The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1945-02-09
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WORK OR FIGHT
HAS MANY PLANS OFFERED
By PAUL MALLoN ~

/ WORK OR FIGHT
HAS MANY PLANS OFFERED
WASHINGTON. - The whole adj
ministration program for legislation
Tightening up home manpower-
the "work or fight" national indus
trial draft, even the drafting Of ATS
and nurses-ran fast down into
conflict of sentiment and confusion
in the house military affairs COM
mittee.
On the surface this appears some
what surprising because of the
championship Of the administration
proposals by Mr.. Roosevelt and AS
sistant President Byrnes, and the
display campaign they put on
regarding the real need of men in
some industries. Since the hour and
a half conference Mr.. r. held with
labor leaders, it has been aired
around that he is impatient, but Ia
Dor is still opposed.
Very few authorities in congress
like the methods proposed. When
War Secretary Stimson and Chief
of Staff Marshall turned their
backs, somewhat quietly (refusing to
appear) on work or fight, they def
nitely killed any chance for the
pending proposal to put men who
will not work into the army labor
battalions.
Their technical objections
have been announced, but the
real reason is that both Ger
many and Japan have labor
battalions, and they want to
maintain their democratic set
up Of the military force.
WANT CRIMINAL PENALTY
What they want is law imposing
criminal penalties for not working.
This would be the direct, democratic
way of handling the problem
On the industrial draft the stu
alton is somewhat reversed. The
army and navy want it (and Mr..
Roosevelt) but apparently not
many others. Yet it, too, follows
the Nazi and Japanese way Of
doing things by conpulsion.
In that connection, Vice Presi-
dent Truman received some in
teresting evidence in letter from
large aircraft factory in Wichita,
Kan, not long ago. The Off
Gals Of that plant reported they had
a difficult problem of keeping their
men from drifting away to other
business, so difficult that they final
ly threw up the threat and freeze
ideas in despair and posted notice
to the effect that anyone who
wanted to quit, could do so. I'm
expectedly that solved the prob
lem.
Drifting fell off. It was quite
plain that the psychology Of
cOmpulsion or threats had worked
in reverse, causing the men to
cOnnive to escape. But If they
could quit at any time, there was
no reason for quitting.
When General Knudsen was asked
about this he told the committee:
"Ahaa, that employer pays boz
muses."
But the employer did not mention
this in his letter, and it could be an
important factor only if the employ
er started paying the bonuses after
the free-quitting notice was posted.
His point, therefore, does not seem
to have been soundly made.
Furthermore, two senators have
come back from Norfolk naval
plants inspection to report more
workers needed there, and more
than essential wage rolls have been
This development no doubt will re-
suit in congress authorizing the plac-
ing Of wage ceilings in plants.
But what else win come out
Of all this conflict and confusion
over meth0ds-with labor OPP
posing practically all compul-
sion and business (NAM openly
resisting similarly-the best Of
congressional authorities will not
yet predict. There will probably
be bill of some kind.
1t may be some very limited form
Of work or fight" to include at least
the AIS, and the nurses draft,
possibly not even that much.
Perhaps the current publicity may
have helped solve much Of the prob
lem before congress gets to the
end Of this matter.
A great many congressman are
impressed with the seriousness Of
manpower needs in certain spots,
but great many more believe a
well coordinated manpower adj
ministration could solve most Of the
problems, without additional legisla-
ton, and the idea of trying demo-
cratic methods harder has at least
gained firmer foothold.
An outspoken senatorial opponent
Of the workers draft said critical
war conditions had grown sufficient
ly bad to justify the legislation.
The unions have gathered so much