Evening star., 1944-03-17
WarProduction Heads
Study Draft Demands
For Factory Workers
WPB and Monpower
Directors Confer With
Army and Navy Chiefs
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

WIFI DlOOu pressure running
high, war agency officials met
today in an effort to find a way
to ease the shock to war indus
tries of the new policy of high
military leaders that they must
have more strong young men for
combat duty even if it means
IA decrease in production of
weapons.
The industrial draft deferment
situation boiled over yesterday when
the Army and Navy made clear
they are willing to sacrifice war
production to get the bodied
fighters they need, of whom 100000
must come from younger men now
holding industrial and agricultural
|deferments. The issue had been
about the hottest subject in Wash
Iington since President Roosevelt
three weeks ago ordered review of
jail deferments with special en-
Iphasis on registrants under 26.
Chairman Donald M. Nelson of
the War Production Board an
nounced the armed services new at
titude toward combat manpower
and production to group of steel
executives yesterday. He said the
Army and Navy must have the men
even if it means losing production.
Feeling between civilian and mill
tary leaders is so intense that
rumors of resignation are heard,
though none was Immediately forth
coming.
May Go to President.
Even before today's meeting of
production, manpower and military
officials started there were indica-
tions differences over draft policy
were so great that the whole prob
lem would have to be laid on the
White House doorstep. 1t was said
the appeal already had been made
to the President to request draft
boards to proceed cautiously in
ending deferments until the dispute
has been settled here.
The latest conference to solve the
draft dilemma was called by Charles
E. Wilson, WPB executive vice
president. Participating, it was un-
derstood, are WPB, War Manpower
Commission, Army, Navy, Selective
Service and other agencies con-
cerned. A somewhat larger group
Of virtually the same agency repre-
sentation met yesterday and ac-
compliShed little other than to eX-
change divergent views and appoint
the committee for further talks.
Maj. Gen. Lewis B Hershey, Sc
lective service director, and Mr..
Nelson disclosed the services atti-
tude to WPBs Steel Industry Ad-
visory Committee yesterday. A
WPB press release made the follow
ing reference TO Gen. Hersheys re-
marks:
Gen. Hershey stressed the need
for young men, particularly those
between Is and 26. He expressed
sympathy with the plight of industry
and the fact that, because of mill
tary demands for men, the steel in
dustry may fail to meet the produc-
ton quotas set for it by WPB, but
he said that steel producers should
not be dismayed by prospects OF
failure
My job is to provide men for the
armed forces he was quoted as
saying.
Facing Difficult Period.
Mr.. Nelson told the industry men
that they, along with all others, un-
| dOubtedly face one of the most
difficult periods of the war He said
| that the Army and Navy need men,
even If 1t means losing production.
Mr.. Nelson expressed hope that
| the most important munitions pro-
gram can be carried on without loss
of output by carefully protecting the
younger key men in the industries
WPBS policy will be, it was said, to
lplace even more emphasis on the
must programs and let others
considered not 50 important now
struggle along as best they can
Other officials were not so hopeful
the situation will work out so we'll.
Otfictals of all the agencies in
volved agree that there must be
continued deferment for certain
highly essential men in the indus
trial % to 26 year old group. The
differences between them lie in the
number Of deferred, the yardstick
to be used in determining essen
tiality or indispensability under the
(See MANPOWER, Page A-2D