The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-02-23

which flows past his home
For more than two years, other
government officials have been
stabbing him In the back and Don
has been pulling out the knife,
smiling sweetly and saying: "Her'
Il the knife back again; I'm sure
you won't do that anymore"
That he has been kicked and
cussed and Jumped on was partly
his own fault, because he is so
easy going that he procrastinates
and tries to avoid stepping on peo-
pies toes. But with all this faults,
Don Nelson has pushed war pro-
duction to record proportions, and
has shown fairly clear insight into
the economic problems Of the
country.
Today, having worked for. his
country night and day for more
than two years, Nelson doesn't
care very much whether he con-
tinues on or not. His health Is
not as good as It was two years
ago, and he would almost like to
quit.
FIRING EBERsTADT
All Of this was the background
to Nelson's final decision last week
to fire Ferdinand "Eber". Eber-
stadt, who ever since last summer
had been vice chairman Of WPB
and one Of the main cogs IN the
production machine.
Shortly after Eberstadt came to
WPB he went to Charles q. VIII
son, ex-president Of General Elec.
trio and WPB production wizard,
and is reported to have said:
"Nelson can't last. You and ]
can rum this show"
Naturally, Don Nelson knew all
about this. He also knew that
Eberstadt was working hand In
glove with the Army Navy clique,
some Of whom hate Nelson and
have been trying to undermine
him.
However, Nelson would pull
the knife out and hand II back
again, until finally, last week
he made up his mind to fire
Eberstadt. When word Of this
rot around there ensued the
liveIiest backstage tumult WASH
ingtOn has seen In months.
The Army-Navy cuique imme-
diately swung into action. They
were represented by righteous IN
der Secretary Of War Patterson,
who believes the military can do
no wrong, and by Under secre-
tary Of the Navy Jimmy Forces
tai, ex-presideht of the Wall
Street banking firm Of Dillon
Read, Of which Eberstadt was q
member. Eberstadt and Forrestal
work as one. When @ u. s. SEN
ator goes to the Under Secretary
Of the Navy's office to talk about
war production problems he fire.
quently finds Eberstadt sitting at
Forrestal's right hand.
They, in turn, are close to
gaunt, gray Bernie Baruch, the
banker who has deserted Wall
Street to put patriotic hand In
war production. Baruch, in fact
brought Eherstadt to Washington,
first persuaded Nelson to appoin
him to the WPB.
SOUTH CAROLINA FRIENDS
So his group sailed into action.
They used as their spearhead Eco
nomic Stabilizer Jimmy Byrnes Of
South Carolina (Baruch comes
from South Carolina). AS re-
suit, Byrnes last week submitted a
memorandum to the White House
not favorable to Donald Nelson.
Instead, the military clique want
ed to set up super-cabinet head
ed by Baruch, with Harry Hop
kins. Admiral Leahy and Byrnes
as members.
Hearing Of the move TO ECp
off Nelson's head, the n0n-mis
litaFy group Immediately fired
back. Senator Harry Truman
Of Missouri, whose War Enyes-
tigation Committee has been .
sane influence, called On Jimmy
Byrnes 10 give him the other
side Of the picture. Den Nelson
also called on ByFmes. explain.
ing his reasons fer wanting
EbeFslaat cut.
Hearing Of this move, the mi-
iitary brought up their biggest
gun. Secretary o. War etlmson
wisely has kept out Of the melee.
But Secretary Of the Navy Knox
went 10 bat Instead. launching at
the White House, Knox put II nls
plea for exsplllon Read banker
Eberstadt. at the Instance q the
Under Secretary q TIE NAVY. enc
Dillon Read banker KuEEeetol.
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