The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-08-20
Rumors And Production

Within the first category comes such meth
DDS as fires, wrecks and other violent means
of hating or retarding production. Because of
a vigilan. Federal Bureau of Investigation and
other security agencies, this has been held
to minimum in Americas factories ship
yards and other manufacturing centers dur
ing the war.
The second classification is not as direct
or tangible, yet we believe it is just as dam
aging in its results as the first. 1t is based
on truthless propaganda and rumor. We don't
know how much of this may be charged d-
rectly to the enemy; we do know that great
deal can be laid to thoughtless Americans
And the regrettable thing about these rumors
that fly through warplants, demoralizing many
an employee, upsetting his proper attitude to-
ward his job and bringing about an adverse
effect on production, is that they are spread
unwitth.gly by patriotic men n d women.
Many have sons overseas yet they are, with
out thinking of the ultimate result of their
talk helping the Axis.
To illustrate the point we wish to make,
let's review just few of the rumors, and
their effects, that have circulated through the
shipyard here at various times. All of us are
familiar with much of the RUTHLESS gossip.
First, there were the tall tales that the
company, in its early days, was employing
thousands and thousands of any kind of
workers. Many of these unfounded reports
crept upstate and resulted in numerous I'M
qualified persons making futile trips to Will
mington. Then followed the vivid stories of
five and six men, being killed in the yard
daily. No one knows how they originated but
they spread and increased to such an extent
port going the rounds that "seventy five men
had been killed. We all know better than
that. The yards record of fatalities is ex-
tremely low and compares well with that of
any other shipyard or similar heavy indus
trial establishment. Late last year there was
part of the conracs for the CPS had been
cancelled All who gave attentive ear to this
story must feel slightly embarrassed in the
face of formal announcement, made late in
June, Of a new contract.
Now there is considerable loose talk that
the yard will be cutting down to few hum
dred people by the end of the year
Totally without foundation and contraryto
all facts in the case, this is most injurious
because the company is going through its
most important production chedule In an
organization OF several thousand persons, this
talk is quite demoralzing. Many men have
doubtless let these truthless reports influence
their actions. false feeling of insecurity
has been created and numerou shipbuiders
in a confused state of mind toward their fu-
ture, have been induced to leave for what
appears more permanent occupations. T h e
sum result is decreased production
We are glad to report, on authority of the
highest and most reliable sources available.
run until the fall of 1945. The ships being
built are of great peace-time value and there
is little or no likelihood of any cancellation
OF them. In the event of an early peace
there will naturally be showdown but this
will not reduce the force to any appreciate
1N'NAi" WV WILL actually pIOIOnR the WORK.
Absenteeism is running too high at the ship
YARD. Allowances for the summer heat and
the need of some men to give attention to
their farms must be made but we believe
these rumors have been a contributing fac
tor. This is most unfortunate, in view of the
Importance of the work that must be done
on schedule
The combat transport ships being built have
1lxed places in the U. S. Nays timetable
OF destruction of the enemy It is a commit
ment to the local organization that it was en-.
trusted with their production Complicated and
olffcult Tor the most experienced shipvards
the fact that it is succeeding in delivering
them speaks very highly for the skill and re-
sourcefulness of the men and women here.
So, let their efforts not be hampered bv
damaging rumors. These false stories. like
disease, can be checked
It's quite simple. First, don't believe any
questionable remark It's not difficult to Learn
II there is any basis Of truth in it, Second
don't repeat It, and third, don't let it influ.
ence your decisions. Confucius' mother pro
Vlded some good advice that is highly appli.
cable to the greater part Of the idle talk we
\ hear. 1t was: "Confucius, you talk too darr
muchi"
j In short, let's stop rumorA