Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-07
Monpower Issue
Becoming Acute
Fu O1ren L. Scott.

Demands OF the Army and Navy are
to cut very deeply into this countrys
supply Of men before the end of l943,
The real meaning OF those demands is
obscured temporarily, but only tempo
rarily, by the draft call upon 10 and 10
year old youths.
It Is to be necessary during this year
| to find approximately 1000 900 physically
fit men between the ages OF ID and 81.
| inclusive. The men in uniform who
now number about 650OO0o are to grow
in number to 1o420oOO. The reservoir
of 10 and 10 years Odds, not already in
service, is no more than 800 000
The only remaining large groups of
physically fit men are those Of married
men, with and without children. 1t is
from the ranks of these men that the
military needs largely will be met BY
the middle Of this year. dependency as
basis for deferment from military serv-
ice may be removed, by law or decree,
with occupation the primary remaining
basis for deferring a man from military
service.
A few figures show why this Is So
Official figures suggest that there are
approximately 22,25ooOo men in the 10
through 81 age groups. However OF
these men about one third will not meet
the physical standards Of the Army and
Navy That leaves 100000 men, in
round numbers. to fill the military de-
mand of 10 ,420 900.
This means that two out Of every three
men in the military age group probably
will be in service by the end OF 1913 On
the surface that appears to leave a 1919
per cent chance that a physically At man
will not be called this year. That sur
face appearance however, is deceiving
The reason why that is 50 is the one that
follows.
Physically ut men In the 10 through
81 age group are being deferred in rather
large numbers where they are classed as
necessary men" In an essential indus
try. Pressure from agriculture and from
industry is resulting in a steady enlarge
ment OF the number of industries
classed as essential and in the number
OF men classed as necessary" 1t now
Is estimated that about 100000 men
are covered In these categories.
The result Of this situation is that, II
the new policies stand, it probably will
be necessary before the end of 1943 to
draft very large percentage Of married
men with children who are not classified
as necessary men in essential industries
The choice is between policy that just
about removes dependency as a basis
for draft deferment or one that reduces
the number of men in industry and agri-
culture who can be deferred as nee
essary."
1t is a recognition of this hard choice
that is giving rise to some demands In
Congress and on the part OF Paul v.
McNutt, manpower commissioner, for a
reduction in the size Of military demands
very unlikely to be modified downward
to any substantial degree.
Instead, it is going to become neces-
sary for Mr. McNutt and for Congress to
face the facts OF the manpower situation
and to act accordingly. This, in turn,
the number OF hours in the average
work week and it will require that Con-
gress do something about the problem Of
forcing available workers into jobs that
bear direct relationship to the war
effort. The last refuge OF the business
as-usual philosophy is in the field OF
manpower.
The United States has a great abund-
ance Of manpower and OF womanpower.
The problem Is to focus that power
where 1t will do the most good The
Army and Navy have facilities, in the
Selective Service Act, through which
they can reach out and get the men they
want. They are to draw off about 4o00,-
900 OF the countrys best men during this
year.
War industry and agriculture, however,
lack facilities for reaching out and get
ting the men and women they need.
Men who are working in jobs which are
not regarded as essential dislike to be
forced to move from those jobs or from
their home towns. Women whose hus-
bands are making more money than ever
before are not particularly keen on leav-
ing their homes to take jobs.
At the same time Congress does not
like the looks Of the political problem
involved In providing compulsion to
force workers out OF some Jobs and into
others. Mr. McNutt does not enjoy the
prospect Of trying to convince Congress
that this sort OF compulsion Is necessary.
To try to avoid that effort, Mr.. McNutt,
through selective service, will try to in
duce men In non-essential industries
to leave those industries or face the
prospect of draft regardless Of depend
ents. Men who stay in jobs listed as
mon -deferrable" will be subject to draft
regardless Of whether married and with
children. Yet there may be no alternative
to a law providing labor draft before
the end Of l943.
The manpoWer problem in the United
States is complicated by the fact that
this country not only Is building the
largest air force In the world, the larg-
est Navy In the world and the third
largest Army in the world, but also is
operating a. war industry that is de-
signed to equip not only these American
military forces but the forces of Great
Britain, Russia and China as we'll 1t is
colossal task and one that cannot help
but strain the manpower resources of
the Nation before the task is accom-