Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-04
BY JESSE O. IRWIN.

age IN copper, zinc ana antlmony
industries.
This was part of the testimony of
Reid Robinson, CIO vice president
and president of the International
Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter
Workers, before the Senate Educa-
ton and Labor Committee holding
hearings on the manpower situa-
ton.
Cited as Paradox.
Mr.. Robinson said he wished to
make clear that this was not
major difficulty. but to the extent
that 1t did occur it was paradox
cal situation in which the Govern
ment continued to draw men away
from industry in which 1t said men
must remain for the war effort"
The union leader added that mill
tary induction continued lin the
face of the attempt to convince the
men that the most important place
for workers was in this industry. It
is worth emphasizing that this in
duction was done In specific cases by
regional directors of selective serv-
ice, even though national headquar-
ters was offering complete co-opera-
ton behind the program"
Other members of the CLIO await
ing to testify include John Green,
president of the Marine and Ship
builders Union; Walter Reuther,
president OF United Auto Workers,
and Van A. Bittner, assistant to the
president of the United Steel
Workers.
Farm Directive Being Drawn.
Meantime, while the War Man.
Nower Commissions legal staff was
preparing a directive to keep trained
workers on dairy, livestock and poul-
try farms, which the commission an
nounced last week it had approved,
national farm organizations leaders
warned that these "far-reaching bu-
reaucratic controls and restrictions"
would force the Nation to face dis
astrous shortage of food for our
armed forces, our civilian popula-
ton and our Allies" The directive
Is reported to contain certain social
provisions.
The statement was issued by Albert
S. Goss, master of the National
Grange: Edward A. ONeal, presi-
dent of the American Farm Bureau
Federation, and E. T. Benson. ex-
ecutive secretary of the National
Council of Farmer Co-operatives.
They reiterated that the directive
and other government farm policies
would produce social revolution
The statement continued:
1T is an indisputable fact that the
terrific drain of manpower from the
farms-well over 100000 in the past
IL months-is due to the refusal OF
this administration to deal effec-
lively with industrial wages which
have spiraled to unprecedented
levels.
Surveys show that twice as many
farm workers have been lured into
industry by fabulous wages as have
Joined the armed forces under Selec-
tive Service. Farm prices are not
responsible for imitation. Soaring
industrial costs. beyond the control
Of farmers, constitute the major in
f1ationary factor"
Recommendations Made.
Their statement recommended:
That all branches of government
recognize and treat agriculture as
an essential war industry; that Sc
lective service instruct local boards
to defer essential farmers and work.
ers until requirements are found, as
long as they remain In farm work;
that farm price ceilings be adjusted
to carry out the intent of the Price
Control Act of last month. provid-
ing allowance for increased costs
and farm labor: that AL bureau
cratic, unavoidable regulations and
controls, including fixing of mini
mum wages and regulating maxi
mum hours and conditions of en-
ployment of farm workers, be elimi-
mated"
Mr.. Robinson said the workers in
the nom ferrous metal industries
were given ample evidence that the
request for them to remain on the
Job was reasonable one; that they
not be frozen on the job regardless
of circumstances"
He stated that the announcement
of this program was "tragically mis-
handled by the Government pub
licity stats" and in the press in an
nouncing the program as a. "freez-
ing" order. This, he said, not only
hurt the entire approach to this
problem, but also discouraged new
workers from entering the industry
to meet its manpower needs"
Those employees who remained
after the directive was issued and
lat the request of the union, of man
agement and the government saw
other workers walk away without
going through the procedure of &C
curing certificates of separation
and then saw these workers en-
ployed by other employers in other
Industries"
Restricted Hiring.
The commissions directive re-
stricted employers from hiring
workers except through the United
States Employment Service.
He asserted that when the direc-
&;yn moe iSS,led machinery had not