The Wilmington morning star., 1944-12-10
CAROLINA
FROM THE
CAPITAL
By ALLEN ]. GREEN
Star-News Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON Dec. O. North Carolinian,
former Gov O. Max Gardner, this week be-
came chairman of what is potentially the most
important and influential group in the entire
government-the War Mobilization and Recon-
version advisory board.
| Facing Mr.. Gardner and his II fellow men,
bers. representing the public. labor, agrlcui-
ture and industry, is the tremendous task of
converting America back to sound postwar
economy including such headaches as demo-
bilization. contract termination. and disposal
of billions of dollars of government surplusea.
It's the biggest job the tall neatly-dressed
lawyer has ever tackled.
| Unlike the rest of the governmental boards
which have arisen and waned under Presi-
dent Roosevelt's hand since 1882, the WMRAB
was specified by Congress in the recent mool-
ization act and empowered to advise and rec
ommend to War Mobilization Director James
F. By-nes.
| The board meets for the first time Monday
Its primary task, Mr. Gardner said today,
will be the drafting of an overall policy gov
erning reconversion and dlsposals involving
| tissues which will affect the entire world
In determining that overall policy, the board
must decide when and how industry will con-
vert to peacetirne production without endan-
gering ultimate victory without jeopardizing
the opportunities of big and little businesses
alike and without throwing millions Of Amer
leans out of work 1t must decide how the
already mushrooming stcckpile OF surplus
items ranging from shoest1ings to sprawling
war plants and giant bonbers will be dis
posed of to the governments best advantage
without favoritism, and without disrupting the
economy. 1t will probably have voice in de-
Gliding the rate at which millions of men and
women in the armed forces will be returned
to their peacetime jobs when victory comes.
II realize the latitude and complexities of
the problems face MI. Gardner COM
mented. ''They involve practically every phase
of rehabilitation and return to peacetirne
economy"
The governor will WELD the gavel over such
diverse notables as Chairman William H. Dav-
is of the War Labor Board, President William
Green Of the American Federation of Labor
and President Phillip Murray of the Congress
of Industrial Organizations, Mrs. Anna Rosen-
berg of the War ManpoWer Commission. Pres
dent Edward A. ONeal Of the American
Farm Bureau Federation and President Fred
eric Johnston Of the u S. Chamber Of Com
Imerce
He said today that he was hoping for more
cooperation and unanimity of opinion than has
characterized the decisions, for instance of
the WLBl Members Of the advisory board,
he pointed out are directed by Congress to
represent the American people primarily;
their obligations to agriculture, the public,
business and labor come second. $50 maybe
we won't have any sd, e-5 or rs decisions"
he commented wistfully.
Mr.. Gardner has carved a respectable place
for himself and his firm in the high-powered
circuit of attorneys operating ins the nations
in Raleigh II years ago. His firm is retained
capital since leaving the governors mansion
today by a number of nationally known bust
nesses to handle their tax problems and other
Washington interests. The governor most re.
Gently gained legal fame when he success
fully won for the University of North Caro-
lima ST. 500, 900 estate in a case which estab-
lished precedent in the District of Columbia
In practice with him here are three other
Tar Heels: Fred W. Morrison, Of Spencer,
former state director of relief and head of
the North Carolina Tax Institute: Judge N
A. Townsend of Dunn and Charlotte, former
superior court jurist: and James Thomas of
Forest City, former Department of Justice at
torney.
Gov. Gardner almost got back into politics
last spring when certain North Carolinians in
Washington were urging him to run for the
seat vacated by Sen. Robert R. Reynolds.
He considered it seriously-then decided to
yield to his brother-in-aw and fellow Shelby
ite-Sen. -elet Clyde R. Hoey.