The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-11-05
Michigan in
Washington
BY Esther Van WAGNER Tufty

Washington, NOV. Some men
succeed because OF the influence OF
"the little woman" But few. il any
can say, Il owe what success
have attained on my war Job to
the patriotism OF eonyicts.' Major
William II. Burke can say it. And
does.
This Michigan man on active
duty has a novel war Job. He will
not get overseas as he did in the
other World war. but he's doing
combat duty OF a new kind.
His army is 100 900 strong, in
uniform, but not in khaki. His
military campaign is two-pronged,
TO turn his prisoners into fighting
soldiers OF production and TO in
spire them 10 buy bombers with
war bonds.
His title is as dull-sounding as
II is long. Officially, he is desig-
mated as chief OF the Prison In
dustries Branch OF the War Pro
duction Board. His General" is a
fire-eating Texan, Maury Maverick,
a great battler.
Even before Pearl Harbor, 1t was
apparent that Uncle Sam would
need more food and war materials
Both the "General" and his Major
felt the prisoners could help. After
all. the prison industries were not
bothered with a manpower short
age or absenteeism! Neither were
their facilities clogged with war
orders. II seemed unpatriotic that
idle men and equipment should not
60 10 war.
But ii wasn't so simple. Many
state laws we're in the way. one
Federal law prevented the moving
Of prison-made goods across state
borders. The Walsh-Healey Act
prohibited the use OF prison labor
in products purchased by the gov
eminent. The Attorney General. at
the request OF the President. set
aside. for the duration, the Federal
handicaps with one piece OF paper
sim many state laws bottlenecked
the project. Today all states have
eliminated barriers OF various
kinds. In Michigan. a law prevent
ed the sale OF prison-made prod
ucts TO any other than state owned
agencies and institutions This
was rescinded by the state legisla-
ture for the duration.
Now, Major Burke was ready to
March forward. What happened in
Michigan tells the story OF what
happened nationally. Those broad
acres at Jackson were intensiyely
farmed TO yield 100000 gallons of
canned foods. The machines in the
largest of textile mills within pris-
on walls were set humming, to the
tune Of production valued at $780,
600.
At Marquette, clothing for the
British Navy has been made and
just recently a big order for cloth
ing for foreign relief has been re.
ceived which will completely utilize
their machinery and equipment.
At lonia, there has been the larg-
est manufacture of shirts for the
Navy OF any state prison (the exact
number is a secret. In another
three weeks, they begin making
shirts for the Seabees.
Multiply these efforts by the rec
Ords of state prisons in other states
and the boost to war production
made by conyicts, startled Wash
ington officials.
The not-so-surprised Major
Burke was gleeful. SO was "Gener-
al Maverick. So was Warden
Lewis Lawes, a consultant. long
famous as the Sing-Sing warden
for his humane and progressive ap-
proach TO prison reforms. These.
with others. wanted to say thank
YOU TO the men in prison. SO they
thought up the ~. s. national
seryice) award similar in signiti-
canoe and Importance TO the Army
Navy e award given to private
industries for extraordinary war
service.
Flying first at Jackson. the larg.
est OF state prisons. the red. white
and blue banner now floats over
ID / ~ lHNAlbs
The second prong OF Major
Burke's campaign is becoming one
OF those amazing victories on the
homefront. To buy 100000 bomb
er seemed almost impossible since
prisoners are paid an average OF 10
10 10 cents day. But il is already
oyersubscribed. In fact. there will
be enough for three bombers. MAY
he more. The total will hit the mil
lion dollar mark.
Michigsn's record In the buying
OF bonds was way out in front.
Jackson's quota was $4,000. The
men gave $130.47I55. Ionia's quota
was $4,000. They raised s11,746.
The quota at Marquette was $1,000
and the latest figure received there
was S12.31S75.
The special genius OF the Mich
igan major comes in the naming OF
these bombers. A ticklish task, Ma
turslly. a compliment to the patriot
ic prison donors was sought. but