The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1944-08-31

|
Our Army is a mighty fine fighting
organization. 1t has made a few mis-
| takes, but mostly it has done the right
things at the right time, in the fighting
| line.
| But in the realm of public relations
the Army has not been so hot. 1t could
profitably take some lessons.
General Somervell's slashing attack
on labor for not producing enough is
case in point.
1t is long ways from clear just
what the General meant, for he con-
tradicted himself in at least one i'm
portant matter.
The fact appears to be that produc-
tion has been going mighty well. No
nation has done any better and gen.
orally speaking none has done SO we'll
But the General made it appear to
the country that labor has been lying
down on the job in wide range of
products-which just isn't so.
In addition to this needless and pain
full outburst, there has been too much
covering up of mistakes by the Army.
There are indications that the Army
told for itself a much better story
about Saipan than was warranted and
that later - maybe much later we
shall hear quite different story.
AS for the production business, one
writer has said that Somervell is an
old line industralist who likes to see
a Labor pool and who, for that
reason, wants to keep war goods pro-
duction going when and where it is
not needed.
Army public relations men probably
know how to treat the civilian popula
ton of free nation, but some of the
brass hats do not know.
Unless there is real honesty in the
Armys attitude toward the people the
people will get square with the Army
pretty soon after peace comes.
That's something the Army ought to
realize.
Navy, toO-are pretty much in control
of many things They control every
thing bearing on the war.
Congress can curb that control, but
there are few who care to step in and
cancel any Army judgment while war
is on.
But when peace comes civilian con-
troll can and will reassert itself.
The nose brass hat boobery the
Army hands the people now, the more
rigid will be the civilian clamp-dOwn
when peace returns.
The relations of civilian government
to military establishment will be more
important after this war than it was
before, because we shall for long
time have large Army that will be
able to keep itself large for the simple
reason that not for some time will any
one care to risk cutting down too much
in world that may show signs of
long.
But there are and must be limits to
Army supremacy. 1t is important that
plans be at a point where
they will meet the necessities when the
war ends.
But clearly General Somervell does
Mt think so and his conduct has made
clear his intention to stall off recon
version plans as long as he can.
That seems to have been one of the
reasons for his attack on labor.
We have manpower controls and we
have controls for materials. These are
in civilian hands and the Army ought
to keep hands off. 1t is up to the Army
to place orders for its needs.
But civilian controls must operate
from there on, if the Army is to be
kept i'm its right relation to the people
Of this country.
That, ladies and gentlemen, is
mighty important 1t is to be hoped
.haat the Army itself will realize this
need. Labor doesn't have any panning
coming from the Army. None what
ever, despite Il few foolish and very
nasty strikes.
Abuse of power generally reacts
lpon the abusers in time.-CMW.