Evening star., 1942-12-09

ability and recommended that
among other responsibilities, he bt
placed in charge of all administra
ton matters.
According to the committees re.
port, Mr.. Flemming was recon-
mended for deputy chairman ir
charge of management and labor
relations. Fowler V. Harper, who, as
deputy chairman, is now in charge
OF management-labor relations &C
tivities, was recommended to super
wise relations with other Government
agencies.
Gen. McSherry has been in charge
OF Federal Security Agency and the
Manpower Commission training and
labor utilization programs since 1899
except for a brief period when he
served under Sidney Hillman, who
was then associated. with William
knudSen, director general of the ILL
fated Office of Production Manage
ment, He later served as director
of Labor Supply and Training while
Mr.. Hillman was the chief labor
official Of the War Production Board.
Praised BY Nelson.
For this work and for his activities
as chief of operations of the War
Manpower Commission, WPB Chief
tain Donald M. Nelson recently told
the Senate Military Affairs Com
mittee that Gen. McSherry lis one
of the best informed, one of the best
operating men in the field"
There was no comment forthcom-
ing from Mr.. McNutt as to the COM
mittee's report, but a Manpower
Commission spokesman declared
that because it was a confidential
document it would not be made
public by the agency. He advised
against specializing as to its content
or effect. although, at the time,
newspapermen had access to its full
text.
Five chairmen of congressional
committees. Senators Pepper of
Florida, Kilgore of West Virginia.
Murray of Montana and Truman of
Missouri, and Representative Tolan
of California, have advocated legis-
lation calling for full civilian control
OF manpoWer, procurement and pro-
duction. They have expressed con-
Germ over what they charged as an
attempt of military authorities to
take over these functions. Mr.. Nc
Mutt is reported to have held a con-
ference with this group several days
ago.
Job Transfers Urged.
President Roosevelt late Yesterday
asked employers to encourage work.
ers to transfer to war jobs by assur-
ing them that they can return to
their former work with seniority
rights unimpaired when victory is
won.
He noted in a statement that
under the draft law. returning
soldiers are accorded these rights.
The same protection. he said, should
be given to the civilian who leaves
his job to accept employment to
help with the war effort"
Mr.. Roosevelt read his statement
to a press conference, prefacing it
with remark that he hoped to
correct misinformation on question
which has been a cause Of worry
for many war workers.
"One way we can encourage skilled
workers in civilian industry to shift
to employment in war plants is to
see to it that when victory has been
won, employees can return to their
time work without loss of all
the seniority rights which they have
accumulated over the years." he
said.
Recognized in Selective Service.
All, he continued, were conscious
of great need for additional man.
power to make munitions" and all
were anxious to do their part and
realized that job In a war industry
was direct contribution" to vic
tory. But many workers have, over
the years, accumulated valuable
seniority rights land seniority priv
ileges have become an institution In
American industry"
This was recognized when the
Selective Service Act was passed" :"
the statement said. 1T was thought
by the Congress only fair that men
who gave up their jobs to enter the
Army and Navy should have the
maximum protection so that when
they returned they could step back
into their jobs with a minimum of
loss. Valuable unemployment and
seniority rights are protected under
the Selective Service Act.
Il think the same protection
should be accorded to a worker
wherever possible VINO leaves his jon
to accept employment to help with
the war effort. frequently away from
home and at times under less
favorable conditions.
Il feel that employers in civilian
industries will be willing to give the
same assurances to their employees
who leave for war work as they are
giving to employees who are leaving
to join the armed services. BY 50
doing, they can perform a great
service to the Government at this
time"