The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-03-06

Civilians Not
United, Army,
Navy Get Things

Navy Get Things
The military command Army
and Navy gets what II wants in
disregard OF civiliandom's re,
quirements because it is a unit
tor twins II you want to consider
the Army's and Nays establish
ments separately, whereas civil
ian voices are in the nature of a
chorus-and a darned discordant
one.
The executive administration
itself isn't a unit II appears to
be run by single president, but
he has to exercise his authority
through a multiplicity OF separ.
ate departments and bureaus,
which overlap and disagree
among themselves, and it is hope
less for a lone individual in the
White House 10 try to keep track
Of all their squabblings and con
flicts.
The Army and the Navy groups
are cohesive and they are a pref
ty effective partnership.
Furthermore. as experts, they
must be listened TO.
Their attitude is. Let us have
so-and-so-or else "Or else"
means that national ruin will
follow, and the rest of us will be
responsible for it. after they
warned Us, as formally on record.
Naturally we are scared and COM
ply with their demands. Further
more, they have professional
bullying tone in conversation,
which intimidates us.
Now, nobody questions the
merits OF their technique on the
battlefield. at sea, in the heav-
ems or under water
Yet the civilian question does
arise:
How are we to provide the
raw material for these fighters
with which they are to do their
scrapping?"
To that query the warriors an
swer:
You fellows job is to deliver
the goods. To US, the method is
immaterial. The essential point
Is that we require the stuff in
jig-time and with no absentees
from the firing line"
Well, clearly the country's able
bodied manpower and womanpow-
err and even children is INSULT
cient to go around for productive
requirements without impinging
upon destructive requirements.
All the same the destructive ones
cannot be adequately met except
somewhat at the expense OF the
productive ones. Which one is
TO be expected to economize?
Economy be ding-busted! We
want the stuff" demand the mil
itarists.
What are the civilian set-ups
required to deal with the situa-
ton?
Farm labor is a necessity. How
much of 1t shall be left at homo,
to feed our soldiery? The War
Manpower Commission and Selec-
tive Service aren't considering
that issue; that is for the Agri-
culture Department to worry
about.
Farmers are desperate for ma
chinery and fertilizer. That is
a problem for the War Production
Board. 1t conflicts with the 9TH
er two-and others.
Troops have TO have some stay
at-homes to feed them. The stay
at-homes cannot do It II their
own prices are too high to keep
them eating. That is a puzzle for
Economic Director James Byrnes
and the Office OF Production Man
agement.
The list runs into the dozens
and scores. They not only do not
cooperate-they fight internally.
All these agencies criss-cross
and oppose one another. II one OF
ultS Ol eOcb
some other one discounts 1t.
But the war organization knows
what it is up to, so far as WAR
is concerned.
What is behind the scramb-
led civilian scenes is what 1t
seems oblivious of.
A real war cabinet, co-ordinat-
ing matters, is being urged now.
II will call for a compacting OF
federal departments, as we'll as
bureaus, IL the scheme is adopted.
And 1t will verge on the dictator
ial
For instance-the suggestion
is made that the War and Navy
departments should be merged.
Congress, though, shows no
such unification sentiment.
1t wants to be the main thing,
dap,anraf4. hnhy