Evening star., 1946-09-09
Nelson Repeats Fears
OF Army Domination
In nPeacetime Economy
By PouIine Frederick

NEW YORK, Sept. 9 tNANA -
Donald M. Nelson, former head of
the War Production Board, who-as
President Trumans personal repre-
sentative-is at present planning a
network of standby plants that
could 60 into war production over
night in case OF an emergency. is
fearful of Army domination of the
American economy in peace as well
as war.
Mr.. Nelson, in an interview before
leaving Washington. reiterated the
contention made in his book. Arse
nal of Democracy" that the ques-
ton Of military control will confront
us not only in war but in peace
. Our whole economic and
social system will be imperiled if
1t is controlled by the military men. :"
To this Gen. Eisenhower had re-
torted in Boston: Any one who
makes such statement is COM
pletely wide of fact"
Yesterday Mr.. Nelson added: Il
don't know of a man who is more
firm believer in democracy than
Gen Eisenhower. l have great ad-
miration for him. I believe. because
of his great interest in democracy.
he would be the last one to want
the military to be in control of pro-
duction.
Some of the best production men
I worked with were Army men" Mr..
Nelson said Il think especially Of
Gen. Levin Campbell, head of
ordnance. He was interested dur
ing the war in Just one thing
getting all the ordnance the Army
wanted.
The thing I want to make clear.
as far as the question of military
control over the national economy
is concerned, is this: There are
always ways of getting things you
need and doing other things at the
same time The soldiers should have
everything they want. The only
thing We had to take care of was
the health and safety of the work
. ers in the factory. If you know
. your economy you can get your
.. war production and still not inter-
. fere unduly with the absolute needs
of the people.
When certain people in the Army
try to determine what civilians
should and should not have then
! say that is not their job
In planning the standby network
Mr.. Nelson is working closely with
the ARMY and Navy Munitions
. Board while reporting directly to
the President
Just because We are planning
standby network. that does not
mean we are getting ready to go
to war Mr.. Nelson said with en-
phasis. 1T means that We don't
want to make the mistake We did
after the last war.
Dismantled Defenses.
"At that time we tore down or
dismantled everything having to do
with war production on the theory
that the best way to prevent war
was to be defenseless. We have
learned that we must be strong. not
because we want to 60 around blus-
tering, but there are IA 900 900 lives
we must protect. The President has
asked me to work with him and with
the Army and Navy Munitions Board
20 as to have the machines and tools
ready to put into operation if
necessary"
Mr.. Nelson and the men with
whom he is working envision the
!. standby operation this way:
Certain key plants throughout the
country will be selected for dual
production lines. Peacetime goods
will come of one while a small or
pilot" amount of war products will
come OF the other. The military
products will be studied and tested
constantly and changed to keep
them up to date with the latest
industrial "know-how"
I asked Mr.. Nelson if special mill
tary staf1s would be placed in these
plants. as in Russia. to supervise
research and experimentation and
apply the fastest production tech
niques.
3. Il haven't heard it discussed" he
: said
. Mr. Nelson denied that he was
going back into the Government
permanently to head up the stand
by program.