Evening star., 1943-04-14
Women Needed
In War Industry,
League Hears
VINO Official Tells
Group of Nations
ManbOwer Picture

Women, the physically handi-
capped, and men who for age or
other reasons have retired from busi-
ness, are expected to supply the
$500 900 workers needed this year
to fill the needs of the Nations war
industrial program, according to DR..
Fowler Harper, deputy chairman OF
the War Manpower Commission.
Guest speaker at luncheon meet
ing sponsored by the Voteless Dis
trict League of Women Voters yes
terday at the YWCA, DR.. Harper
told how the War Manpower Com
mission was looking toward women
to supply important labor needs in
the rapidly increasing manpower
shortage.
1--WE do not look upon women as
Just women" he commented, but as
a potential source Of power and as
part of the manpower pool Of the
Nation"
Population Localized.
The speaker explained that the
labor shortage was not due to lack
of population but to its uneven dis
tribution.
IF one adds up the total of man.
power available, and matches it with
the present demands, the problem
seems simple" he said. But it is
very misleading picture" he con-
tinued. Men are not like checkers
on a board to be moved about at
will. We can't deal with human
beings like the men on a checker
board They have to eat and have
a place to sleep. They have chill
dren and their children must go to
school. People get hurt and sick
and we must have hospitals. Con-
sequently, we can't move large num-
bers of people into communities,
where they don't have sufficient ac-
commodations to take care of them,'
he added
DR.. Harper said that In some in
dustrial centers facilities were SO
overtaxed they were bursting at
the seams"
He told how IS industrial centers
were faced with critical labor
shortage, while in other large CEN
ters, such as New York, there was
unemployment.
Women Solve Problem.
The answer to the problem of
supplying labor in industries faced
with a shortage where living accom-
modations are inadequate must be
In recruiting women, the speaker de-
clared.
Take Detroit, for instance" he
said. They have to have 100000
workers, but haven't sufficient ac-
commodations There are plenty
of women unemployed in Detroit
who already have their homes or
places to live. These women will
have to supply the need of labor
THE labor shortage must be filled
from out the local communities.
That's why we will have to have
women he added.
Many persons physically handi-
capped, formally considered un-
qualified for industrial labor, will
be called upon to fill certain posi-
tions during the coming year, DR..
Harper asserted.
Many blind persons are able to
do fine work in the right job" he
continued. Others who have lost
a leg or an arm. considered formerly
unsuitable for work, will be able to
give valuable service. Then there
are many others who have retired
from industry or who are about to
retire, who will be brought back or
urged to stay" he added.
Transfers Will Help.
Transfer of persons from nom
essential industries to war work
will also supply needed workers, the
speaker continued. He explained
why freezing" workers in certain
jobs are inclined to lob shop he
said, moving from place to place
where wages prove higher. This
practice has proved so detrimental
that it necessitated the employment
stabilization program which pre-
vents workers from shifting from
place to place without certificate
of availability from the Manpower
Commission.
In concluding, DR.. Harper said
that, so far, the war production pro-