Evening star., 1942-03-22
Nelson Held Reluctant
To Crack Down
Bu OUen L. Scott.

/ ~ O~Ss As ASOtts
The reign of Donald Nelson as Gear"
over American industry may turn out to
be relatively brief. The reason Is that
Mr. Nelson with his War Production
Board, as with the Defense Commission
and o. P. M. before 1T, Is emphasizing
compromise and conversation at a time
when only action counts.
A first faint sign OF trouble ahead
came when war plants let 1t be known
that they would be producing more
planes, more ships, more tanks II only
they could get more materials. Mr..
Nelson is responsible for seeing that
they get the materials. Then it became
evident that copper and steel and alumni
mum and other materials still are flowing
in large quantities into ONCE buildings,
private homes. household gadgets and
aid the war effort. After that came the
resignation from w. P. B. Of an ofncial.
Robert Guthrie, who had insisted upon
Q hard boiled policy OF getting results.
Evidence suggests that Mr.. Nelson may
be overlooking the experience both OF
Great Britain and Of the Defense Com
mission and o. p. M. in this country.
In Britain, as here, they started out
to permit top-ranking executives from
private industry to have a major voice
in determining war-production policies.
These men are honest, able and patriotic.
They are as interested as any one in
promoting victory. Yet it is only human
nature for them to be influenced by the
effect of decisions upon their particular
companies or industries or interests.
The British found out early that best
results are not obtained when repre-
sentative of a particular private industry
has the power to decide what the gov
ernment will do to force that industry
into full war production. There were
signs that this country had discovered
the same thing In the Defense Commis-
sion and O. p. M. 1t appears. however,
that Mr.. Nelson did not learn the lesson.
What happens is that 1t becomes ap-
parent that the war is going to demand
every ounce of a particular metal or
chemical or fiber. This demand is SO
imperative that 1t already Is leading TO
curtailment Of the output Of ships. planes
and tanks. The question arises OF how
to meet the resulting situation. Which
industries producing for private use
should be curtailed or shut down or
forced to get into defense work? And
how soon should the change-over be Or
dered?
The affected industry, warned that 1t
may be q victim, argues for delay In or
der to make the transition without loss to
itself. 1t insists that two or three
months would not be too long for
transition. 1t insists that at least some
peacetime production should be per-
mitted. And Mr.. Nelson. wanting not to
be arbitrary, compromises.
But Hitler refuses to play fair by wait
ing for two or three months before do
ing his striking. And Japan shows no
solicitude for the interest of private in
dustry. in the United States. by going
ahead with her drive without time out
to permit an American industry to pro-
tect its special position. The result is
that American flyers, sailors and soldiers
90 into action with too little of every
thing delivered too late.
Two years have gone by in this coun-
try while labor. industry. finance and
agriculture bickered over a few dollars
and cents. Immense quantities Of war
goods could have been produced in that
period If industry and labor had really
put their hearts into the task. Instead.
the argument and maneuvering for posi-
ton went on and still are going on. So
one vital position after another is lost.
At one place after another American
forces have to fight without support
and without adequate equipment.
However, industry at home goes on for
additional months making refrigerators.
typewriters, washing machines and i'm
mense quantities of non-war equipment,
all of them eating up copper, aluminium,
zinc, steel and other commodities that
are needed desperately by industries
turning out fighting equipment.
The reason that this continues is that
Donald Nelson wants to get results by
cooperation rather than by crack
down at time when breakdown may
be vital. What he may overlook is the
fact that as losses pile up and as the
American peoples anger grows. there in
evitably will be demand for scapegoats
from among those who knew the facts
about this country's military needs and
did not act upon those facts.
The point that both industry and labor
appear not to understand is that plans
thus far approved for an American
Army, Navy and Air Force are based
upon decisions reached prior to the
latest disasters affecting the size of the
war job. Those plans involve spending
$3.50 900 o00, 900 for $500. .o00-man Army.
a 1000, ,O00-man Air Force and a rather
small tWo-ocean Nayv plus some aid to