Evening star., 1943-03-10
Downey Says Goals
For Supplies and Big
Army Cant Be Met
Service Monpower Needs
Will Be Nearer IS, ,0OO, 900
Than 10000, 900, He Says
By J. A. OIEARY,

After a three week tour of the
West Coast studying manpoWer
needs, Senator Downey, Demo-
crat, of California told the Sen
ate Military Affairs Committee
today the country cannot supply
the proposed military personnel
and continue to provide planes,
ships and food.
He declared in testifying on the
Austin -WadsWorth national service
bill that the Nations armed services
will comprise 100000 men instead
OF 100000 by the end of this year.
Senator Downey, asserting that un-
less some such legislation is enacted
American armament goals could not
be attained, told the committee:
while there is talk of 10000 900
men in our armed forces by next
January, the figure will be closer to
100000" He said he had been
authorized to make that statement,
but he did not say by whom.
He estimated that the figure will
be nearer 100000, because it is
necessary to count the merchant
marine, various other auxiliares and
civilians working in the Army. He
said that by next January there will
be 100000 civilians in the Army
whose duties will be almost inter-
changeable with soldiers.
100000 Shortage in California.
Critical industries in California
| alone have manpoWer shortage of
more than 100000, Senator Downey
said.
He did not go on record for or
against the bill, but gave numerous
! hgures to show the burden he said
faces this country and particularly
the West Coast in attempting to
out produce the world in l943"
High light of his testimony was a
prediction that the United States is
trying in l943 to do these things
Build 125,000 planes as against
100000 in the rest of the world
Turn out 100000 tons of naval
and cargo ships, or four times the
output OF the rest of the world.
AT the same time we seek to have
the largest armed force in the
world" he declared
Senator DoWney emphasized that
he had no desire to disparage the
| other United Nations in comparing
production figures. He said he real
| lied Russia is losing its manpoWer
in the splendid fight it is making on
| the battle front, and that England
is under bombing. His only purpose
he said, Is to show Americans what
is being expected of them this year.
Describing food and TRANSPORTATION
as the most critical problems on the
West Coast now, Senator DoWney
warned that "if you can't feed and
transport workers you can't produce
planes and ships"
Says Pie Is Shrinking.
Secretary Wickard and others
have been happily cutting up the
pie of estimated food production for
this year, pie of say 10 inches in
diameter, when it has already
shrunk to 8 inches and may go to 6
inches Senator DoWney declared.
Conditions on the West Coast are
distressing" he said, adding that
the morale of California workers is
being hurt because they know a
/ wealthy man can go to a hotel and
get all he wants TO eat, including
steaks. while it is difficult to get
them in small stores.
Senator Holman, Republican. Of
! Oregon interrupted to declare the
| Government itself is doing some
| boarding. by storing foodstuffs in
| warehouses;
Senator Downey deplored what he
called "sermonizing" and lecturing
labor about absenteeism.
| The workers are making a Won
| derful record the Senator said. Il
doubt If any one in Washington, in
| Guiding Senators and newspaper
men, is doing as good q job
! Senator Downey said he had not
! formed an opinion on the Austin
/ WadsWorth bill, bat wanted to give
! the committee picture Of manpOw-
er needs IN essential factories in the
Western States.
Says Figures Were Inaccurate.
| Senator DoWney charged that
I Government agencies here gave him
inaccurate low estimates before he
left Washington on the manpoWer
needs of the West, and said he un-
derstood those figures still were be-
ing used by high officials in attempt
ing to meet the problem.
For the II Western States, he said
(See AUSTIN BILL. Page A-6.)