Evening star., 1942-03-25
Stresses Profit Motive"
As A Driving Force"


To the Editor Of The Star: 80
This is the first time have felt sum-
ciently aroused to address . communica-
ton to the editor Of . newspaper. Your
writer who IS responsible for the lead
editorial in Saturday nights Star sup
piled the goad which aroused me from
lethargy-if being inarticulate can be
so called.
MY advice to the man who criticized
Donald Nelson's Endorsement Of incentive
payments to war workers Is to take
trip away from the metropolitan centers
Washington. New York, Philadelphia,
etc.-on the Eastern seaboard, and SAM
pie the feeling of public opinion In cities
and towns removed from the war" CEN
ters. There are thousands Of people In
this country who have no conception Of
what this var means. There are thou
sands more who are not idealists, even
though they may be aware Of the seri-
ousness Of the situation. And your editor
knows better than how few people in
this country who work for . living-in
factories, on farms, In stores and IN
chosen professions-are untouched by
the profit motive.
Be practical! If the profit motive Is
one Of the driving forces Of our economic
system, utilize it! The average citizen
and I except those who realize the Inn
plications of this war and whose efforts
possibly are motivated equally as much
by q genuine desire to help the country
as they are by any feeling Of personal
gain-may profess to be working for his
country's welfare, and undoubtedly ne
realizes that his work contributes in some
direct or indirect way to the war EFFORT.
and the motive-the primary motive
still is profit.
am not being cynical. 1t takes q
bomb in the back yard Of Mr.. Average
Citizens home, a notice from the Draft
Board for an only son to report,
casualty list with an acquaintances name
on it-something that really touches an
individuals personal life-to bring out
the unselfish qualities which your editor
believes are the dominant motives IN our
industrial effort.
Workers cannot be made to produce
by force, nor can every workers personal
life be touch by the war. But we can
utilize our great American profit motive.
And In closing, final word Of caution:
There is q difference between profit and
profiteer. PRESTON I. CARNES.
Editors Note-The editorial In ques-
ton criticized the proposal for in
centive payments to workers engaging
in the form Of strikes known as SLOW
downs" not to war workers In general.
Argues Inconsistency Of Government
In Dealing With Federal Employees.
To the Editor Of The Star:
In an inconspicuous section Of The
Sunday Star I came across an interesting
article headed: Postal Workers to Lose
40-Hour Week by Law" The story ex-
planned that Congress has passed q bill
providing in effect . 48-hour week for
postal employees. This bill now Is await
ing President Roosevelts signature. The
measure was advocated by the Post
once Department In view Of "the gen
eral labor shortage and the large num-
Der Of postal employees called to military
service"
So far 80 good. But how is overtime
work and pay to be handledp Here we
come to the most interesting part OF the
article. The legislation "abolishes the
present requirements for compensatory
time OF for work beyond 10 hours and
enables tho Post Once Department to
nay overtime instead. The overtime pay
will be 1T the regular rata. rather than
time and . hail."
Here W have . dasrant example &