Evening star., 1943-11-20
{. {. Wilson 10 Remain
In WPB Post for
Indefinite Period /

Charles E. Wilson, the industrialist
who is given a large share Of credit
for success Of the Nations aircraft
production program, will remain as
executive vice chairman of the War
Production Board for an indefinite
period-until President Roosevelt
releases him.
That development was accom-
panied yesterday by a denial from
Bernard M. Baruch that he had said
the task of re-converting industry to
peace should be managed by WPB
under Chairman Donald M. Nell
son." Mr.. Baruch was quoted as
having made a similar statement
before a meeting Of steel industry
leaders here.
I am directly or indirectly quoted
IN the press as saying that the War
Production Board, under the chair
manship of Donald M. Nelson. should
be IN charge Of postwar planning and
conversion. I made no such state.
ment," said Mr.. Baruch from his
home in New York. He recently was
named head of the war and postwar
adjustment unit in the Once of War
Mobilization.
Studying adjustments.
Mr.. Baruch's statement added:
L object to being put in the role
OF advocating the selection of a
particular individual. especially
when have done nothing of the
kind.
Il spoke off the record on Thurs
day to the steel section of the WLB
Nothing I said could be construed
as meaning what the press repre-
sentation Of Mr.. Nelson and the
WPB gave out.
AT the request of James F.
Byrnes, head of the Presidents Of
flce of War Mobilization. am max
ing studies OF the methods of adjust
ing our economy from war to peace,
from mobilization to demobilizat ton.
Who is to put the plans into exc
cution will be decided by the Presi-
dent and Justice Byrnes. I have
made no suggestion. I hope the
public knows that nobody can COM
NIT me to an attitude that myself
have not assumed"
Steel Men Were Source.
C1he Stars account of Mr.. Ba-
ruchs talk before the steel in
dustry leaders did not quote Mr..
Baruch as saying the reconver-
sion job should be handled by
WPB, under the craftsmanship"
OF Mr.. Nelson. The account
merely quoted Mr.. Baruch as
saying the task should be man
aged by WPB." Furthermore,
The Stars report did not come
from Mr. Nelson or any one in
WPB, but from steel men who
attended the meeting.)
Mr.. Wilson, it was learned, agreed
to remain on the job in WPB follow
ing a conference yesterday with Mr..
Byrnes. On his return from Mr..
Byrnes' Office, Mr.. Wilson held a
half-hour conference with Mr.. Mel
son, who last week agreed to yield
to Mr.. Wilson'S request that he be
relieved of his post.
Mr.. Wilson would not comment
on his talks with Mr.. Byrnes or
Mr.. Nelson, but it was learned that
Mr.. Byrnes had asked him to re-
main and that Mr. Wilson had
agreed, in effect, to let Mr.. Roose-
velt put the date on the resignation
which Mr.. Wilson has submitted.
Would Like to Leave.
Associates indicated, however, that
Mr.. Wilson still is eager to return
to his company, General Electric,
and would leave on the nearest
date to which the President would
finally agree.
Heavy pressure from industry was
credited with causing the reversal
of Mr.. Wilson'S plan to leave. He is
rated f1rst-class production man,
and his relations with aircraft and
other munitions producers have
been uniformly good.
Mr.. Wilson came to Washington
after Mr.. Nelson, failing in his own
efforts to lure Mr.. Wilson to the
Capital, enlisted Mr.. Roosevelt's aid.