Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1943-02-26
WNU Service, 622 Union Trust Bldg.
Washington, D. C.

NelpS dHdtySt
! WNU Service, 622 Union Trust Bldg.
Washington, D. C.
Two days before the Office of War
Information announced the now IA
nous "work-or-fight order" I wrote:
Strange sounds are coming through
the keyhole of the wide door of the
office of the federal security admin
istrator, Paul McNutt. They have
nothing to do with federal security
but they have lot to do with that
other function of the administrator,
on whose broad shoulders rests
heavily the craftsmanship of the
manpower commission.
The noises I refer to are the pre-
liminaries to bigger noise.
1.-The manpower commission is
just about to blow up" said a GER
tain official to me, one who has fol-
lowed its operations very closely but
because of some strange Fremont
ton refused to get entangled with
them. He is entirely sympathetic
with the effort but like others
whose duties are affected by the
ramifications of the manpower stu
alton, he is chagrined and confused
by what is happening and still more
by what hasn't happened.
When the manpower situation was
first turned over to McNutt, who is
known as good administrator, there
was long and patient wait for
something to happen. Nothing did.
mo WONDER" said neutral observ-
ers, che has no authority"
Then he got the authority by presi-
dental ukase. Earlier, it is true,
he had made it plain that he felt that
there should be passed by congress,
a national service act which would
lay upon all civilians the similar
obligations placed upon the young
men of military age. So many peo-
pie, who thoroughly disliked the idea
Of draft of labor of any kind nev-
ertheless declared such a step was
inevitable that was positive that it
was coming and so reported. Now
it seems far away.
The substitute was supposed to be
the setup under McNutt which would
work through the United States EN-
ployment service. Selective service
was even made a part of McNutt's
organization and General Hershey,
who had seen that institution through
from its inception, with better grace
than many would have shown, &C.
cepted the subordination of his func-
tons like the good soldier that he is.
More Authority
But many week has passed since
that step was taken, various direc-
tives have been sent to the draft
boards, charging the scope of defer
ment for essential farm and indus
trial occupations. But still the sys-
tenn doesn't click. 1t is now report
ed that McNutt feels shat he needs
still more presidential authority con-
ferred upon him.
It was thought when the last re-
organization of the manpower agen-
cy was made that the United States
Employment service would work
side by side with the Selective serv-
ice, the one recruiting labor, the
other recruiting fighters and the
question would be settled between
them under a single head. Then,
according to one of the members of
the commission, without informing
anyone in advance, he did what
many feel was a direct violation of
the key policy-turned over the ques-
ton of deferment to the department
of agriculture.
This is the step which those who
opposed it feel is going to force a
change in the setup once more. Ad-
ministration of manpower recruit
ment was supposed to be centered
in the commission.
Naturally members of the depart
ment of labor who felt that recruit
ment of workers should be handled
by that agency, consider that no sue
cessful solution will be reached until
the entire manpower question is put
under a single person of cabinet
rank and administered by that head
right down to the local setups. They
point to what has been done in Eng
land where the system seems to be
working successfully under the Brit
ish labor minister. A system has
been worked out there where the To-
cal administration has wide author
ity under firm general policy.
The reason why a similar plan
was not followed here is possibly
because of the feeling against Sec
rotary of Labor Perkins. Too many
people would object if the work were
turned over to her and it was be-
lieved that the President was about
to cut the Gordian knot when the