Evening star., 1942-10-09
BY JESSE O. IRWIN.

Selective Service Director Hershey
was petitioned by Is Farm State
Senators to freeze dairy and live
stock workers on the farms for the
next three months to prevent
"irreparable injury" to food produc-
ton while an overall manpower
program Is worked out.
Reported labor losses in the coal
fields soon may become a major
problem on the production front.
The Farm State Senators informed
Director Hershey that they were
convinced that specific action to
halt the continuing drain of man.
power from our livestock and dairy
farms cannot be delayed longer
without seriously impairing the
whole war effort
In letter circulated by Senators
Ball, Republican, of Minnesota and
Brown, Democrat, of Michigan the
farm group asserted that the num-
ber of farm auctions are growing
daily and hundreds of fine dairy
herds are being sold or slaughtered
because the owners cannot hold the
help essential to continued opera
ton"
UNLESS the trend is halted i'm
mediately, crippling reduction will
occur" the letter stated.
90-Day Deferments Asked.
The Senators requested Director
Hershey to direct all local selective
service boards to defer for at least
80 days all men engaged in either
dairy or livestock production on
farms, "such deferment to be can
celed Immediately and the men
ordered to report for induction if
they leave their farm production
jobs"
The letter was signed, in addition
to Senators Ball and Brown, by Her.
ring, Democrat, of Iowa; Thomas,
Republican, and Burton, Repub-
lican, of Idaho; Butler, Republican,
Of Nebraska; Truman, Democrat, of
Missouri; Gurney, Republican. OF
South Dakota; Lee, Democrat, of
Oklahoma; Willis, Republican, of
Indiana; Schwartz, Democrat. OF
Wyoming; McNary, Republican, of
Oregon; Stewart, Democrats OF Ten
nessee; Ellender, Democrat, of
Louisiana, and McCarran, Democrat,
of Nevada.
Senator Norris of Nebraska made
an independent plea, in which he
advanced the theory that "it is just
as essential-I think more so-that
an army be supplied with food as it
is that it should be supplied with
ammunition" The Nebraskan sent
his appeal to Director Hershey and
Paul v. McNutt, chairman of the
War Manpower Commission.
Mine Operators Seek Action.
A coal operator delegation has
been in Washington for several days
attempting to get an agreement to
check the exodus of miners to the
armed forces and to other war in
dustry plants. The War Department
is said to be considering a proposal
to return miners now in the Army
to the coal fields until the produc-
tion crisis is over.
A spokesman for the delegation
claimed that about 10 per cent OF
more than 100000 miners have left
their jobs for the armed forces OF
war industrial plants. For the most
party, they are skilled men. Among
less skilled miners who remain, alb
senteeism is reported rising.
One resolution on support of the
war was expected to touch off de.
bate because of Secretary of the
Interior Ickes' request for exten.
sion of the present 35-hour work
week Of coal miners. Mr.. Lewis
UNIV president, replied he woulc
authorize extension only If it wa.
essential to prosecution of the war.
The shipyard agreement is an out.
standing accomplishment and will gt
far toward stabilizat ton of labor or
the West Coast. II approved by indus.
try and organized labor in other crit.
ical areas, it will go far to prevent
confusion rising in a well-drainec
labor market" said Fowler v. Har.
per, deputy chairman of the Wal
Manpower Commission.
Copies Available.
The agreement, Mr.. Harper de.
clared, could be easily adapted tc
meet conditions in practically every
industry He said copies would be
sent by the Manpower Commission
to all its regional offices and to vol
untary management-labor man
power committees already operating
in critical war industry areas
throughout the country.
"Absenteeism is costing US two
cargo ships week." said Paul r
Porter, chairman of the WPB Ship
building Sterilization Committee
THE latest Bureau of Labor Stats
tics figures show that in five At
lantic Coast shipyards, 81 per cent
OF the hirings Of skilled men during
the six months, January June, 1942
were from other yards.
In the case of four yards in the
Portland-Vancouver and Seattle
area, q special survey covering one
week in June, 1912, made at our re-
quest by the Bureau OF Labor Sta
titsics, showed II per cent of all
hiring dncluding unskilled) as COM
ing from other shipyards."
Bad Housing Factor.
Mr.. Porter said there were two
factors beyond the direct control Of
any stabilization agreement enlist.
ments In the armed forces, which
are recorded as quits" rather thar
military separations, and the
"shockingly bad housing and san.
itary conditions" In many shipbuild.
ing areas. The latter factor, he ex.
planned, accounted chiefly In thu
great variation In quit" rates be.
tween yards.
The West Coast agreement stipu