Evening star., 1942-10-29
u. 5. MayShelve'.
~ ~
Plan 10 Draft
War Manpower
Rising Opposition to
Coercion Expected to
Halt Job Freezing
By JESSE O. IRWIN.

Faced with mounting Opposi-
ton by management and labor
to any coercive tactics, the ad-
ministration was reported today
to have decided to shelve COM
pulsory proposals for mobiliza-
ton of manpower to speed the
war effort. s-
However, Paul v. McNutt, War
Manpower Commission chairman, IN =
an address before the Federal Ad-
visory Council for employment Sc
curity, reiterated his demands for
national service legislation and de-
clared further that liberalization OF
the State unemployment compensa-
ton system was necessary to provide
for an orderly labor market.
"We are now at the point where
we will have to set up administrative
machinery that will enable us to pro-
vide an orderly and effective labor
market" Mr.. McNutt declared. $
After declaring that coercion
cannot be minimized," Mr.. McNutt
said labor controls would soon be
placed in effect in several industries.
He would not identify the industries.
Controls are now in effect in the
non-ferrous metals and lumber in
dustries in IL Western States and
in the dairy, livestock and poultry
branches of agriculture.
Opposition by labor leaders and
the reported attitude of the War
Manpower Commissions Manage
ment-Labor Policy Committee to-
ward freezing of workers in their
jobs or Government action transfer
ring them from one field to another
was said to have contributed to the
decision to delay consideration of
compulsory legislation which Mr..
McNutt said was imperative"
McNutt at White House.
Mr.. McNutt was White House
caller yesterday. He refused later
to discuss the purpose of his mis-
sion. Congressional leaders, how
ever, were said to have been in
formed that no White House rec
concentrations for forced mobiliza-
ton of labor would be Forthcoming
for some time.
In the absence of such recon-
mendation, sponsors conceded pri-
vately it would be next to impos-
sible to obtain action on the four
manpoWer bills now pending be-,
fore Congress. --.
Because of the wealth of material
SO far obtainable by the Senate Mil
itary Affairs Committee in it's hear
lngs on manpower legislation. it is
understood that the majority of
members are inclined to continue
gathering testimony.
The committee is holding hearings
on bills introduced by Senators Aus
tin, Republican, of Vermont; Hill,
Democrat, of Alabama; Bilbo. Dem
ocrat, of Mississippi, and Taft, Re-
publican, of Ohio. The Taft, Bilbo
and Austin bills would place admin
istrative control of manpower prob
lens under Selective Service. The
Hill measure would vest full au-
thorlty with the President.
The committee is expected TO re.
sumo its hearings late next week.
Meanwhile. A. F. Whitney, presi-
dent OF the Brotherhood of Railroad
Tralnmen, telegraphed Mr.. McNutt
from Cleveland that the manpoWer
chiefs proposal for compulsory legis-
latlon was akin to the Nazi Lrand
OF economics He further declared
that the national service bill would
break down confidence in govern
ment, destroy morale, and danger
ously slow down war production"
Opposes Coercion ~
Mr.. Whitney suggested "proper.
organization of our war economy.
along democratic lines, with labor.
management, government and farm
representatives counseling together.
could make available sufficient man
power to met all needs without
adopting coercive legislation"
Similar protests have been voiced
by Presidents William Green of the
AFL, and Philip Murray Of the CIO.
Meantime, rift between the com
mission and its Management-Labor
Policy Committee was reported as
in the making" over what was
termed an "overabundance of zeal
business by the commissions experts
IN the drafting of the committees s
| (See MANpOWVE,p D.. 80 -