Evening star., 1947-02-17
Business Seeks Men
Who Led War Effort
Moreell's Steel Appointment
Latest Example of Trend
By David Laurence

ny Ddp1d Laurence
Announcement that Admiral Ben
Moreell-the man who organized the
Seabees in the United States Navy
has been made chairman Of the board
and president of the Jones & Laughlin
Steel Corp. is an indication Of trend
toward the selection of generals and
admirals for important posts in private
industry.
1t means that the Government itself,
with its budget cutting, is going to lose
some of the best staff organizers and
administrators it has had, but it means,
too, that private industry is going to
find in the roster of military and Navy
men some executives of exceptional
ability.
Not long ago the Koppers Co. OF
Pittsburgh, one Of the Nations large
industrial enterprises, put Gen. Brehon
Somervell, former head Of the Army
Service Forces, in charge as president.
The general man Of extraordinary
capacity-did the undramatic but
nevertheless vital job Of seeing to it
that the front lines not only were backed
power and equipment but that the
necessary units behind the lines were
available for the countless tasks that go
with servicing the largest Army this
country ever mobilized.
1t will be recalled that after World
War I, industry took many of the mill
tary men. Gen. Robert E. Wood went
to Sears Roebuck as its chief executive
and Gen. Harbord, who was head Of the
Service of Supply in France. became
the chairman Of the board Of the Radio
Corporation of America. Recently Ad-
miral Emory Land became head OF the
Air Transport Association.
Other Officers Getting Posts.
Other military and naval officers are
being selected for important posts in
industry, and it is interesting to OBJ
serve that Admiral Moreell will come
into one of the large labor areas with
considerable experience. It was he
who handled for the Federal Govern
ment the seizure and operation Of the
oil reflneries and pipelines when the
Navy took them over, and 1t was he
who acted as Federal coal mines admin
istrator.
Admiral Moreell has the respect OF the
labor groups in this country. His memo
rable speech before the American Fed
Grafton of Labor during the war was
frank and understanding statement Of
the labor problems of the Government
and industry in relation to war produc-
ton.
| Sometimes it is assumed that military
men are too rigid or even narrow in
their experience to become executives
of big business institutions. But this is
erroneous. The military mind" Of ira
ditional concept is not the same with
regard to administrative work as 1t Is
with respect to troops. Experience gained
in the Army, Navy and Air Forces can
readily be translated into benefits for
industry and business, provided the men
| selected have actually had broad-gauged
organizing and administrative problems
to deal with.
Business Needs Leaders.
. Thus both Gen. Somervell and Admiral
Moreell operated business organizations
and encountered all sorts of questions
which are not unlike those found in
private industry.
Big business enterprises necessarily
must have administrators who know how
to organize and handle large numbers
of men. Thus Admiral Moreel started
the Seabees-the construction workers
of the Navy-with force of 5000 which
gradually grew to 250,000.
He himself, was not Naval Academy
graduate but he reached the four-star
status just the same. His Seabees have
been glorified and properly so. because
they landed Immediately after the am
phibious operations of the Navy and,
often under enemy fire. built strips for
airplanes and housing facilities for the
invading forces.
To see big business taking the admirals
and generals who made good on the
administrative and organizing side Is
a recognition of the fact that nowadays
war operations are not confined to men
with knowledge of war strategy alone
but with the same kind Of organizing
and administrative ability which private
business needs.
The incident perhaps has broader sig
nificance. Many young officer looking
| for a Job has been told he has had mo
experience" When he has recited what
he did in the Army Navy or Air Forces,
he usually has been advised that this
isn't experience" Yet top generals and
admirals are being selected who have
had experience" that business recog-
nizes. Maybe the personnel departments
of the businesses of the country should
think twice about the value of military
| experience for younger officers, too.
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