Evening star., 1942-08-06
Rubber
Continued From First Page.)

VCnJ ucCc6DAIy W HCAp AAcCt AlAAAVdA
and essential civilian needs.
In denouncing the Gillette bill
creating a rubber supply agency,
with full authority to provide nee
essary plants and materials for
making synthetic rubber from ag-
ricultural or forest products the
President pointed out that it would
Immediately break up the present
~co-ordination of centralized con-
troll" over critical materials needed
In the war effort.
Bar to War Effort.
"In other words" he declared, 'by
legislative fiat the manufacture of
synthetic rubber is ordered in guam
titles large enough to satisfy any
and all civilian needs; an absolute
priority is given to obtain scarce
materials for this purpose, in pref
erence TO- any other military needs
as scheduled by the War Production
Board, or called for by the armed
forces.
"Tha approval of this bill would,
in my opinion, block the progress OF
the war production program, and
therefore the war itself"
He said that simplification OF
power with respect to the use OF
critical materials, as now organized
under the War Production Board. "ia
essential to speed and efficiency" In
the war effort.
Objections to Bill.
The vetoed bill, he declared would
empower the new rubber agency te
override all WPB priorities for ma
terials necessary in making hum
dreds of other essential products
and 20 further by giving specia
consideration for 'even civilian
needs of rubber-for pleasure driv'
ing, joyriding.'
He reviewed the WPB program
for making synthetic rubber from
both petroleum as we'll as agricul'
tural products, admitting that Sc
rious mistakes" may have been MADE
and that the present program may
not be the best solution. But IN an!
event "the facts should be ascer'
tanned and made public" he said.
For Congress to take away iron
the WrB determination OF exactl,
how much Of critical materials ma!
be used in the synthetic rubber pro-
gram. is "a disruption of a uniflee
and expeditions program, ne de-
clared. -.
Flys in Face Of Realities.
ITO 60 further" he added, "and II
say that these materials can be takel
away from ships and guns and am
munition and put to work producing
rubber, so that some people mlgh
use it for automobiles for idle-houl
pleasure, is to fly in the face OF tht
realities of the present grave mill
tary situation which threatens al
the world and civilization itself.
IT am just as determined as an,
one to get rubber-and to get 1t a
quickly as we can. But 1t is neces
sary to weigh the need for factorie
to care for civilian luxuries agains
IQe HccQS Ol VOA AA61itAAA6 AVA WV
In regard to the use OF grain TO
synthetic rubber production, tn
President pointed out that the nee'
of grain for food instead Of for un
limited rubber supplies must b
taken into consideration. He sal
that in the event OF a seriou
drought next year-"which is alway
q possibility"-our reserves of grail
might not be suficient to cover tn
requirements both for food and un
limited alcohol and rubber produc
ton.
The production of rubber fror
grain, even under the present pro
gram, Mr.. Roosevelt said, would re
ouire almost 100 900 900 bushels. De
spite great grain reserves, he addet
we must bear in mind steadily ex
panding demand for grain for tn
making of food for the armed serv
ices of both the United States an
the other United Nations.