Evening star., 1944-08-26
Rubber Chief Raps
Nelson for Typical
Washington Sniping'
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
China-bound Donald M. Mel
son was the target of a biting
new blast today as evidence
multiplied that when he returns
he may not remain long in his
Craftsmanship Of the War Pro-
duction Board.
The new attack, close on the
heels of Charles e. Wilson's sharp
criticisms when he resigned as
executive vice chairman, was made
by Rubber Director Bradley Dewey.
who declared that remarks Mr..
Nelson made about the rubber pro-
gram constituted typical Washing
ton sniping."
Mr.. Dewey was alluding to the
WPB chiefs testimony before the
Senate War Investigating Commit
tee, in which Mr.. Nelson, comment
ing on Mr.. Dewey's decision to re-
tire September l because the rub
ber program was completed, re-
marked that the tire program twas
buU kCUtlllk UllC
tires" Mr.. Dewey said he never
stated the producing job was
done, merely that synthetic rub
ber plants were producing.
Krug Plans New Deal.
The new storm broke as j. A.
Krug, assigned by the President to
be acting WPB chairman while Mr..
Nelson is in China, gave pointed in
dications that his authority is much
broader than originally believed.
Mr.. Krug told reporters his au-
thority included hiring and firing,
that he was starting new deal
from here on out" that he would
kill any sniping"
The 36-year-old acting chairman,
a WPB power expert and one time
manager of power for the Tennessee
Valley Authority, will be called be-
fore the Senate's war probing group
in closed session Monday to clear
up three points: The extent to
which he is in sympathy with Mr..
Nelson's fight to get civilian pro-
duction going; how he intends to
proceed with putting Mr.. Nelson's
policies into effect, and how far he
intends to battle opposition to his
course.
Coupled with President Roose-
velt'S statement at news confer
ence yesterday that he did not know
whether Mr.. Nelson would return
to the same job, Mr.. Krug's remarks
were interpreted by some WPB
sources as indicating that the Pres
ldent may be planning to give him
the war agency's top title event.
ually, replacing Mr.. Nelson.
Nelson Backed Krug.
There was evidence, too. that Mr..
Nelson may have agreed to this be-
fore he left for China. He is known
to have worked for the return to
WPB of Krug, who was program vice
chairman before he joined the Navy
a few months ago. He resigned as a
lieutenant commander to take over
the new job.
Mr.. Nelson's plan, it was said, was
to Groom Mr.. Krug for Mr.. Wilson's
job. knowing that the retiring ex-
ecutive vice chairman had asked the
President several times for permis-
sion to resign.
Furthermore, Mr.. Nelson's asso-
ciates say, the War Production boss
had made it clear that the job of
chief demobilizer should be given to
a young man. Mr.. Krug may have
been the man he had in mind.
Others Consider Quitting.
On the other hand, there was
speculation that the President SIM
ply may have decided to ease Mr..
Nelson out in an attempt to end
dissension in WPB.
Two high executives reported
giving consideration to resigning
were William Y. Elliott, vice chair
man in charge of the Office of Ci-
william Requirements, and Arthur H.
Bunker, director of WPB's Produc-
ton Executive Committee staff.
Mr.. Bunker, reported to have been
Mr.. Wilson's choice as his successor.
was frequently at odds with Mr..
Krug during the latter's earlier ten
ure with WPB. Mr.. Elliott also had
been considered in the running for
MIR. Wilson's post.