Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-02-03
Washington
First Dollar
A-Year Man
Cause
Of Nelson HuIIabaloo
BY HUGH S. JOHNSON

George Washington. AS is usual
in such political capers. the
hullabaloo about dollar-a-year
men in Mr.. Donald Nelson's war
production top side crew is due
to a misunderstanding.
There is not and there never
has been anything to be criti-
cized in a man donating his
services. When Washington ac-
copied from Congress his COM
mand of all our armed forces
land that included navy he
stipulated that, while he ex-
pected reimbursement for his
out -of-pocket expenses. he would
accept no compensation.
So he served for seven years
and it was considered a brilliant
example.
Going even back Of that in
our pre-Revolutionary history,
most of the great British ex-
plorers and colonlzers were OPP
Grating at their own expense.
There was this difference-the
latter had some peculiar per-
sonal financial interest in the
outcome. Washington had none.
1t is the latter circumstance
and not the service without pay
or dollar-a-year-that makes
us look aSkance at the appoint
ment Of the heads of big bust
ness or their close associates 10
guide the disbursement of bill
lions in public money.
Are they dealing directly or
indirectly with themselves?
IF THEY are, it won't do.
L Mr.. b. NJ. Baruch set the
precedent for that He was
associated with the management
Of no business but as soon as
he was appointed he filed a
statement OF all his private
holdings.
He sold every Salable interest.
He invested nearly all the pro-
ceeds in Liberty Bonds.
His friends thought this was
quixotic or going further than
was necessary but in a few years
the payroll came.
When Senator Nye'S com
mittce started its wItCh-hunt
for 1918 doilar-a-ycdr men, great
disclosures were expected from
this woody lamb His books were
intact. They disclosed all this.
They disclosed more. Instead
OF making any money out of the
war he had lost millions
Donald Nelson's problem was
slightly different. he * not A
wealthy man. But he had A
whOppng salary from Sears
Roebuck e. Co $4,000 year,
They were willing 10 lend him
10 the government and continue
his pay
But in the all-embracing &C
tiNltIcS OF his new Job and OF
that company, II was improbable
that he would not some day be
dealing with himself
So very bravely and unSelf-
iShly, and 10 keep the status
Of Caesars wife. he made what
in some respects was greater
tif dlfferenD sacrifice til n
Baruch. He resigned his salary
and his position.
Thus Nelson is in the clear
las was BaruChl himself But
in his organization Gas m
BarUCh'Sl are many Jobs that
absolutely require the best in
duSuial and managerial talent
IN the country That exists
mostly in big business A ques-
ton remains about these OF
Nelson's associates
I Eft us rid il OF ono aspect
II that IS foohShly immateriaI
II ma kes no difference
whether they get one dollar or
ten thousand dollars. The real
question is directly or ind.
rcctly, arc they dealing with
themselves ?
The circumstance OF various
individuals vary 50 much that
hardly two are the same. Just
as Baruch's personal problem
demanded one kind OF solution
and Nelson's a very different
one, so there is no set rule about
what each should do.
But. as Nelson so staunchll
contended. and as seems not Yet
fully understood there is 4
simple way out Of the only rea
difficulty Leave il TO Nelson.
He must see 10 il that none
Of his men have any decision IN
any case involving their private
interests.
Everybody who knows him
feels that he can and VIII dc
that. If he doesn't hlS'shoW is
a flop before il starts.
II is a curious thing that no
body mentions the fact that Mr.
Sidney Hlllman, the labor czar
opposite Mr.. Nelson, is drawing
considerable sum from or
ganlzed labor and that he does
deal directly with himself
He is not an impartial adj
mlniStrator working first anC
solely for the interest Of tho
government. He is A pressure
advocate for the interest Of or
gained labor.
Distributed nv KING Features synd Inc.
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