The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-03-26
By STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Washington, D. C.-The shock
of our naval disaster in the Paci
fic has done even more than the
Pearl Harbor attack to arouse
angry opposition to all politica
and selfish actions here which car
be interpreted as interfering with
our all-out war program.
The rush of investigations start
ed Immediately following tn
charges of Robert Guthrie that
certain industrialists were doing
everything possible to resist con-
verting their plants to full wal
production, is typical Of the pre-
sent attitude.
Mr.. Guthrie, a $1-a-year War
Production board executive in
charge of textile, clothing and
leather goods division, resigned
his office because, he said, repre-
sentatives of those industries
both within and without the WIPE
had blocked his efforts 'to effect
a sufficient supply materials to
meet the requirements of the war
effort"
81 took" said Mr.. G u t h e
"what I considered to be a deci-
sive stand against the indecision,
the resistance and the procrasti-
nation of representatives OF the
affected industries now working
within the WPB. I felt that we
could no longer afford the risk
of too little or too late For these
efforts I was tabled hostile to
industry
Donald Nelson, WPB head, be-
gan an immediate investigation as
did the defense investigating COM
mittee of the senate. Comment
ing on the situation, Senator Her
ring of Iowa, member of the COM
mittee, said: ALTHOUGH I know
nothing of the particular matters
complained about by Mr.. Guthrie,
I do know there are men in the
War Production board who are
apparently working primarily for
their bosses back home"
These charges may lead to a
major shake-up in the organiza-
ton, for there is no doubt here
that Mr.. Nelson will "yank out
by the roots" any unco-operative
set-up found to exist in his board.
A tightening up of all the weak
links in the vast government or
ganization is being carried on
continually and although n er e
are undoubtedly many changes
needed it is generally agreed that
the war program is now being
directed with much greater eff
cheney than it was before Pearl
Harbor.
Orders curbing the civilian sup
ply of countless products are 60
ing out thick and fast as are
those putting settings on prices.
The use of automobiles by the
civilian population continues to
be a problem of major considera-
ton. The two most important de-
velopments in regard to this re-
Gently were the order of the War
Production board cutting 20 per
cent the amount of gasoline to be
delivered to service stations IN
the East and the Presidents re-
quest for state legislation reduc-
ing speed limits to 40 miles an
hour.
It was made clear in the order
curbing the supply of gasoline
that this was done entirely be-
cause of the transportation prob
lem and not because of any short
age of oil. It is expected here
that this step is preliminary to
the rationing of gasoline, which
would be preferred by m y
dealers since they do not like
to impose their own make-shift
methods of rationing. The volun-
tary reduction of the use of auto
mobiles which has taken place in
the East, however, is believed al
ready to have reduced consump-
ton by most 20 per cent.
The Presidents request for state
laws regulating speed of automo-
biles, in. order to conserve the
huge rubber supply which is on
the 100000 motor vehicles OF
the country, will be acted upon
quickly by most state governors.
Most all states which have a law
governing the speed limit permit
faster than 40 miles an hour.
There are only five which now
limit speed to 40 miles or less
Connecticut, Massachusetts,, New
York, Rhode Island and South
Dakota. In addition to new state
laws, it is also expected tn a t
greater enforcement of speed laws