Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-31

Nelson Lost
Resignation
Of Hinman
Labor e a d er Slated
for Higher Post
By PAUL MALLON

~ ~ ~
BY PAUL MALLON
WASHINGTON, March al
" Resignation of Sidney Hill
man. head of the War Production
Boards labor division, has been
conveniently misplaced on DON
aid Nelson's desk. The pile Of
papers there is rather high and
you could lose nearly anything
you had a mind TO.
A notion is prevalent around
WPB that before il is found Mr..
Hlllman will be offered a more
prominent job.
Prominent enough 10 make
every one, including Mr.. Hill
man, forget everything, is the
dictatorship of the new man
power mobilization ldraft-for-
industry campaign. If Mr..
Roosevelt wants TO go that high.
If he does. all available army
stretchcrS will have 10 be mobil-
lied first 10 carry business men
10 first aid stations. They are
already slightly weak on draft
for-induStry' and only the StOut-
hearted are likely TO survive the
appointment of a labor leader 10
that post, where he could shift
around their personnel.
MORE than likely Mr.. Hillman
vi will get some less contro-
-versiai elevation.
His office started 10 issue an
official denial when first reports
that he had offered his reSigna-
tion came out, but only unofficial
reputation of the suggestion
were made. Unpublished reSigna-
tions are often forgotten, then
denied. in government, If salts
factory arrangements are con-
cluded.
Bulwark Of Mr.. RooSevelt's
campaign 10 curb anti-labor leg
-iSiation in Congress was Senator
Ebert Thomas OF Utah, the eX-
professor, who is the self-effac-
ing co-moderator OF Roosevelts
labef-management- conference.
4 s CHAIRMAN of the Senate
IA labor committee, Thomas
has acted out his role Of bulwark
unremittingly against any legiS-
lation to which labor is opposed.
He Stifled the Smith anti-Strike
bill passed by the House. Before
the war, his committee did re-
port out a mild bill recommend
ing labor Cancellation, but Mr..
RooSevelt's ''no-strike' agree
ment came then and prevented
the bill from going further.
Thomas regards this mo
strike" agreement. including ar
bitration, as charter calling by
implication for maintenance Of
the 40-hour base pay week. II
was not mentioned publicly at
the time of the agreement. but
it is quite probable labor had an
assurance at that time from the
President that he was opposed
10 any tampering with ttmita.
lions OF the work week.
A GAINST these and all asso-
"A ciated bulwarks, the general
opinion in the congressional
cloakroom is that no change can
be made in the 40-hour base pay
without the approval Of the adj
miniStration and labor which
cannot be obtained. This is
causing the leaders to say the
matter is dead.
II is true Speaker Sam Ray
burn came out for the 4S-hour
week. after having criticized
"the campaign against labor at
the beheSt Of the administration.
His personal expression for as
hours followed large mass
meeting in Texas.
VAR loadingS have been casing
" down more sharply the past
three weeks, but do not lot that
induce you 10 believe the pro-
ductlon program Is falling very
much behind schedules. The
conversion Of industry TO full
war effort is responsible. The
dip in employment figures con-
firm this official Interpretation.
The decline seems wholly at
tributable 10 consumer goods
which are no longer being man.
ufactured, and for which raw
materials are no longer being
ordered.
First quarter car loadingS this
year, nevertheless. were nearly
= per cent over last year. The
peak week, the latter part of
January was higher than any
IN j years.
TlllS army is going TO eat with
Il silver knives. forks and
spoons. The procurement divi-
sion has decided that by switch
ing from chromium flatware
farmY name for eating imple-
mentSo 10 silver it can save
some l3 tons OF chromium which
Is very, very short since The
Philippine supply has been lost.
The announcement seemed 10
have a slight touch Of irony in
II when II said there was no
shortage Of silver.
Thus, AT last. is some practical
use being found for all the silver
Mr.. NJ orgenthau has been