Evening star., 1943-03-03
Krug, 7 Others
Named as WPb
Vice Chaiirmen
Davis Heads Industry
Operations, Cordiner
Without Portfolio
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON

LII d luIlneT REORGANIZATION OF
the War Production Board Chair
man Donald M. Nelson has ap-
pointed three new vice chairmen.
including Power Director J. A.
Krug as successor to Ferdinand
Eberstadt in the key position Of
program vice chairman, The Star
learned today.
The move, described as Stream
lining" WPB under one operational
head, Executive Vice Chairman
Charles E. Wilson, placed Donald
D. Davis, former president of Gen.
eral Mills, in the new job of vice
chairman for industry operations
Ralph Cordiner, formerly head Of
Schick, Inc, was named a vice
chairman without portfolio" in
which position he will serve as
right-hand man to Mr. Wilson in
handling production scheduling
operations.
Curtis Calder. director general for
operations in WPB. was made exec
utive assistant to Mr.. Wilson. The
position he held formerly was abol-
ished in the reorganization along
with number Of other intermediate
posts in the effort to make WPB q
more closely knit and harmonious
organization. Most of the duties
performed by the director general
will be taken over by Mr.. Davis.
Will Report to Wilson.
All Of the new vice chairmen will
report directly to Mr.. Wilson. in
Guiding Mr. Krug. When Mr.. Eber-
stadt was program chief he was re-
sponsible only to Chairman Nelson.
Mr.. Wilson, one-time General Elec-
trio president. emerges from the re-
alignment more the WPB strong
man" than ever. This action was
taken to consolidate the organiza-
ton, to prevent WPB from becom-
ing "the house divided" which it
was said to be under the old Eber.
Subdivision autonomous setup.
Mr.. Nelson's actions were con-
sidered significant in other respects.
1t was held clear move not only to
bring peace within WPB, but to
make for more harmonious relations
with the Army and Navy. Three OF
the men to be given bigger assign
ments. Mr.. Davis, Mr.. Calder and
Mr.. Krug, worked closely with Mr..
Eberstadt when he was untangling
the Nations knotty ar-materials
problem. When Mr.. Eberstadt was
forced to resign two weeks ago, Army
and Navy officials protested vigor-
ously. 1t was said one thing they
feared was that the Eberstadt con-
trolled-materials plan would be lost
In the shuttle Of reorganizat ton.
Now the services are assured that
organization will be administered by
men who know it.
Mr.. Krug, in his position as pro-
gram vice chairman, will head
WPB's powerful Requirements Com
mittee, just as Mr.. Eberstadt did.
In this position he will have charge
of cutting the materials pie" the
job of formulating a real war pro-
gram to occupy all of the Nations
production facilities and of dividing
materials among the Government
claimant agencies so that the
weapons deemed necessary to win
ming the war can be made. There
are IA claimant agencies for mate
rials, including Army. Navy, aircraft
scheduling unit, maritime, lease
lend, rubber director, etc.
In addition to his new RESPONSE
bilities, Mr.. Krug will continue as
power director, in which position he
administers the country's wartime
electric power and gas programs.
1t was understood he made reten.
ton Of the power post as a condition
to acceptance Of the new Job. At
33, he is one of the administration
youngest top executives. Prior to
appointment month ago as power
director. Mr.. Krug was WPA di-
rector general for distribution, and
head of the distribution bureau.
This latter job will be combined
with his duties in the new position.
Before coming to WPB he was with
the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Mr.. Davis, along with Mr.. Calder,
was brought into WPB by Mr.. Eber-
stadt only short time ago. Both
were reported on the point Of re-
signing following the custer of Mr..
Eberstadt, and were reportedly per-
suaded to remain on the job by their
former chief. Mr. Davis has been
director of the program bureau. In
his new position he will administer
WPB's many industry bureaus and
divisions. 1t will be his Job to tie
in Mr.. Wilson's new "bottleneck"
breaking, production scheduling op-
erations with administration of the
controlled materials plan.
Wider Authority for Cordiner.
Mr.. Cordiner has served for about
two months as assistant to Mr.. Will
son, who, before his elevation follow.
ing resignation of Mr.. Eberstadt.
was the production vice chairman.
In the higher job Mr.. Cordiner will
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