Evening star., 1942-07-08
Mc5herry Says U. 5.
Will Put 70 Million
In War Work AZ
Millions of Women Will
Do Mems Jobs, Institute
Of Public Affairs Told
BY THOMAS r. HENRY,
Star STAFF Correspondent,

Star staff Correspondent.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. July
s.-Approximately one out of six
of the total population of the United
Statesmen, women and children
will be giving full time to fighting
the war in the next 18 months, Brig
Gen. Frank J. McSherry, director of
operations for the newly established
War Manpower Commission, told
the Institute of Public Affairs at
the University of Virginia here yes
terday.
This does not include farmers and
other food producers for the civilian
population of the United Nations
only the men, and women actually
in the Army and Navy or in plants
manufacturing direct war material.
This means putting to work every
passably able bodied man in the
United States, Gen. McSherry said.
1t means the recruiting of millions
of women for jobs men always have
done before.
Recruiting, except for the actual
fighting forces, will be kept volun-
tary as long as possible. If this does
not work, various sorts Of compul-
sion may be used.
Lubin Gives Talk.
The results, in terms of daily liv
ing, cannot be other than A con-
stantly declining standard in almost
every line until the war is over and
industry, can be. converted, it was
stressed. by DR.. Isadore Lubin,
United States commissioner of labor
statistics.
He predicted preaching changes
In the whole: industrial setup of the
United States which will continue
after the WARMTH uniform wages
and working conditions in all fac
tories in all parts of the country
engaged in similar work.
The millions of women now being
brought into industry for the first
time and who expect to become
housewives again after the war, DR..
Lubin said, should be placed, so far
as possible, in plants which will be
abandoned as soon as hostilities
cease. On the other hand, bread
winners should be kept In plants
that will be converted to civilian
needs as rapidly as possible.
Present plans of the Manpower
Commission, according to Gen Nc
Sherry, call for the induction of
about 20,000D00 in 1912 and 1943.
OF these about 14,000, 900 will be in
some sort of war service by the end
of this year. This includes approx
imately 3,40a,O0D men and women
who will go into the Army and Navy
during the year. About 10,500. 600
more will be required to keep them
supplied with. food. clothing and
arms. 8, a.%
3,500,0 Face Army Duty.
Next year. If the war continues,
he estimated, there will be a de-
mand for about $500 900 more in the
services and at least 100000 more
for war industries,
Of the approximately $4,000 900 to
be pulled out of their normal ways
Of living this year. he said. about
8,600,000 will come from the con-.
version of non-war to war industry;
about 100000 more from those
who were unemployed but looking
for jobs at the start of this year,
and about 100000 who will be taken
from the farms despite the urgent
demand for food for troops and the
prospects that America must feed
the world as soon as hostilities cease
There will remain deficit of
100000. The only possible source,
Gen. McSherry said, is women who
are now unemployed-largely house
wives. There will be some boys and
girls, Of course, who are just get
ting old enough to work. All will
work under Government appropria-
tions of s215,000 900 ,0o0-the total
now in prospect for the war effort
in the next two years.
In 1910 when the United States
undertook to supply the Allies and
when 1t became apparent that this
country might become involved in
hostilities, the Nation had to start
from scratch, Gen. McSherry re-
vealed. At that time less than a
half million men were at work in
industries in any way related to
war. England had 100000. Ger
many had close to 100000 But
manpower seemed no particular
problem. Nearly 5000, 900 Amer
leans who wanted to work could not
find jobs.
Condition Reversed.
Now this condition has almost
been reversed. Within the next few
months, Gen McSherry said, it may
be necessary arbitrarily to close
some plants engaged in activities
not essential to bare living This
has already been done in England
on a wholesale scale, it was revealed
by other speakers before the Insti-
tute of Public Affairs.
But the United States still has
an enormous reservoir of manpowel
If it is handed right, he explained
The present population is about
33,00o,Gco OF these 100000, 900 are
over 14-the great majority not toe
old to work At the beginning OF
the year only about 100000 OF
these were in the Army or Navy
and 534o0,000 either were working
or looking for jobs.
This left more than $4,000 00(
who were not working for pay
About 100000 were IN school
Nearly 100000 were housewives
The rest were the old and sick