Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-01-02
RUBBER etter
Crying Need
Of America
Jap Attack Finds OPM
FIat-Footed, Too
BY HUGH $. JOHNSON


WHERE is our rubber get
w ter? The OPM tire order
instantaneously and vi tn TOUT
warning, slipping out from under
our domestic organization the
sea of rubber on which il floats,
proves that we have the greatest
rubber taker Of all time But
where is our rubber getter'
There are several ways 10 get
rubber. One is by a wise plan
ming and organization TO con-
serve its domestic use 10 the low
est point compatible with our
daily national existence.
That does not mean simply
grabbing il all by an imperial
decree. without thought or plan
for civilian necessities or Tor any
madly destructive effect in slow
ing down national speed for the
purposes of both peace and war.
The latter IS the easy way for
officialdom. 1t relieves them
from most Of the work and
worry that belongs with their
taSk-for ii is as much their
duty TO preserve AT least the
skeleton of the domestic struc-
ture as it is TO provide war ma
terial.
Yes, it is an easy way but it
is arbitrary and destructive |
will even say cowardly way.
THE reason why that order
Il came out of the blue. with
no provision TO cushion its pos
Sibly terrible effects, was that
these officials, though warned
for years. had done and planned
nothing 10 prevent or soften the
catastrophe il IS now imposing.
II didn't expect that 10 be nee
eSSary so soon. Then came Pearl
Harbor and OPM was caught
asleep on the post as plainly as
the garrison at Pearl Harbor.
Largely because of the surprise
blow in Honolulu and it's pos
sible effects through the Far
East. OPM had TO act at once.
The truth is that we have
needed a rubber getter' all
those months and years. We
need one now far worse than
ever and there is nothing IN that
order that even recognizes that
need or provides for II further
than few pious platitudes
about how TO make WORKOUT
tires last longer.
THERE are at least four
Il known ways 10 make syn
thetic rubber better than the
natural product Beyond triflng
with those obvious ways out, we
let them rot.
We had ample opportunity 10
lay in an immense war reserve
stock Again we trifed until
perhaps that way is closed. II
IS possible enormously TO in
crease production Of rubber
from other latex-yielding plants
and also by pulping immature
trees
We trlfed with all that too
and. 50 far as OPM with It's tire
order Is concerned, there Is no
plan now 10 do better.
BY efficient organization I'm
every community. coupled with
vigorous centralized national
control on a carefully considered
plan. we could still pool our
privately owned motor transport
10 make every good tire carry
its full load.
In this way we could temper
or even prevent many paralyzing
effects of this OPM folly on the
working people and farmers.
60 FAR as appears, we are
y neither dotffs nor planning
10 do any OF these things. We
need rubber getter- n---------------
II Is true that artificial rub
Der IN the minute quantities vet
produced costs several times The
old price Of East Indian rubber
and that factories have taken a
long time to build.
There is still some debate as
TO details Of other expedients
mentioned here.
II is time and far past time
10 resolve all this debate by
faCtual conclusion 10 90 10 work
after experts have been con-
suited and agreed so far as
possible on the best ways to do
the job.
MOST authorities believe that
NA in mass production. artif-
cial rubber will cost no more
than the old product The time
OF plant construction has been
greatly reduced in this war.
Finally, there is no room for
question Of price. Price may
soon not buy rubber.
II we can sacrifice billions in
the OPM SpaSm, We can afford
TO get vast new sources Of rub
Der almost regardless Of cost.
All this requires a practical
man OF decision, experience and
common Sense--a rubber get
ter" with plenty Of authority
and no other job on earth but
to produce and intelligently con-
serve rubber.
II is our greatest need Of the
moment and this Is a crisis We