The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-11-05
FACING THE FUTURE
BY J. E. Jones

BY j. e. Jones
washington, ID. c., November l.
In replying to questions about post
war plans of General Motors, G. e.
Wilson, president of that number one
organization, told press conference
recently that any kind of concrete
planning was difficult because no one
could say when or how the war
would end. But he did have definite
ideas about the short time it would
take for motor plants to change
from war production assignment pro-
vided the government would lay
down the rules under which indus
try can clear its plants of material
belonging to the government. He
said that 1912 cars would be inavol-
ume production within six months
after termination of hostilities If
the automotive plants could be emp
tied promptly of government ma
chinery and inventory.
Mr.. Wilson expressed the belief
that his company would increase the
output of cars from rs to SO percent
in the first full production year
over any previous automobile pro-
duction year in history. He added
that much would depend upon the
amount of general confidence that
will exist in the country. Neverthe-
less, he was quite optimistic regard
ing the ability of the United States
to effect peace conversion and pro-
duction, and give employment to re-
turning soldiers and all classes of
workmen. He believes that we can
have a higher standard of living
because between US all we will be
smart enough to find some other cat
alyst than war to provide normal,
full employment for ALL"
A Lot OF Plain Talk
There has been less sharp criti-.
cism and bitterness in Washington
the past so days than at any other
time since Pearl Harbor President
Roosevelt continues to demand his
own way as Chief of the Army and
Navy, and everyone seems to be
perfectly agreeable. But when the
House passed a revised fathers draft
bill requiring Selective Service: to
drain the pool of non-fathers before
fed the McNutt work or fight or
der-it served due notice that it
was asserting its legislative rights.
The report of the globe-circling
Senators has met with practically
universal approval by members of
both Houses Of Congress. The at
tempts of some of the politicians to
belittle the statements of the Sena-
tors who criticized England and Rus
STA in this war have been success
fully met by the Senators. Congress
really seems to have regained its in
dependence.
No harm can come to our Nation
from intelligent discussion of all
our war and postwar problems.
. . &c
More Strikes
There has been no program for
settlement of the differences that
have been disturbing working rela-
tions in the coal mines and on the
railroads. In each instance nego-
tiations seem to have progressed to-
ward settlements without strikes,
particularly in the negotiations be-
tween the representatives of the rail-
roads and the workers. If little
more pressure, and an absence of
prejudice, had been applied to the
conflict in the mines the situation
would have been improved because
there would not have been SO much
bad feeling stirred up. In many man
ufacturing plants, even those engag-
ed in war production, there have
been other labor troubles which it
seems might have been settled if
the War Labor Board had shown O.
disposition to be more reasonable
in adjusting troubles Of the belligr
erents. However, WLB does not
seem to be free to act as the Presi-
dent and some of the Administrator
insist on interrupting negotiations,
The tendency Ia to widen the gulf
between the executives and the
workers.
o. o. q
A Possibility
It ia possible to believe that there
will be organized efforts to social
ixe" industries ON the ground that
they now belong in large part to the
government and therefore should be
operated under government owner
ship" after the war. That possibility
must be fought to standstill. The
American people believe in private
enterprise. The military and civilian
folks will want their old jobs back. = |
The soldiers must not experience
such bitter disappointments as they
faced after World War /. IN short, |
the American system OF private en-
terpriae O. essential to siife. liberty, |