Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-04-04
Draf+-Labor
In Factories
Unnecessary
But Forms May Need
industrial Setup
BY HUGH s. JOHNSON

WHILE he accepts with in
w terest the suggestions OF
Mr.. Hillman and the labor
groups and the secretary Of
agriculture that workers and
farmers indicated by them be
deferred from the draft, IL is
gratifying to see General Her.
shey make il clear that il any
actual deferments are to be
made, the local boards of the
boys neighbors are going to
make them.
They are not TO be made by
any political pressure groups in
Washington.
That is the basic principle Of
the fairness of the draft. The
moment that is permitted to be
sabotaged. the whole organiza-
ton for selective service is GO
ing to be endangered.
You can't put dangerous.
bloody sacrificial service with
the colors on the same footing
with sheltered, well-compensated
service in war production--no
matter how nearly equal they
are In importance - and get
away with il in public opinion.
IN TOP OF all this. the pro-
" posal Is absurd. There are
places for perhaps 50.0OO,OO0
people to be gainfully employed
in production.
The maximum military force
we have considered Is 10000, 900
men.
II none but young adult able
bodied males could work in fac
tories. farms. mines. transporta-
ton and elsewhere. we would
have an almost impossible prob
lem. But such is not the case.
Even in military service itself
there is a wide field for women,
children, people past middle age.
and those who are less than
physically perfect.
In the job of production there
Is a much wider field for this
kind OF people and we have
barely scratched the surface"
OF this enormous reserve of hui
man effort.
THERE are other valuable al
L ternatives and expedients to
conserve man-power for the
colors-especially on farms.
II all the best farm machinery
were pooled within certain con-
venient areas and the automotive
transportation and man-power
resources properly organized. so
that several farms were operated
as one great factory. a better
production could be had with
much smaller power.
II has been estimated that. IL
the great farm state Of Kansas
were organized as is one OF our
larger corporate factory organi-
cations with a competent techni-
cal staff. production could be
doubled with one-third the cost
and human effort.
We think Of the farmer as
working all year from dawn TO
dark. This is true of some kinds
OF farms like dairy establish
ments.
But II Is also true that in
others. like the header-combine
countries. a crop of wheat is
made with less than so days full
labor.
Modern machinery has revolu-
TONED farming. out full techni-
cal advantage has not been
taken OF its savings.
THE education OF workmen 10
l. the proper use of new factory
equipment is much simpler and
faster than il has ever been
before.
The field in which women.
girls. boys and the physically
Handicapped can be trained and
used TO advantage has been
multiplied.
Yet only fractional use has
been made of this Improvement.
II is ridiculous 10 urge that
men be withheld from military
service because OF any shortage
Of man-power we have met or
are likely TO meet for a long
time to come.
Examples Of heller SHELTER
raids on trained labor in other
countries have little or no appli-
cation 10 us as yet.
II need never be a serious
problem here II somebody with
experience. imagination and
drive-and not self-seeking labor
and farm politicians-be APP
pointed to take this country by
the scruff Of the neck and. the
seat Of the pants and push and
lift us into intelligent about
effort without fear OF favor of
any group.
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