Evening star., 1942-02-28
President Assures
Full Auto Plant War
Output in 50 Days
Reveals Progress
In Letter Sent to
Representative Bell
(Story on Pose AID
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Representative Bell, Democrat,
of Missouri predicted today, on
the basis of a letter which he
said he received from President
Roosevelt, that the automobile
industry would be completely
harnessed within go days for war
production"
The Presidents letter, Mr. Bell
said in a statement, pointed out
that within a very short time all
workers in automobile plants would
be employed in production of war
materials contracts aggregating 120
per cent of the 1941 peak produc-
ton"
Text of Letter.
The text of the Presidents letter
dated February IL, as made public
by Mr.. Bell, said:
MY Dear Mr.. Bell:
Your very interesting letter of
January 81, 1912, with particular
reference to the employment Sit
uation in the motor car plants of
the country. has been received and
carefully studied.
IT can well understand your in
terest and concern over this situa-
ton for it has sbeen in the minds
of many of us as we approach the
change-over in this industry from
a peacetime to wartime production
basis.
II note that you have written
Gen. Knudsen, Mr.. Nelson and Mr..
Hillman. All of these gentlemen and
their stats have been devoting many
hours to this very problem. and I am
happy to say to you that their ef-
forts are beginning to bear fruit.
Tells Of Progress.
"In answer to the specific ques-
tions mentioned in your letter, I
have been advised by Mr.. Nelson
that:
81. The transformation of the idle
plants for the production OF war
materials that could be made there
is. now well under way. While we
do not have complete statistics on
the whole motor car industry, it is
interesting to note that the three
larger companies already have
placed with them to make war ma
terials, which, when measured in
dollar value of output, will keep
their facilities fully occupied on the
basis of their peak operations in the
year 1912 There are still many
orders in the process of negotiation
as the automobile companies are
being asked to make many items that
throw an entirely new load on their
engineering and production staffs.
I am glad to report, however, that
the Progress in lining them up for
this new war material covered by
pending negotiations Is proceeding
rapidly. AS of January 81, 1912, not
including the negotiations in prog
ress. orders had been placed amount
ing to 100 per cent in value of what
these companies produced in the
peak year of 1941.
Re-employment Seen.
"2. The facts outlined in the
previous paragraphs will require a
production schedule which will re-
employ all of the workers in these
companies within very short time.
This program, of course, varies
by plants all of which have been
carefully analyzed, and shows that
1t Is fair to assume that by Sep
tember Of this year there will be
more employees at work in the auto
mobile companies than during De-
cember 1941 and that by the end
Of the year, assuming that adequate
materials can. be made available,
there will be q labor shortage
throughout the automobile industry.
3. Recognizing the need for speed,
new facilities are not being granted
motor car companies for production
(See AUTOS Page 2-X.)