Detroit evening times., 1945-08-18
PAUL
.NIALLON
Behind
The News

WASHINGTON. aug "a
w tendency TO hold back de-
mobilization 10 cushion the
shock of reconversion has long
been visible through Mr.. Tru-
mans actions or lack OF them.
Thus his first peacetlme an
nouncement continued the draft
for the youngest class, and con-
templated a discharge plan
spread over y 10 Is months OF
only two-thrdS of the war army.
and an even more cautious re-
taxation of navy strength.
Our obligations in occupations
and peace-making are mentioned
as the reason. The unsettled
state of the world is another,
although not mentioned.
suspect Mr.. Truman re-
solved all doubts in favor of high
budgets for the army during the
latter days of the war for the
same purpose--to keep the eco
nomiC mills churnlng. In the
future economies will be devel-
oped possibly with less swift
ness than you might expect.
How long this tendency can
be maintained in the face OF
contrary preSsures-of troops
10 get free, and for setting the
treasury in order (tax reduc-
ton p. remains 10 be seen.
90 ALSO with specific recon-
- version policies. For many
months, the popular and undis-
puted public thought has run TO
the conclusion that the end
must bring an economic shock,
with widespread unemployment.
Now the economists are begin
ming TO inquire deeper into the
matter, seeking 10 ascertain
what particular types of work.
erS and how many in which in
dustries are being affected
In the two largest industries.
motors and steel, the highest
possible peacetime production
will be developed as swiftly as
possible. In those lines much
unemployment will be tempo
rary. and of a vacation type (if
war bonds have been saved.
CHIPBUILDING pre- duction,
~ for another instance. will
drop near zero, but the Kaiser
plants on the Pacific Coast, two
months ago. had employment of
less than 40 per cent of their
peak. The ma iority OF workers
knew what was coming and
went back home for better jobs.
Also Kaiser long since started
to 60 into other fields, including
motors, and his total peacetlme
employment may yet run as
high AS his wartime peak.
The large number of women
workers who got into industry
for the first time during the
war, will find husbands or sup
porting relatives returning from
the war and may desire 10 re-
turn 10 their homes.
THE CORE of the trouble. l
Il think, will be found among
the migrated unskilled or least
skilled workers, particularly in
ordnance centers. They came in
droves 10 war manufacturing
zones from consumer service
Jobs, small stores. restaurants,
hotels, shops, farms and such
work for Jobs which offered
more wages than they had ever
dreamed Of.
Certainly there exists tre-
mendous demand for this type
of worker, back in his former
endeavors, back in the shops and
on the farms. Will they want
to go, is the question which
looms more important than the
one being popularity asked.
namely: will they be able to find
Jobs?
Certainly the developing prob
lens are particular rather than
general, variously affecting dif-
ferent types of workers and
industries. This points again
10 the theme / have been stress
ng-specific REM d les are
needed rather than an overall
spending program or similar
tactics of the Roosevelt regime,
which might create disastrous
economic effect, by encouraging
the unemployed TO avoid the
jobs where peace so vitaly
needs them.
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