Evening star., 1942-03-24

done away with. This isn't an
original thought with me. The
thought came to me in . letter
from Bogart Rogers, a friend, who
despite residence in Beverly Hills.
Calf, manages to do q pretty good
Job OF thinking.
Bogart Rogers has started . one
man war against schedules. He
wants to see them abolished in
every type Of plant that Is con-
tributing material for our war
effort. without his permission, I
want to reveal certain paragraphs
Of his letter. My only excuse II that
they make q lot Of sense.
"A senatorial committee Is inves-
tigating rumors OF . showdown in
production Of various kinds" Mr..
Rogers writes, particularly aircraft
plants. AS get 1t, the plant man
agements always put on their most
SNUG smiles and answer the investi.
gators with something like this:
But, look, Senator, how can you
find fault with us? We felt that
you would be delighted with what
we are doing because We are away
ahead Of schedule. We are . full
six weeks ahead Of the work as
signed to U.s.
What the he'll has schedule got
to do with winning . war? What
virtue is there In being ahead Of an
arbitrary schedule If you are stin
short Of maximum possibihties7
And, I'll guarantee you that . lot
of plants are ahead Of the program
assigned them but still are deliver
ing far less than 100 per cent Of
their all-out capabilities.
mo guy ever made Grantland
Rice's all-America football team by
Just carrying out his assignment,
which; say, was to handle the oppoe-
ing tackle. The real all-Americas
smack out the tackle. get downheid
to pulverize a defensive left half
back. and then stand by to re-
cover fumbles, If any.
tAHh
MY contention at q time Like this
Is that men and women are not
doing their duty unless they are de-
livering right up to the limit Of
their ability to deliver. The same
goes for plants, shipyards and fac
tories. There are entirely too many
people and too many, organizations
in this country content to keep up
with schedules, to maintain q pace
that will keep them from being
criticized. To my way of thinking.
we'll never get the job done that
way"
Mr.. Rogers goes on to suggest that
the motto Of all Of us Americans be
changed from Were up to sched-
ule" to I'VE can't be bothered with
schedules-theyre too easy"
Wonder what would be the result
If, overnight, every citizen in this
country decided that for six months
he was going to give his best. and
all Of 1t, to his government? Won
der what wonders could be per-
formed If. for six months. all of us
forgot ourselves in thinking about
our country, and really dug in and
went to town?
After, all, why shouldn't all Of
us get In there and pitch7 Pvt.
John Doe. "a, healthy. happy and
full Of life. doesn't owe our country
any more than we do. He Is no more
part Of 1t than we are. And, think
Of the hours he gives toward the
preservation Of the things that
while dear to him are no dearer TO
him than to us who are not IN
uniform.
He follows a schedule, It's true,
but. brother, it is very flexible one.
It allows him to work 18 hours 4
day just Is easily as 1t allows him to
work IL. What would happen to
Pvt. Doe II he decided on schedule
for himself and told the Army he
was going to do the amount of work
he thought was fair and Just, and
no more? ~
Your guess Is as good as mine and
they're both the same.
(nistrihutsh nv MrN.uvbt avnat,... r~.>