Evening star., 1943-03-06
Asks Special Board
To Study Monpower
Major Eliot Wants Men
Of High CoIiber Nomsd
To Represent Public


By Maj. George Fielding Eliot.
Walter Lippmann In q recent column
hit the nail on the head with regard to
the manpower situation. His point II
that the Army's claims on the national
manpower are still subject OF debate
and not of ready and unquestionable
acceptance because ''the War Depart
ment has been left to prove its own case
''' Though there is no reason to doubt"
he continues, that the Armys claims are
in fact sound, they will not seem sound
to every one SO long as the Army appears
to be the judge as well as the advocate
Of its own Claims
Mr.. Lippmann goes on to point out
that this is case which shows the ne
cessity for a properly constituted war
cabinet in which such decisions of higher
policy can be thoroughly threshed out,
so that the President would be able to
show the country shat in approving the
War Departments plans he is acting
upon judgment given to him by men
who have heard all the claimants and do
not represent, as advocates, any OF the
claimants"
With this conclusion most thoroughly
agree A war cabinet is an absolute
essential for the conduct of this war
and for ending the confusion and uncer-
tainty existing in the executive branch
OF the Government. A joint committee
on war cooperation of both houses Of
Congress, to act as clearing house for
information and to coordinate the study
of general policies is likewise a neces-
sity for ending the confusion and un-
certainties in the legislative branch Of
the Government, and for maintaining
adequate liaison between Congress and
the executive branch. Such commits
tee would be of immense help in straight
ening out the manpower situation, which
at present is being dealt with piecemeal
by dozen different committees without
any proper coordination.
Such streamlining of both the ex-
ecutive and the legislative branches is
the only permanent solution of our pres
ent troubles. But it Is obvious that 1t Is
going to take time to bring these reforms
about, and in the meantime there is one
would do a great deal to relieve the
doubts and shorten the debate on man.
power, the most vitality important ma
tional problem now pressing for solution.
It Is indeed step which war cabinet,
should one be constituted, would prob
ably recommend for It's own guidance
and information.
That step is the appointment by the
President of an impartial committee,
composed Of men OF such character and
public eminence that their Judgment
would command the unquestioning re-
spect Of all Of us, to make a study Of
the manpower situation, hearing all the
claimants and weighing all the evidence
and then to make report to the Presi-
dent with definite recommendations ss
to manpower policies. There is recent
precedent for such move In the Presi-
dents committee on rubber, composed Of
Bernard M. Baruch, President Conant Of
Harvard University and Presid mt Comp
ton Of the Massachusetts, Institute OF
Technology. The manpower problem u
Of far greater Importance, involving a.
1t does the immediate future of millions
Of Americans and very likely the stand
ard Of living Of yet other tens Of mil
Ions
For the judges of this great cause.
character, the ability to weigh evidence
and the well-earned possession Of the
public confidence are of greater I'M
portance than special knowledge. Such
men as Chief Justice Charles Evans
Hughes, former Senator George w.
Norris Of Nebraska and Bernard Baruch
would form committee whose Judgment
and recommendations the country would
accept without demur.
We are being told that our manpower
situation compels us to Z choice Of one
Of our possible courses:
Cd A reduction in the proposed size
Of the armed forces.
ca A reduction in lease-lend aid to
our allies.
90 A reduction Of our civilian econ
omy to bare subsistence basis, or.
% A national service act such Is the
pending Austin -Wadsworth bill for COM
pulsory registration and service Of all
These are hard choices, all Of them. It
may be that our manpower situation is
such that one Of them must be adopted.
Should choice be forced upon us now
the weight Of opinion throughout the
Nation would probably be for the ma
tional service act. But it does seem es-
sential that before 30 drastic a step Is
taken, or before the situation is further
confused by attempts at compromise and
adjustment based on insufficient infor.
nation, there should be an impartial
survey of our manpower position by such
committee as above suggested.
| This Is a cause which involves the
welfare and future of us all. Let it
be judged, without fear, favor or afYec-
ton, by Judges whom the people trust
so that all men may thereafter hold their
| peace.
(Copyright, 1943. New York Tribune Incl
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