The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1942-01-29
Expanded War Program
Will Touch Every Home
All Phases of National Life to Feel Effects of
Changes Brought About Colossal Econ
omy; Tire, Car Curbs Mere Beginning.
BY BAUKHAGE

National Farm and II
WNU Service, 1343 H Street, NV,
Washington. d. C.
In less time than it takes to reaa
this column a new airplane should
be completed-that is. if the pro-
gram outlined by the President in
his message on the state Of the
Union is carried out.
That seems like a large order. 1t
is. But this is what the President
has planned for 1912: 0,O0C new
planes, As, 900 new tanks, 20. 900 new
anti-aircraft guns. 5000. 900 tons Of
merchant shipping. Since there are
only $3.50 hours in the year. if the
OPM is to meet the Presidents
goals. planes will have to roll out
of the factories at the rate of n
every eight minutes. tanks at the
rate of one every II minutes. anti
aircraft guns at the rate of mi every
Is minutes. and shipping at the rate
of is tons a minute.
kllllC1 ia . lSSod may NC I'LL
limited. but human comprehension
is not. Ever since that message was
delivered in congress. Washington
has been straining in an attempt to
comprehend those colossal figures.
Already some Of the effects are
being translated in terms Of human
experience-you know if you have
tried to buy a tire or an automo-
bile. Other even more painful ex-
periences are ahead. One of them
is the unemployment which is COM
ing while the civilian industry is be-
ing converted to defense production.
Small Plants Hit
1t means that some 1873, 900 small
plants will close their doors for good.
They are too small to be converted.
Their workers and supervisors. if
they are competent. will be able to
find employment elsewhere.
1t means that thousands of sales
men who sell. not merely refrigera-
tors. ice boxes and juke boxes. vac
uum cleaners and electric toys, but
other things which we once thought
were necessities will stop selling.
They may have to take off their
white collars.
A survey of some thousand middle
sized manufacturing concern now
turning out defense products has
been made by the labor department.
It revealed that three-fourths of the
plants were working on three shifts
already. Remember that was be-
fore the President tossed off his new
production figures and the OPM
raised its sights" to meet them.
But in these plants it was found that
the second and third shifts used
only half the man-power employed
in the first shift. Right there is a
SO per cent increase in employment.
These we're plants selected as typ
ical.
Someone will have to fill those ex-
ira shifts and a great many others.
1t will mea that a lot of brain
workers" will have to work their
hands. When a nation suddenly
turns over so per cent Of its income
to defense production. it means that
the man in search of a job has less
than half a chance at getting any
other kind of work.
In our homes. the effect of war
measures has already made itself
felt. Wool is rationed already. That
is because even with all our sheep
we depend on Australia and the
Argentine for wool. We haven't the
ships to bring it here. And we are
getting ready to clothe an army of
5000. 900 men. Other restrictions
will come.
In his budget message. the Presi-
dent limited that we might have to
carry ration cards the way the Euro
peans do before the war Is over. |
That is more Of a threat perhaps,
than a prediction but it Is worth
remembering before we get too
complacent.
Fertilizer 'Rationing
Already the farmer is being ra.
toned though he may not realize
It. Take fertilizer. for instance:
First, the nitrates. All synthetic
nitrates have to 60 into munitions.
The one word nitro-glycerine re-
minds you Of that Natural nitrates
have other things in them, so the
army Is after those. too. But since
they come from Chile. they have to
come in ships. And there are few
ships for this purpose.
Second. phosphates. They come
from Florida. Wyoming and Idaho.
But they come in rocks. You
can see a whole pile of these rocks
right over in Baltimore. But it takes
sulphuric acid to digest" them.
Sulphuric acid is needed for mum.
tons.