Evening star., 1943-09-05
LETTERS Resigns
As Rubber Gar;
Work Praised
Job Done, He soys;;
Receives Tribute
From President
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

VI
Jeffers, who successfully guided
the gigantic rubber program
through many official storms, re-
signed quietly last night, telling
President Roosevelt that s'the big
job was done"
Assuring the President that the
rubber problem '1s well In hand,~
the stocky Irishman said, the
greatest contribution can make
in the present emergency is to re-
turn to an on-the-job handling Of
the operations of the Union Pacific
Railroad" Mr.. Jeffers is president
Of the railroad.
The President accepted the resig-
nation and wrote Mr.. Jeffers that
you have performed a real pub
lie service and you have my sincere
appreciation +. much as a dislike
to have you leave the public serv-
ice at this time, I can not ask you
to make a further sacrifice"
Dewey Named Acting Director.
Col. Bradley Dewey, the deputy
director, was named acting direc-
tor OF the rubber office. It was
learned that Mr.. Jeffers suggested
Col. Dewey as his successor. and
1t was believed he will get the lob
and the full title as we'll. Head OF
the Boston chemical firm Of Dewey
8z Almy, Mr.. Dewey came to WASH
ington a year ago and has had all
most complete charge Of the huge
synthetic program.
The outspoken Mr.. Jeffers denied
reports that he was resigning as
a result of another disagreement
with Chairman Donald M. Nelson,
of the War Production Board. He
said he was mad with no one"
and was having mo trouble" He
answered an emphatic mo" to a
question as to whether he would
accept another Government posi-
ton.
I've got hell of big railroad
that needs attention" Mr.. Jeffers
told reporters. TT is just case of
feeling that I can contribute more
in this emergency out there where
they are having traffic problems
than I can sitting here in WASH
ingtor. There Is only one Job that
belongs to me and I want to get
back to 1t.
Safely Over Hump"
Mr.. Jeffers believes the time has
arrived for him to leave Washing-
ton because the rubber program
which he "bulled through from
chaos is now safely over the hump"
He will remain in the Capital
through this week, clearing his desk
Of unfinished business, then will de-
part for Omaha, Nebr., headquarters
OF the Union Pacific Railroad.
BY the end of this month, the
director said, two-thirds of the
plant capacity of the 300, 0,000-ton
total synthetic program will be run
ming and in the hands of operators.
officials expect the total output of
synthetic rubber this month to ex-
ceed 10000 tons, nearly so per
cent of the expected production
when all plants are operating at
capacity.
OF the September total, about
$4,000 tons will be synthetic, the
basic type to be used in passenger
car tires and heavy duty military
tires. Mr.. Jeffers has said he ex-
poets to have 100000 synthetic
passenger car tires released for
civilian automobiles by the end Of
this year, and 100000 tires in
1914. After recent labor manage
ment conferences, he said he was
shooting for an immediate upturn
in tire production which would
carry this years output even be-
yond the 100000 mark.
ColorfuI Figure.
Mr.. Jeffers undoubtedly is one Of
the most colorful figures brought
to Washington during the war. An
observer summed up his Govern-
ment career well when he remarked
that submission of the resignation
to Mr.. Roosevelt was the only
quiet" thing Mr.. Jeffers had done
since coming to the Capital last
September.
The Baruch rubber report of last
September blasted mishandling of
the synthetic rubber program and
suggested that the problem be taken
away from numerous agencies con-
cerned and full responsibility CEN
tered in one Office whose head be
(See JEFFERS, Page A-5.)