Evening star., 1944-04-21

SSINICSS dIlu llluuoGIy IoSuCo W
Secretary of War Stimson, Secre'
tary of the Navy Knox and Admira
Emory S. Land, chairman of The
Maritime Commission:
The Secretary of War, the Secre.
tary of the Navy and the chairman
of the Maritime Commission an.
nounce that they have met today
with representatives of the United
States Chamber of Commerce, the
National Association of Manufac.
turers and the Association of Amer
lean Railroads to discuss the neces-
sity for national war service legis.
lation.
Also present and joining in the
discussion were Gen. George c
Marshall, Army chief of staff; Ad-
miral Ernest j. King, commander
in chief, United States Fleet, ano
Chief of Naval Operations 1t. Gen
Brehon H. Somervell, Assistant Sec.
retary of the Navy Ralph A. Bard
Senator Austin, Republican. of Ver-
mont, and Representative Wads-
worth. Republican, of New York.
Conferences had previously beer
had with national labor leaders.
Joint Statement Issued.
Following today's meeting Secre-
tary Stimson, Secretary Knox ano
Admiral Land issued a joint state
ment describing the need for legiS-
lation to provide adequate man
power for essential industries, which
must increase production despite
transfer of some 100000 of thei,
employees to military service. The
statement:
After meeting with national lead
ers of organized labor we invited
representative of the United States
Chamber of Commerce, the National
Association of Manufacturers anc
the Association of American Rail-
roads to meet with us for discus
sion of the critical industrial man.
power problem, and to solicit theil
support for war service legislation
Before the end of the year we
estimate that the armed services
will require an additional 100000
men. The uncertainties of the in
vasion may largely increase this
total. Most of them-almost all
will be obtained through the demo
cratic processes of the Selective
Service System.
Most of them, too. will be drawn
from vital industries, which mus
not obtain requirements for the en-
ployes called to the armed services
but which must, in many instances
increase their working forces.
100000 Men Called.
The Nation has called 100000
men to the colors. 1t is the essence
of democracy that there should bt
equality of obligation as well a!
equality of privilege. If it is logica
to require some of them to fight
then it is equally logical to require
others to supply them weapons
Only war service legislation can in.
sure fair distribution of the burder
we must all bear to win the victory
in which we all will share.
Such legislation is necessary, II
our opinion, to insure the success o.
essential war programs. Legislation
of universal application is not, in oul
opinion, necessary. What is needed
Is a law so designed as to meet tht
actual conditions which confron
the Nation and its men on the fight
ing fronts. What those condition.
are shall be stated
1t is imperative that the countr,
realize that the present methods o
industrial service cannot do tht
whole job; that the American peopl
must adopt some system of nationa
industrial service which will provid
workers for essential war industrie
wherever shortages in manpowe
appear.
Voluntary Service First.
1t is our thought that the Wa
Work Service Act should first pro
vide for the recruiting of voluntar.
industrial workers before the selec
tive service principle is invoked
When a given war industry in /:
given locality is found suffering from
a labor shortage, that fact should b,
proclaimed in a call for volunteers tc
fill the shortage. Emphatically, tn,
law must prevent depletion in tn,
ranks of other essential industries t.
man the ones in distress, becaus
one of the present difficulties is tn
excessive turnover in employment
The volunteers must come from la.
bors not necessary to the Nation
war needs.
In case sufficient volunteers do no
appear in answer to the call, thel
the national selective service prin
ciple must be invoked to supply tn
essential need. That is our judg
ment. 1t is based on such facts a
these:
Armed Men Needed.
Before the end of 1914 the Navy
Coast Guard and Marine Corps vii
require $4,000 men, of whom 23O,
600 will be needed as requirements
In the same time the Army, whicl
has reached its complement, vii
need 100000 additional men as re
placements;
That is total of 100000 men,
minimum total which may have t
be greatly increased before 1945;
The greatest part of this numbe
will be drawn from the shops an
farms and mines, the factories an
the railroads; most will have to b
replaced because essential indus
tries must keep on supplying ou
fighting forces with the material
and instruments of war;
The aircraft plants and the ship
yards must not only be provided re
placements for men called into tn
armed forces. but they must b
given 100000 additional workers t
supply the demand for planes an
ships;
Navy Yards will need 5000 add
tional workers just for the construc
ton Of submarines, alone:
Shipyard Requirements.
In the shipyards building landin
craft and all the amphibious war
fare vessels, $4,000 workers above a
requirements must be found befor
September If we do not have tn
landing craft, We cannot take @
hold the beaches!
In two East Coast yards alont