Evening star., 1944-08-24
Nelson Wilson Issue
Seen Caused by Gossip
President PilinS Up Problems
On Himself, Says Writer

~VSSsH
PrSsidsnt Pilinl Up Problems
On Himself, Says Writer
By Dspil Lewresce
President Roosevelt has been hav-
Ing . dihhcult time trying to keep peace
~ between Donald Nelson and Charles
I. Wilson. The problem u just one Of
those didcult and delieGte bits Of per-
sonal strategy which must inevitably
wear out the Presidsnt's patience, II
not his enArstas, ana yet in tie very
attempt 70 please EVERYBODY and avoid
decisions that hurt some ones feelings,
Mr.. Roosevelt piles up problems for
himself.
Everybody has known for some time
that Nr. Wilson WAS anxious to get back
to his JOB - president of the General
Electric Co. He has been doing Z mag.
nthcsnt job - operating executive Of
the War Production Beard, and the
President has twice prevailed on him
to stay On. Lately M. Roosevelt enacted
from Mr.. Wilson . promise that he
would remain at least until after NO
vember.
Meanwhile. Mr.. Roosevelt thougl,t II
would be . good idea to give Mr.. wilson
4 free hand for his Anal lap Of service
IT. the Government. Many important
questions were pending and Il seemed
advisable to let Mr.. Wilson finish the
JOB he has undertaken.
TO decide to give Mr.. Wilson more
authority meant that It would be tact
full for Donald Nelson to be away On 4
trip. Some time ago Mr.. Nelson himself
mentioned to the President the idea Of
a journey to China. His visitsto Russia
was success. So all this fitted in with
recent needs. and the President decided
now was the time for the mission to
China. He added importance to It by
ordering Gen. Hurley-to 70 along.
Gossips Get Busy.
Then the sossips on Capitol Hill and
the cliques in WPB got busy. The trip
VA heralded As 4 means Of shelving
Mr.. Nelson and OF adetrAcking his
plans Tor reconversion. Mr. Wilson was
coincidentally charged by some Of the
Nelson supporters with . desire to back
certain aspects Of reconversion desired
By Big Business" The Senate com
mittee investigating the war effort was
promptly dragged into the picture, and
Ar. Roosevelt, thinking he had 4 sort
Of revolt on his hands, issued a reassur.
INF statement saying nothing would be
done In Mr.. Nelson's absence on major
policies. This, in turn, left Mr.. Wilson
up in the air. and he decided to resisn
at once. The President aecepted his
resignation.
The President gets himself into these
awkward dilemmas because he listens to
the special pleaders Who manage IN one
way or another to get his ear through,
this or that White House favor1te. Mr..
Roosevelt doesn't know how serious
these alleged disturbances are, 20 he
tires to make everybody happy by soft
eninG the words Of this or that state.
ment and changing this or that publicly
stated position.
The whole thing is pathetic. Here
IA man harassed by a thousand and
one problems Of state and yet, because
he has tried through his administra-
ton to atoid hurting the feelings Of
anybody. he frequently adds to his wor-
ries BY keeping men in high posts while
those under them really do the work.
In the case of Donald Nelson and
Charles Wilson, both have performed
certain functions. But politics and
p:essure-sroup interests somehow have
way Of interfering with the War Pro-
duction Boards policies. Members of
Congress ind themselves pushing for
reeonversion because Of pressure from
constituents. The Army and Navy, on
the other hand, who feel the war isn't
over. believe reconversion should be-
handled cautiously.
Alignment Is Result.
So the net result is to produce an
alignment in which Mr.. Wilson Is SUD.
ported by the Army and Navy for being
cautious about reconversion, and Dom
aid Nelson Is supposedly supported by
the people on Capitol Hill.
There Is no doubt that the military
. A~SSc 1AA'S Aot OIlly OVcIe6tlm4te0
their requirements but have shown lit
tie interest in civilian reconversion. no
matter what the social consequences
OF widespread unemployment may be.
One would infer, however, from some
OF the attitudes taken against them
that the Army and Navy haven't any
war to night. that lives can be sacrificed
for lack Of proper tools, and that all
VIII be we'll on the home front 90 lonf
as the political pressures for reconver-
sion Of plants or relaxation of produce
ton restrictions for civilian production
are satisfied.
The President knows all the facts
Either the Army and Navy are risht
or the folks on Capitol Hill are right.
Mr.. Roosevelt would perform a lasting
service II he took 4 position on these
matters. and then he would avoid tho
squabbles among his subordinatAs.
Maybe there's political danger for him
IN decision-which Is but another vsv
OF saying that it Is most unfortunate
that America has to hold an election
In the midst of war. ... =.
Rsproduction RIGHTS Reservsd)
How Billions chonae Honds
Rroun he vnr.