The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-02-02
FIELD MEN
FIRST

FIELD MEN
FIRST
Look for vast expansion of the
new WPB field service. The idea is
not to try to settle everything in
Washington, but to let problems be
settled in the field by WPB men on
the job and with first-hand know
ledge of their problems.
Keep an eye on the work Of J. S.
Knowlson, head of the new do
Division of Industry Operations
which Is to become increasingly i'm
portant in getting as much produc-
ton as quickly as possible. Knowl-
son Is a Cornell engineer whose
first experience was with General
Electric. He comes to Washington
from Chicago, where he was pres
ident and board chairman of Stew
art-Warner.
Nelson forcsees no great issue on
the problem Of giving labor a voice
in management. Each of his SO or
go industry committees will be split
into separate advisory committees
from labor and management. The
two can separately or be called to-
gether. I assume that both indus
try and labor are just as much in
terested as ] am in getting produce
tion." says Nelson. This bespeaks an
attitude of trust and confidence, not
suspicion of everyones motives. Mel
son wants all the ideas he can get
from these committees, but won't
question whether the ideas come
from labor or management.
WATCH
BAIT
William L. Bait, former head Of
the SKI industries, has two jobs
under the new WPB organization,
but don't make too much of that. As
chairman Of the requirements COM
mittee, Bait will meet with repre-
sentatiyes OF Economic Warfare
Board, Lease-Lend, Civilian Supply,
Maritime Commission, Army and
Navy. From these will be obtained
the overall requirements. AS head
of the materials division, Bats Job
will be to see that those materials
are obtained.
Major ALLEGATIONS of materials will
be made for economic warfare,
lease-lend, civilian use, shipbuilding
and the armed services. Admins
traitors Of each of these divisions
will have the job of allocating or
raitoning its share OF every mater
ial within its own field. Take rub
Der as an example. Economic War
fare Board will decide how much Of
its share goes into tires for civilian
use in South America; Civilian Sup
ply will decide how much of its
share goes for buses or private
owners, Lease-Lend will decide how
much Of its share goes to tank
treads for Britain or landing wheel
tires for the Dutch East Indies air.
force, and so on.
Priorities procedure will probably
have to be overhauled again, the
changes In method resulting from
the change in attitude toward the
priorities problem. The priorities
problem Is different now from what
1T vase when Nelson became prior
tiles director last fall. And 1t will
change again.
Nelson envisages no resort to
commissar methods. Nevertheless,
his naming of Ernest Kanzler, for
mer head Of OPM's automotive
branch, as head of the automobile
industry committee charged with
converting the auto plants to war
production gives KanZler all OF Mel
sons power and practically makes
him car of the industry. 1t will
be HANDLERS job to decide which
plants will be permitted to continue
making passenger cars for civilian
use, II any. Other industries may
get their Kanzlers.
Pooling. sub-contracting, contract
distribution, use OF small business
all are definitely In the Nelson
pisture. He starts with the assump-
ton that the country must use all
It's manufacturers and that speed
! Is essential.