The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-12-17
FACING
THE FACTS
With PHILIP PEARL


casual consideration by anyone. inter-
ested in the immediate and future well
fare OF our country
The first was the demise of the
WPA, created during The depths of the
TO provide artificial jobs for
millions of workers who were thrown
out of their jobs by the fearful dislo-
cation of industry.
The second was President Roosevelt S
new Executive Order, centralizing
control over all manpower and woman
power in the War ManpOwer Commits
sion under the direction of Paul v.
McNutt.
We can shed no tears over the WPA
even though it performed a highly
necessary function during its lifetime
in sustaining large numbers of Ameri-
can citizens who were made idle
Through no fault of their own.
Today, with the nation at war and
desperately in need of an ever in
creasing production of munitions, it is
"a sin to waste manpOwer on expert
lleHldl DGoJtClS.
On the contrary, signs multiply that
there is developing shortage of man
power as more and more of our able
bodied young men are inducted into the
armed forces. That is why President
Roosevelt has established the new
manpOwer Setup-to conserve available
manpoWer.
Voluntary Methods Work
Never before in the history of our
country has the Government assumed
such power over the lives and des-
TIMES of its citizens as are now lodged
i'm the Manpower Commission.
1T can decide through the Selective
Service System - now a part of the
unified setup-whether a man should
be inducted into the armed service or
whether he shall be permitted to CON
tinue at his present occupation.
As yet the commission has no power
TO freeze workers to their jobs. But
it can recommend that such action be
undertaken on Il voluntary basis.
The commission has no control over
wages, but it can recommend wage
adjustment in order 10 keep manpOwer
available for specific industries suf-
rerng from an exodus of workers to
better-paid jobs elsewhere.
The success of the new manpOWer
Setup depends upon wise administra-
tion and sincere devotion to democratic
processes. Experience in this war thus
far has proven the value and efficiency
of voluntary methods If the commits
sion adhereS to The principles Of
democracy and vol,intarsm we pre-
dict it will receive the whole hearted
support of American workers and the
labor organizations chat re presen t
them. But if, instead, the commission
seeks shortcuts to it's detectives by
compulsory methods, it will undoubt-
eddy encounter trouble
We feel confident that Mr.. McNutt
will follow the WiSth,couSe and seek
the fun cooperation of organized labor
TO make his program effective because
he has consistently done SO in the past
Mobilization in Peacetime
From Il lon@-range view, the nation :
wonder how things ever came to such
IA pass that the Government had to
create the WPA.
The present mobilization of man
power for war raises the question why
Ia more restrained but just as wide
spread effort was never launched 10
produce for peace.
Is our civilization SO bankrupt, is
our system of Government So barren,
that only war can stimulate us to ac-
Engaged is indeed n desperate war foI
survival, but isn't HE always continu-
ing war against hunger and poverty
just rs truly Il war for survival?
Labor is opening its eyes To these
problems and its about time that in
duSlry and Government likewise begin
10 show some comprehension of the
need for an all-Oul attach on our eco
nomic problems.
The policy of iSoIationiSm is just as
'''i'' ''i''l 'i'l'l IIl IItiit'- 'lN II -
in war.
No longer can community or indus
try isolate itself against the Sutfering$
Iof humanity and ignore conditions be
Iyond its own immediate sphere.
Never again must there be Il Wl'A.
When this war is over, America
,muSl not permit return TO hunger,
ISull"rings and Widespread unemploy-
,mCnl.
There are things to be done - in
peace as in war. There are things the
American people need, that industry
can produce, that the masses of our
IcitizcnS must be able TO buy out of
their earnings
The sacrifices made necessary by
this war will be worthwhile only if
victory brings recognition of the need
Tor Il peace production program which
Will OutdO even our present war pro