The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-02-18
WNU Service, 622 Union Trust Bldg.
Washington, d. G..

Washington, d. c.
Two days before the Office of War
Information announced the now IA
nous iwork-or-fght order | 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 a bigger noise.
1.-THE manpower commission is
lust 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 premoni-
ton refused to get entangled with
them. He is entirely sympathetic
with the effort but like others
whose duties are affected by the
ramifcations of the manpoWer sltu-
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 a good administrator, there
was a long and patient wait for
something to happen. Nothing did.
mo wonder said neutral observ-
ers. The has no authority.
Then he got the authority by presi-
Dental ukase. Earlier, It is true,
he had made If plain that he felt that
there should be passed by congress,
a national service act which would
Law upon all civilians the similar
obligations placed upon the young
men of military age. So many peo-
pie. who thoroughly disllked the idea
of a draft of labor OF any kind new
ertheless declared such step was
inevitable that | was positive that 1t
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-.
pioyment service. Selective service
was even made a part of McNutt'
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 dlrec
tiyes have been sent to the draf
boards, enlarging the scope OF deter
ment for essential farm and indus
trial occupations. But still the sys
tenn doesn't click. 1t is now report
ed that McNutt feels that he need
still more presidential authority con
, ferred upon him.
Ii was thought when the last re
organization of the manpower ager
J cy was made that the United State
, Employment service would wor
side by side with the Selective sery
: ice, the one recruiting labor, tn
! other recruiting fighters and tn
! question would be settled betWee
: them under single head. Their
S according to one of the members
S the commission, without informin
s anyone in advance, he did Whf
h MANY feel was a direct violation
:. the key policy-turned over the que
n ton of deferment to the departmei
d OF agriculture.
n This is the step which those WI
p opposed it feel is going TO force
S change in the setup once more. a,
ministration of manpower recrul
ment was supposed to be centert
II in the commission.
e Naturally members Of the depar
v ment of labor who felt that recru
.e ment of workers should be handle
e by that agency, consider that no su
\. cessful solution will be reached I'm
Id the entire manpower question IS p
= under a single person Of CABIN
Y rank and administered by that hei
q right down to the local setups. TIL
t. noint to what has been done in En-
a. land where the system seems to
it working successfully under the Br
Il ish labor minister. A system h
ts been worked out there where the
|" cal administration has wide autht
" ity under a firm general policy
ut The reason why similar pl
lis was not followed here is possit
ay because of the feeling against 81
err rotary OF Labor Perkins. Too ma
he people would object if the work We
wv turned over to her and it was
lie lieved that the President was abe
to cut the Gordian knot when