Evening star., 1942-08-29

Nelson Needles Aides
To Become Realistic
And Speed Results
Reeds Riot Act Coils
For End Of Biekerjne;
Pruises SomervelI

War Production Chief Donald
M. Nelson called an emergency
meeting OF his staff and top War
Production Board officials late
yesterday and delivered what an
associate described as a reading
OF the riot act in a mild way"
Fresh from a conference with
President Roosevelt, the usually
placid Mr.. Nelson was anything but
mild. He urged his men on to
greater effort, and. at one time,
shouted:
TT just takes too long to get
things done around here. Go ahead
Maybe we'll make some mistakes, but
we have to get the job done.
AS the casualty lists come in, the
American people will ask us why we
didn't do more" Mr.. Nelson told the
more than 100 WPB officials and
some officers of the Army and Navy
seated before him.
Two Offer designations.
Meanwhile, it was learned that the
two top men in the WPB Iron and
Steel Branch-Reese H. Taylor,
chief, and r. c. Allen, deputy chief
had submitted their designations in
writing to Mr.. Nelson.
The production director had not
acted today on the designations.
Mr.. Taylor, a dollar-a-year man,
said his resignation had no connec-
ton with recent criticism OF the Iron
and Steel Branch. He explained
that he never had intended to stay
permanently and recalled that he
had tried to resign on June "a, but
had been persuaded to stay at least
temporarily.
Il have asked Mr.. Nelson for &C
ton on my resignation every time ]
have seen him." Mr.. Taylor added.
Mr.. Taylor is president of the
Union Oil Co. of California. Mr..
Allen was understood to have re-
signed 80 that Mr.. Taylor's successor
would be free to name his own
deputy chief.
Civilian Pinch In Prospect.
In his talk yesterday, Mr.. Mel
son told his branch chiefs they
must adopt a hard and realis-
tic attitude" which would place
United States economy on a total
war basis. His men must unite tt
get the job done quickly, with the
winning of the war as their sole
objective.
Mr.. Nelson's command to the in
dustry branches had hard implica.
tions for civilians. He told his mer
they must cut down on the amour
of materials allowed to seep int
purely civilian channels, such as re.
pair and replacement parts for auto.
mobiles, refrigerators, washing ma
chimes and vacuum cleaners. TIL,
strictest watch, he said, must b,
kept on inventories of scarce ma
terials.
The next four or five months will
be critical months in war production
Mr.. Nelson said, adding that "th'
time to work is now"
Praises S0mervell.
Mr.. Nelson had nothing but prais
for 1t. Gen. Brehon B. Somervell
| with whom he has been reporte'
often at odds on jurisdictional ques
tions between WPB and the Army
He said Gen. Somervell was "splen
did gentleman and able admins
TRAITOR; the best man in the Arm
to head the Service Of Supply. I
he had been asked to name a mai
for the post he would have selecte'
Gen. Somervell, Mr.. Nelson said.
A strong plea for unity in WP1
ranks was made by the production
chief. He called for an end of bick
ering and destructive criticism
Their enemy. he added, was not tn
man across the hail nor the Army
The most appropriate sign he ha'
seen was one widely circulate,
throughout Government ofiices.
reads:
I'VE are fighting the Axis, no
each other"