Evening star., 1942-10-20
McNuttMayTa|k
With Roosevelt
On Draft Powers
Expected to Request
Authority to Defer
Farm, War Workers
By JESSE O. IRWIN.

BY JESSE o. IRWIN.
Paul v. McNutt, chairman Of
he War Manpower Commission,
S expected to confer late today
With President Roosevelt con-
,erning controversy between the
Var Manpower Commission and
he selective service system over
The deferment of agricultural
and essential war plant workers
from the draft.
1t was reported that Mr. McNutt
the conference with the
President after he and Maj. Gen.
Lewis B. Hershey. Selective Service
director, were unable to reach an
agreement.
The White House said Gen. Her
shey would not be present at the
conference.
1t is charged that the local draft
boards are ignoring directives issued
by the Manpower Commission to
Gen. Hershey, and that a heavy
drain was being made on the pools
of critical skills, especially in air
craft and shipbuilding industries. as
we'll as farm labor.
May Ask Showdown on Power.
Mr.. McNutt is reported to be pre-
pared to request the President for a
decision as to whether the Manpower
Commission has the authority to
force the Selective Service System to
obey its essential occupation direc-
tives.
In a report made public today the
House Migration Investigation Com
mittee, headed by Representative
Tolan, Democrat, of California, said
its investigators have been told by
local draft board members in va
rious sections of the country that
many a Washington directive finds
its way into the waste basket"
The report cited a portion of Gen.
Hershey's statement before the COM
mittee that, "of course, the local
boards need not pay any attention
to SO per cent of the things which
we send out. 1t is a good thing they
do not have to-"
The Tolan report added that the
committee appreciates the judg-
ment of Gen. Hershey that uniform
ity is not an unmixed blessing in
country characterized by manifold
differences in local conditions. But
the administrative fexibility de-
manded by local differences is quite
a different matter from the diversity
OF local board decisions which lead
to confusion in the public mind and
to chaos in the mobilization of man
power.
Cites War Plants Plight.
To-day, no manufacturer knows
what skilled workers he will be able
to retain and what skilled workers
he will lose to the Army. The Selec-
tive Service boards are not in a posi-
tion to give him this information, Z"
the report continued, adding:
Because the boards receive little
advance notice of requirements from
military personnel, war industries
cannot plan orderly training and
replacement programs to fulfill man.
power needs in war production. To
be sure, each local board has list
Of essential occupations drawn up
by the War Manpower Commission.
On the other hand, each board has
a quota from Selective Service head
quarters which specifies Army de-
mands for manpower in its area.
I'm many cases, quotas can be met
only by ignoring necessary occupa-
tional deferments In a few States,
where the draft of essential workers
threatens immediate loss of war
production, quotas have been sus-
pended"
Earlier, Mr.. McNutt had refused
to comment on charge made on
the Senate floor by Senator Willis,
Republican, of Indiana that he was
appointing vast McNutt-for-
President army"
Assails Political Profiteering.
Backing provision in a supple-
mental appropriations bill to require
Senate confirmation of all Manpower
Commission employees earning $4,50O
or more yearly, Senator Willis urged
that the Senate employ every check
against political profiteering that
can be conceived"
The Indiana Senator said he had
no doubt that Mr.. McNutt would be
highly successful in controlling man
power IF he is allowed to proceed
unhampered by the nuisance OF
senatorial approval"
IT am warning the faithful New
Dealers, whose hopes for the future
are pinned to the fourth term, that
such hopes would be sorely threat
ened by vast McNutt-for- President
army ready to spring full armed
from the dragons teeth Of the War
Manpower Commission" the Senator
declared.
"Mr. McNutt knows what he Is
talking about" Senator Willis con-
tinued, when he lets it be known
that he prefers to proceed unham-
pered' in his effort to control man.
power-whether for war or elec-
tions. He proceeded unhampered in
Indiana when he assembled the
notorious '2-per cent club wt1ose
chief objective seems to be to
further his presidential ambitions OF
1940, 1914, 1948, 1852, or what have
you.
No Limit to Contributions.
This club did not limit contribu-
tions to handful Of wealthy sup
porters. All those on the State pay
rolls, even down to the charwomen
Of State benevolent institutions
were impressed with the practical
wisdom Of contributing per cent oi
their salaries to that political wal
chest. When this man goes about
controlling manpower. he certainly
Is efficient about it.
II cannot conceive Of the United
States Senate giving any one with
this record the power to build {
vastly increased 2 per cent club ou
Of what could be, at best, . regretta'
BILE and temporary agency-the Wa
Manpower Commission.
Imagine the potentialities o
such an opportunity In the hands o
/ 0,IaA L. ~.~vl<iran~, - kS