Evening star., 1942-03-03
Free Men vs.. Slaves

DOildlu NclSOIl duuIcSS W GilC
workers and managers of American
industry, in sporting parlance, comes
under the head of a fight" falkland
good one. But 1t raised a number
Of questions which were left un-
answered.
The War Production Board chair
man dealt primarily with the critical
character OF the remaining ten
months of this year, with the decisive
influence which American produc-
tion during this period will have on
the course Of the war. The 304 days
that lie Immediately ahead, he de-
clared, "can shape the whole course
Of history for thousand years. Is 1t
not then worth while to give up all
else but war and production for war
during those 304 days?"
Mr.. Nelson then went on to call
attention to specific moves designed
to enlist the full cooperation of
management and labor in the pro-
duction drive-moves such as the
setting up Of joint management
labor committees In each plant en-
gagged in primary war production, the
assigning Of production schedules to
each primary producer and the in
PRODUCTION Of a competitive element
into the task, system for giving
awards Of merit to outstanding
production soldiers" and a plan to
have Army and Navy men report di-
rectly to war workers on the manner
in which their product has per-
formed at the fighting fronts.
There can be no complaint, GER
tainly, against any OF these steps.
The picture which Mr.. Nelson has
sketched for the coming year Is
grim one, and anything which seems
likely to stimulate production of
arms for our combat units is worthy
Of encouragement.
But might it not also be helpful II
Mr.. Nelson, or some one in authority,
were to discuss in detail the specific
reasons for the present deficiency in
our production effort? Mr.. Nelson
said he was confident that our pro-
duction could be increased by Is per
cent with our existing equipment.
Why has it not been done? Is man
agement falling down on the job? Is
1t afraid to expand it's output for fear
of postwar consequences? Or per-
haps the fault lies with labor. II
figures of the National Association
of Manufacturers are to be accepted
as correct, man hours lost to strikes
in February increased by 206 per
cent over the time lost for the same
reason in January. Are these strikes
Or slowdowns- the root of our
trouble? Maybe the responsibility
must be shared jointly by both man
agement and labor. but, in any event,
why not state the facts instead of
dealing in generalities which wear so
thin with repetition?
1t is interesting to note that Mr..
Nelson laid considerable stress on the
production picture in Germany and
Japan, where both management and
labor are on a basis of virtual slavery.
Both" he said, upon pain of death,
must do exactly what they are told
and exactly as much as they are told.
They are actually slaves. That is
what we are up against-a Germany
and Japan whose production is at it's
peak. So, I ask you-all of you free
men and free women-can we
beat it?"
There is but one inference to be
drawn from this language-that we
are, not beating it now. We have
been assured upon high authority
in the past-and perhaps have taken
that assurance too literally-that the
production triumph of free labor and
free management over slave labor
and slave management Is inevitable.
But Mr.. Nelson seems to raise doubt
on that score-a doubt not as to
whether we can do it, but as to
whether we will do it.
This is the flrst of several tough"
talks that Mr.. Nelson proposes to
make. Perhaps he will get even
tougher" in his subsequent discus
sions and let the country have the
facts as to why it is not getting-and
getting now-the volume of produc-
ton which he says is essential to
victory