Evening star., 1942-03-16
War Effort Hurt,
Production
Chief Asserts
Truman Promises
Inquiry Into Charges
Of Textile Head

Donald NJ. Nelson, war produc-
ton chief, said today that per
sonal conflicts" between Robert
r. Guthrie and members of Mr..
Guthrie's staff in the textiles
division had "impeded that part
of the war production effort"
In a letter to Chairman Truman
Mr.. Nelson asked the Senate De-
fense Investigating Committee to
inquire into the facts surrounding
Mr.. Guthrie's resignation from the
War Production Board Saturday and
the latters subsequent statement
that "the indecision, the resistance
and the caution" of other represent
stives Of industry working within
the w. P. B. had led him to resign.
Chairman Truman announced
that his committee would conduct
an inquiry into the Guthrie charges
He said there might be hearing.
Senator Truman read portion
of the letter after Senator Bank
head, Democrat, of Alabama told
the Senate that If results could not
be obtained otherwise the Govern
ment ought to draft manpower and
take over industrial plants to bring
about around-the-clock war pro-
duction.
Internal Conflicts Cited.
Mr.. Nelson said in his letter that
importance of the issue warranted
inquiry. He also discussed internal
conflicts in the board to which he
said Mr.. Guthrie was a party and
told Chairman Truman that he
would give his fullest cooperation.
He also promised an independent
investigation of the matter.
The Nelson letter follows:
May ! ask your committee to in
vestigate the charges made in the
Statements issued to the press yes
terday and today bv Mr. Robert r.
Guthrie who ON Saturday resigned
from this organization.
''Mr. Guthrie for some time past
has been head Of the textiles, cloth
ing and leather branch. which oper-
ates in three sections. Recently I
learned that personal conflicts had
developed between Mr. Guthrie and
members of his staff in the textile
section.
This situation finally reached the
point where 1t was impeding that
part of the war production effort.
During the period Of this con-
f1ict Mr.. Guthrie, as chief of the
branch, had authority TO deal with
the situation but he failed to do so
on his own account and did not bring
the difficulties to my attention or
request any action on my part until
after his resignation.
Handed In Resignation.
After reviewing the situation it
was decided last week to separate
the textile section from the other
two, retaining Mr.. Guthrie In charge
of leather and clothing. For the
textile section 1t was proposed to
bring in a new man who would be
wholly impartial and free from any
involvement in the conflicts which
had been impeding the work. Mr..
Guthrie took the position, however,
that this would be unsatisfactory to
him and thereupon resigned.
"I have, Of course, instituted and
will continue a careful investigation
of these charges. I think, however,
that in view of the public impor-
tance of this matter, it would be
well to have an investigation con-
Quoted also by an outside agency,
and I shall, therefore, he glad to
have your committee make such an
investigation. You may rest assured
that in doing so you will have my
fullest cooperation"
Senator Truman conferred with
Senator Mead, Democrat. of New
York on the Guthrie charges before
he announced the inquiry would be
made.
"Of course, there are two sides
to every question:" Senator Truman
observed, but this looks like it's
right down the line of business as
usual"
Among other angles expected to be
lOOhCQ lilGO Ill nlNCot4SdtiOllos ~ woo
indicated, were reports that some OF
Mr.. Guthrie's decisions had resulted
in an indignation meeting" by
members of the textile industry and
that the refrigerator industry also
had been in controversy with his
office. For few weeks Mr.. Guthrie
was deputy chief of the industries
branch concerned with refrigerator
manufacture.
Refrigerator Decision.
MIR. Guthrie was reported to have
Joined with the w. P. B. LABOR and
Civilian Supply Divisions several
weeks ago in a decision that the re-
frigerator industry must end do
mestic production by March 81. In.
dustry spokesmen wanted produc-
ton continued to early summer and,
after further argument, an April 80
date was agreed on as compromise.
In the textile field, Il was under.
stood, Mr.. Guthrie was at odds with
(see GUTHRIE, Page A-3o