Evening star., 1943-07-20
President Asks Safety
Consciousness as Aid
In Bringing Victory

President Roosevelt last night
urged that more attention be given
to safety in industry and homes sc
that I'VE may keep alive and fit for
active participation in the great
struggle for the safety and security
of our Nation"
In message read over a Ma
tional Broadcasting Co. network
during a special program in connec-
ton with the Smash the Seventh
Column" campaign of the Washing
ton Junior Board of Commerce, the
President reminded the Nation that
since Pearl Harbor, accidents in
our factories, on our streets and
highways, on our farms and in our
homes have killed and injured many
more Americans than we thus far
have lost in war operations"
Each and every one of U.S." Mr..
Roosevelt declared, can unite our
efforts in stamping out accidents by
diligently observing the ground
rules for safety. Management and
employees in our war plants can COL
'laborate in safety programs; traffic
officials can work out better means
and measures for reducing accident
exposure
Federal Officials Speak.
The message was read by Col.
Pelham D. Glassford, chairman of
the War Department Safety Coun-
Gil. Speakers on the program in
cluded Clifton Fadiman, on vaca-
ton from his job as master of cere-
monies on the Information Please"
hroadcasts, in his familiar role of
asking questions: Paul V. McNutt,
chairman of the War Manpower
Commission; Rubber Director Will
liam M. Jeffers, Assistant Secretary
Of Labor Daniel w. Tracy and Mai.
Gen. Henry S. Aurand, commanding
the ArmyS 9th Service Command.
The program was the highlight
of Government Day in the local
safety drive. Today has been desig-
mated as business and industry day,
and approximately $50 safety Off
cials and employees with the best
safety records in the city will par
tlcipate in a ceremony at the Pal
ace Theater, where a Pete Smith
picture is being shown. Art Brown
Of radio station VOL will act as
master of ceremonies, and William
J. Mileham, chief air raid warden,
will present the Junior Boards
award to the "V-Man of the Week.
Production Loss Cited.
Questioned by Mr.. Fadiman about
the effects OF accidents on man
power, Mr.. NfcNutt declared the
more than 400,O0OOO0 man days lost
last year could have supplied in
that time an army of 100000 men.
In other Words Mr.. McNutt
added, I'VE frittered away the arma-
ment and supplies sufficient for
force comparable with the one
which Just struck Sicily with such
tremendous force
Gen. Aurand gave statistics that
showed the Nation could have had
20 more battleships, 100 more de-
stroyers, 5000 more bombers and
10000 more tanks if the time lost
due to accidents in one year could
have been saved.
Mr.. Tracy, pointing out that
"carelessness and indifference are
not confined to the workers." said
that management which fails to
set up safety programs, fails to
instruct new workers in job hazards,
Is guilty of ineXcusable carelessness.
It's case where carelessness begets
carelessness."
Mr.. Jeffers said that of the So
COO killed in transportation last year
barely 10 per cent of them we're
killed in railroad accidents =.
Nearly half of the total killed acci-
dentally were killed in transit. The
loss Is not in human lives, but
smashing automobiles and wreck
ing trains means the loss of ire
placeable equipment"
The broadcast, which originated
at the Interior Department Audi
torium, lasted Is minutes, begin
ming at 730 pm. Before the broad
cast, Pete Smith safety film was
shown, as well as a Signal Corps
picture on the bombing of Kiska.
In honor of Mr.. McNuSt's birthday
anniversary, the Marine Corps Or
chestra played a few strains of
Happy Birthday to YOU when he
was introduced.