The Durant news., 1945-08-09
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Drafting Labor


power shortage. Farmers all over
the country met Il more than year
ago and one by one since then other
types OF employers have felt the
pinch. Now the ebbing human tide
can be noticed In essential war
plants. The highest wage scales
ever known are failing to bring in
dustry enough labor. The situation
Is serious and the solution is not yet.
Factors in the problem are three:
(l) Our Commander-in-Chief has
called faster industrial production
essential to the war effort. ~ A
public speech of Paul v. McNutt.
manpower tzar. has touched off agi-
tation about conscripting labor. (3)
Increased production is possible but
drafting workers win not accom-
plish it. There Is q proven better
way that does not stink Of Hitlerism.
Single Objective.
In q recent message to congress,
President Roosevelt said, with espe-
cial reference to airplane produc-
tion: "a high rate Of increase must
be maintained and that means
constant stepping up OF our produc-
ton at home here" And there's no
disputing the correctness Of the
Presidents analysis. Even the Ger
mans say it is our air force that en-
ables American troops to advance
against superior numbers. Planes
and more planes are vital to victory.
Surely Il is fair to assume that
what the war effort needs is what
the President asked for: more pro-
duction, not more men on the gov
ernment's payroll. After all, there
= . difference. Interpreting the
Presidents plea for more planes as
a signal to put U. S. civilians in lock-
step is, to say the least, getting of
ahead Of the starters gun in a race
for dictatorship.
The American Way.
A few weeks ago visited the
Beech Aircraft Corporations plant
IN Wichita, Kan, where workers and
owners together had launched plan
TO improve production and devel.
oped Il In one year to q degree oi
efficiency that increased factory out
put 325 percent. They found ways ia
turn out more than four times az
much as formerly. It required no
additional help and no bullying.
Common sense and patriotism did
the trick. The vehicle was a ration.
al incentive plan that divided profits
$3.50 between the employees and the
corporation on all increased bust.
ness. Each workers effective in
come accordingly was raised more
than 50 percent in II months. Simi-
lar things have been done in other
war production plants and might be
done in many more. The idea Is
truly American in character. It is
tried and effective
The Hitler Idea
Der Fuehrer works forced labor.
He has 2h times as much popula-
ton to draw from as we have, and
regularly gets less done. For an
example, consider steel, ever need
full in war. All the warning coun-
tries are producing every ton Of it
they can. Germany, with 300 mil
lion people, is able to produce 50
million tons q year; the United
States, with 120 million people, pro
duces 80 million tons. Slaves never
do their best. Look at the contrast: !:
ANNUAL STEEL PRODUCTION
Million Million
People Tens
In America 120 produce 90
In Germany 300 produce 50
So far, no high government man
has actually come out boldly for la
Dor conscription. McNutt said %
the A. r. L. in Boston, 1T ID not
beyond the realm Of possibility that
= >.A 49,