistake the decision OF
the House committee. II is on indication
OF the "business-os-usuoI' ottitude. 1t
is an indication of the influence Of the
HitIer-minded "cliveden Set" II is on
indication thot the main question today
the defect of Hitler and his oxis-
does not concern certoin government Of
ficiols.
1t is reerettoble thot Morylond's Gov
arnor O Conor, who has up to now taken mony
good steps in the direction Of Strengthening
the stote's efforts in the war took O stond
directly opposing President Roosevelts re.
quest
The Presidents bill provides that work
ers loid off during conversion Of American
industries to o-importont war production be
poid up to S24 q week in unemployment
beenfits Since Moyonds noxinum unen1-
ployment benefit IS sl7 week the tederoI
government would have odded 81 week 10
the stote sum- Now, with the proposal defect
ed, Maryland workers laid off while plants
ore being converted will not receive the oddi-
tionol ST.
The additional ST week ore not gift"
to the Temporarily unemployed workers. The
additional money is necessary TO keep the
workers and their families in good health. in
good physical fitness and good nnorne for the
larger job Of manning Americas production
lines. On that principle alone the bill is
necessary
But il is also necessary on ground
thot is becoming increasingly apparent
TO Cumberland industries and individuals
Lost week few members of the War
Industries Committee and Sub-Controet
Committee of Western Maryland reveal
ed thot hundreds OF skilled workers were
leaving Cumberland TO enter war produe-
tion plants in other areas. Therefore.
when cumberIonds industries ore fully
converted TO the tosks OF war production
the Cumberland nonpower available will
not be here TO keep the machines rolling.
Thot problem hos olreody caused much
eoneern-ond we may rest assured that
unless something is done about II now.
IL will eouse even greater concern by the
middle Of Spring. when the KeIly-Sprins-
field Co.. is expected TO begin large scale
war production.
What can be done about it,
In the first place, the Presidents request
for the $500. 100000 appropriation con be
brought to the House floor upon enough in
sistence. The nsistence should not only come
from workers, but from businessmen and
government offieioIs who must realize by now
the wartime necessity of maintaining workers
health and keeping workers from moving from
this locality, where they will be needed soon.
In the second place, Governor O'Conor
should be mode to reolize that the question of
"stotes' rights" which he roised in opposition
to the appropriation may measure very.
very minor question compared to the larger
one of victory over Hitler
Governor O'Conor os the Stote Clio osk-
Cd. should reconsider his opposition to the
measure and throw his support behind Presi-
dent RooseveIt's request from standpoint OF