Evening star., 1942-10-15
Roosevelt Action On
Monpower Problem
Reported Sought
(Story on Senator Hills Radio
Forum Speech on Page A-6.)
BY JESSE o. IRWIN.

President Roosevelt has been
asked to terminate voluntary en-
listments in the Army and Navy
in order to permit orderly utili-
zation of skilled and semi skilled
workers in civilian war industry,
informed sources said today.
The request is reported to have
been made by Paul v. McNutt, War
Manpower Commission chairman,
during his conference with the
President on the manpower prob
lem last Monday. Mr.. Roosevelt
is said to have taken the matter
under advisement.
1t is said that the McNutt plan
would shut down all voluntary en-
istments in the Army, as was done
during the World War, and would
permit the Navy only to continue
enlisting 17-year-old youths.
Situation Called Critical.
Mr.. McNutt, in testimony before
the Senate Appropriations Commit
tee, made public today, warned that
"the labor situation is becoming
more critical each month, particu-
larly on the farms"
Backing up Secretary of Agricul-
ture Wickard, who testified before
the House Appropriations Committee
earlier in the month, the manpower
chieftain said Americans would have
to give up sub-marginal and subsist-
ence farming for the duration. He
asserted that compulsion might be
necessary to shift those who are
"just feeding their own mouths" into
productive farming.
Senator McKellar, Democrat, of
Tennessee took issue with this state
ment, and reminded Mr.. McNutt
that I'VE have a constitutional pro-
vision against slavery-you can't
very well do that"
Orderly Recruitment Sought.
Mr.. McNutt replied that he had in
mind IAN orderly recruitment" of
subsistence farmers, and that their
shifting has to be an orderly de-
velopment." He explained that "just
now, what we do is by way of per-
suasion. 1t may be that for a
while, short while, the. needs can
be met but I am sure that that will
be for no great period of time be-
cause of the demands we see ahead
on the manpower of this country"
When he testified before the House
committee, Mr.. McNutt declared en-
actment of national service bill
was imperative"
Last night, shortly before SEN
ator Hill, Democrat, of Alabama,
a member of the Senate Military
Affairs Committee, had stated in
last nights National Radio Forum
that President Roosevelt had gone
completely to the waters edge" to
continue the voluntary Manpower
method, Mr.. McNutt announced he
had designated 10 cities and the
States of Washington and Oregon
as areas in which labor and hous-
ing problems had become serious.
Lumber Sterilization Sought.
1t also became known that a
series of conferences is being held
by the lumber interests and the
War Production Board and the War
Manpower Commission leading to-
ward stabilization of labor in that
industry, now reported to be run
ming short by 6,O0O,OOO,Ooo feet on
lumber contracts for the armed
services and shipbuilding yards.
Two weeks ago the Manpower
Commission issued freeze" order
to stabilize labor in the Northwest
ern logging regions. 1t now is re-
ported that the labor turnover is
rising in Southern and other fields
which may lead to the extension of
the freeze" to those areas.
Senator Hill said during the Radio
Forum program he was in favor Of
complete stoppage of voluntary en-
listments to permit selective service
machinery to operate more smooth
ly. The selective service system is
reported to be behind the McNutt
proposal because voluntary enlist
ments have interfered considerably
with the orderly process of the
quota system of local draft boards.
Termination of voluntary enlist
ments has been under discussion in
high Government circles for sew
eral months and is reported to have
the support of industry and labor.
The Army and Navy have consid-
cred the issue, informed sources ex-
planned, and their latest decision
(See MANPOWER, Page A-14.)