Evening star., 1944-02-19

war effort, since victory Is the nrst
essential, and with the preparation
for peace to follow victory-to win
the war and to prepare for peace
Primary Considerations.
In the development of this theme
we find certain considerations to
be of first Importance. They In
clude:
/. Getting us all back to work in
peacetime enterprises. This may
require special authority under
the Director of War Mobilization
to give its entire attention to the
problem of bringing jobs to all
workers, with emphasis laid upon
the returning servicemen and serv-
icewomen who are our first concern
2. Taking the Government out OF
business by:
fA> Payments for work done and
work under way. In connection
with this phase of the problem, we
have assembled a complete "hnan-
cial kit" that should prove et1ec-
tive. The Government must pay
it's debts. and pay them quickly ano
fully. so that business will have lts
working capital freed for payrols
and purchase of materials.
,b) These payments can be made
with ample protection to the Gov
ernment against fraud,
(c) Move out and store war ma
terials from plants so as TO make
room for equipment and materlaE
for civilian production.
90, Centralize the control and
disposal of surpluses Of all types
in such a way as to bring them
into ready and effective use and
insure orderly markets. This. too
may require special admlnlstra-
tor in the Office of War Mobiliza-
ton.
Tighter" Home Front Urged.
3. A general tightening up OF
the industrial war front so as to
finish the bloody business with
fnality, and thus be ready for
peace.
4. Spreading acceptance by war
of the uniform con-
tract article" as recommended by
us and approved by you.
5. Place all war agencies under
review to cut them down
as their work dwindles; also review
of all war industrial controls.
6. Immediate extension OF laws
governing price control, priorities
and requisitioning, all three ex-
piring this year.
7. Early engineering on public
works to be ready If needed to AL
in the valley of unemployment
8. Provide credit means for those
requiring it during the adjustment
period, particularly for the smaller
business groups and returning serv-
icemen.
9. Prepare now for future action
reducing taxes from war to peace
time levels, thereby providing nee.
essary incentive for initiative anc
enterprise and stimulating employ
ment.
10. Prepare an emergency "X'
day reconversion plan to be usec
in the event of a sudden collapse
of Germany so as to enable us tt
go on with our crusade against
Japan and at the same time te
prevent the dislocation resulting
from lack of preparation. Thi!
phase of the broader plan Is to b.
worked out by the armed service!
with the War Production Board.
Transition from war economy
to that of peace is not easy; moth.
ing worthwhile is. In our recon.
version we shall try, as this country
always does, to cure the things tina
caused us worry and to strengthen
the good to hold to the proven
but be ready to test the new. Tha
is progress.
The frame of our operation show!
the gigantic nature of the change.
over. It affects every part of oul
economic life. Nothing comparable
ever has been known before.
Size of Job Indicated.
AS one indication of the size o1
the job, about $50, 1000 ,0O0, 900 Of ths
current annual production repre-.
sents strictly war goods - that is
things, which when peace comes, w
will stop making. This gap mus
be filed in large part by civilian
production and services, If we ar,
to keep the needed volume of EN-.
ployment. The demobilization Of
the armed forces will come gradu.
ally. Their absorption by industry
will be aided materially by severa
factors, the weight of which is moi
now clear, such as: The giving ul
OF war jobs by many women: tn.
retirement Of older workers; the in.
crease of travel and recreation time
the return of many younger work.
ers to school: the resumption o1
college and professional training by
many now in the services or in wal
industry; the renewal of many pro.
fessional and service businesses that
have stopped during the war; the
starting of new enterprises; thu
business involved in meeting the
needs Of the world; reduction in the
work week; the normal enforcement
Of child labor laws.
The net increase in employment,
in industry from 1887 to 1914 i.
estimated at 7,600,000 people. Con.
sidering factors mentioned above
the problem of rehabilitation
though difficult, is soluble-if We
create the atmosphere in which
private initiative and resourceful-
ness-the traditional American spir.
it-can again take hold.
1t is an easier task to convert
from peace to war than from wal
to peace. With the coming of war
a sort of totahtarianism Is as
serted. The Government tells each
business what it is to contribute
to the war program-just what II
Is to make and where it is to gel
the stuff out Of which to make it
The planning and execution rest
upon one overall purpose and Z