Evening star., 1942-08-21
Nelson Asked 10 Gust
Some ST. Year Men
For Poor Planning
CIO Advisers to WPB'
Charge War Effort
Is Being PoroIyzed'
By the Associated Press.

Blaming certain dollar-a year
men" of the War Production
Board for shortages of critical
war materials, CIO members of
WPB's Labor Advisory Commit
tee called on Chairman Donald
M. Nelson today for their dis
missal.
AS WPB officials disclosed that
Mr.. Nelson had directed a review of
personnel and elimination of ex-
ecutives considered unsuited to their
jobs, the Advisory Committees three
C1O members made public reso-
luton protesting that the war ef-
fort was being paralyzed" as a re-
suit OF inefficient planning.
The petition was signed by Clin-
ton Golden, assistant to the presi-
dent OF the United Steel Workers of
America: John Green, president of
the CIO International Union of
Marine and Shipbuilding Workers of
America, and Walter Reuther, vice
president of the United Automobile
and Aircraft Workers of America.
Libbey Reinstatement Asked.
Every effort to expand steel pro-
duction facilities and to plan for
maximum utilization OF present steel
production facilities" the resoIu-
tlon asserted, has been blocked by
vested interests in the steel indus
try who have been given aid and
comfort by certain dollar-a-year
men IN important positions in the
iron and steel branch of the WPB."
Urging dismissal of other execu-
yves who, the resolution claimed
are responsible for similar short
ages in their respective divisions !"
the group appealed to Mr.. Nelson to
relnstate Frederick I. Libbey, enei-
neerlng consultant, discharged We'd
nesday.
Mr.. Libbey, the CIO committee
members declared, was fired for
telling the truth" in a report "ex-
posing the failure of the dollar-a-
year WPB iron-steel branch men :"
Board officials, however, said the en-
glneer was discharged for discussing
a confidential report of iron and
steel operations with outsiders and
Tor other personnel reasons.
designations Imminent.
Meanwhile, WPB officials. who re-
FUSED to be quoted by name. said
that Mr.. Nelson's order for a GEN
eral housecleaning as part of his
get tough" policy brought reports
mat designations or dismissals in
various branches of WPB were i'm
minent.
One branch chief, Douglas Kirk.
mas resigned, it was learned. How
ever, there was no implication that
he was considered inefficient; it was
understood that he quit because his
policies failed to fit in with those
OF his superiors.
Mr.. Kirk, former vice president of
the Quaker Oats Co. in Chicago
was head of the WPB containers
branch.
Sources close to Mr.. Nelson indi-.
Gated that he was planning a prompt
showdown with the armed services
on priority powers. Within the next
10 hours. he was expected to re-
emphasize his full control over the
priority power-whlch in effect is
control OF the entire flow of ma
terlals into war production and
civilian industry.
Expected to Repudiate Claim.
He was expected to repudiate any
claim OF the armed services. rem
resented by the Army-Navy NUM-
tions Board, to veto power" en-
aoling them to prevent WPB from
granting the new super priority"
rating to civilian users,
Oftcially, WPB spokesmen never
nave conceded that there was anv
question of their sole authority
However. they admitted existence
OF a written document between
WPB and the Munitions Board bro
wang that certain priority attn gs-
AA3 and AA4-could not be as
signed without concurrence" ct the
Munitions Board.
The question was instantly raised
whether this meant the Munitions
Board could veto ratings which
WPB proposed to grant civilian
manufacturers. Mr.. Nelson, in A
memorandum to his staff some time
ago, said the phrase meant merely
that the board should be consulted,
but WPB officials admitted that this
did not entirely clear up the con-
fusion.