The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-05-23
OUR MAN POWER

Half of the men in the United
States between 90 and So years OF
age will be in the armed forces or
in war industries before the end
of this year il present plans prog
ress as scheduled.
The task of moving l0500,OOO
workers into war production jobs
is proceeding at an average rate
OF $4,000 day.
Achievement of the goal-to
double the present number OF war
workers this year--will bring
home TO millions OF Americans
President Roosevelt's warning that
"the price of civilization must be
paid in hard work. and sorrow and
blood. It will leave only . few
million OF the adult male popula-
ton in non-essential activities. and
a great portion Of these will be
men who are ineligible for armed
service or war production work.
1t will force hundreds of thous-
ands OF women to leave their
homes for the noise and dirt OF
factory assembly lines. 1t will
force rigid control over the ma
tons highly concentrated man
power resources. perhaps govern
ment action to freeze" workers
in jobs for which thsy are best
fitted.
As Brig. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey.
selectiye service director has said,
the Job will be "a challenge to the
flexibiity and strength OF Amer
lean democracy"
Last January, there we're 7,oo0,-
900 persons employed in war pro-
duction activities. That figure
has been boosted 70 100000. 1t
must be boosted to 17,500,00e, in
GLIDING 100000 women. by the
end Of the year to meet Mr.. Roose-
yelcf production schedule.
simultaneously, approximately
1000 900 of the finest men must
be absorbed into the armed forces
10 bring the Army's strength to
$500 900 and the strength of the
Navy and Marine Corps to 1000
600. But that is only the 1912
goal.
The Army eventually may be
boosted to 5000. 600 or 100000
men. OF the 3s,s00, 900 men in the
country between 20 and IS. the
1912 manpower mobilization pro-
gram will leave approximately 49,
500. 600 in activities other than the
armed forces or war production.
Approximately 100000 Of them
are agricultural workers, who,
though they are classed as essen
tial. are not included among war
production workers because the
war did no. create their jobs.
Tha: leaves $500, 900 OF the adult
male population in non-essential
work. Included in 1t are police and
firmen. druggists, street car con-
ductors, sroceTs. though they may
appear at first to be non-essential.
To build an army Of 100000
men, government manpower agen-
cies-principally the new far man.
power comm. ssion-must find ap-
proximately 100000 new workers
to replace men who would have TO
be drawn out OF war production
jobs.
A great part Of these will be
housewives, loyal enemy aliens
and other persons not now cor
sidered part OF the labor force
And such workers are available ir
large numbers some estimates
run as high as 100000
But there is still another prob
lem which already is becoming In
creasingly acute-this war must b
won with the least possible dis
ruption OF the economic and so
cial structure.
The family unit must be pre-
served. Not only must able-bodiec
msn-power be concentrated behint
the war effort, but also It must b
distributed in such a way that mel
with dependent wives and children
are the last taken into the arme
forces.