The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1942-01-01
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By JAMES PRESTON

The big three of our Victory Pre-
gram-the Government, industry and
labor-face the new year with a prob
lem to solve which in itself is enough
to give them a headache. The big
questions are where to get and how to
organize all the man-power that Is
needed to carry out the Victory Pro-
gram.
Here are the facts of the situation
Industry is preparing to double or
triple its present production sched-
ules, This means twenty-four hour
day, seven days a week. At the same
time, the Army is trying to increase
its manpower from 1,588,500 men
(as of October 9TH to a draft army
of about million men, and eventu-
ally 10 million.
In order to meet the requirements
of a 16S-hOu work week, industry, in
cooperation with the Government, is
planning to increase the number of
shifts at work in defense factories to
possibly three shifts day. If that
can't be done, longer hours are in
store for labor.
Some states are suspending all eX-
isting labor laws and regulations which
might impede defense production. The
{ L'odora1 Coy,os,,,,,,a bC,rovo,. hos
no present intentions of modifying the
basic forty-hour week for persons en-
gagged in interstate and foreign COM
merce. Employers of such persons
will be compelled to pay time and a
half for all overtime work, until the
acuteness of the situation forces some
amendment to the WageHour Act.
The consoling aspect Of the prob
lem is the fact that workers who are
forced out of jobs by the drastic cur
tailment of consumer industries will
be taken up by the defense indus
tries which are faced with a labor
shortage. Although it is difficult tc
| figure out defense employment re.
quirements on an industry-by-indus-
/ try basis, the United States Bureau OF
Labor Statistics estimates that by the
middle of 1912 approximately 3,00O,-
900 additional workers will be needed
If the 168-hour week is attained, il
may mean another million defense
workers, bringing the estimated tota
to seven or eight million within less
than year, These figures do not ac-
count for workers who are indirectly
engaged in defense work.
All this, observers mere point out
creates a tremendous managerial prob
lem, the scope of which is difficult tt
comprehend. The increase in industrial
personnel means an increase in super
visory stats; the increase in tn,
armed forces means an increase il
government employment behind th'
lines. Both raise health, housing, rec
reational, training and a dozen othe.
questions which industry and the Gov
eminent must answer. In addition, in
creased production means plant eX
pansion, materials, machinery an,
plant conversions -. problems for i'll
dustry to meet. 1t also means a deter
mination of fundamental policies TO
the Government, not the least of which
are ALLEGATION of strategic materials
price and wage control, the extent o
governmental supervision Of industry
Consumers, too, will be called upol
to do their share. General rationin!
plans are now being worked out by tn
war price and production agencies
Nothing to get jittery about, but it i
essential to realize that consume
rationing is an ordinary by-product 0
war.
) Besides the rationing of tires tha
! begins on January 4th, government
: circles anticipate that consumer dur
} able goods will be next on the list
refrigerators, washing machines, vac