Evening star., 1950-11-13
MarshaII's Selection
OF Mrs. Rosenberg Is
Viewed as Wise Move
She is Known as Expert
In Personnel Problems
By Industry and Military
By Dapfd Laurence

shoNSesy N'o
By Dauid Laurence
Secretary Of Defense Marshall
made a wise move the other day
when he selected Anna Rosen-
berg to be Assistant Secretary of
Defense. OF all the headaches of
the defense job none is more try
ing than the one which arises
out Of manpower problems-how
to keep the key employees in
industry from being taken for
military service and how to keep
strikes from diminishing indus
trial production.
Anna Rosenberg is known not
only among the military but
among industrial executives as an
expert in personnel problems
During World War II she was
regional director for the Man
power Commission for one of the
most important areas in the Ma
tion-at New York City. She had
the distinction of being appoint
ed by the late Mayor La Guardia
to organize the New York City
Industrial Relations Board in
1887, which became a pattern fol
other cities. Gov. Dewey ap-
pointed her to be a member OF
the New York State War Council
in 1914.
Besides serving as a member OF
the commission appointed by the
late President Roosevelt to study
industrial conditions in Great
Britain and Sweden, she was
given an important assignment
in 1914 and 1945 as the personal
representative Of the President in
reporting on personnel problems
in the European theater of war,
where she won the praise of Gen.
Eisenhower and Gen. Bradley, be-
ing the first civilian to be award
ed the Medal Of Freedom.
Munitions Board Consultant.
Lately she has been manpower
consultant for the Army and
Navy Munitions Board and for
the National Security Resources
Board.
Not only does the appointment
Of Mrs. Rosenberg ring the bell
so far as industry is concerned
because it assures civilian ap-
proach plus proper regard for
military requirements, but it rec
ognizes that among the women
Of the country are persons ca
pable of filling top jobs in Wash
ington. Mrs. Rosenberg will be
the first woman to occupy a high
post In the Defense Department
There have been hints that the
advent of Mrs. Rosenberg has
even more significance than might
be inferred from the appointment
OF a capable woman to do a man.
sized job. It has been said that
the appointment may be symbolic
OF the part women may play in
the defense program. It certainly
makes sense to utilize women
with a natural faculty for ad-
ministration when they are avail
able and thus release men for the
more hazardous jobs of wartime.
Also. there are women who would
gladly make a. whole career Of
Government service in executive
posts If they had haf a chance
to show what they can do.
Learned of Efficiency.
The introduction of the Wacs
and the Waves was a liberal edu-
cation to the military services
they never believed they could
get as much efficiency as they did
by fitting women into the various
positions they occupied during the
last war, Almost the first thought
Of the military after the Korean
war showed the need for man
power was to bring women back
into the military service.
There are, of course, not many
Anna Rosenbergs. She is a fair
minded person in industrial rela-
tions, which Is one of the reasons
the announcement of her appoint
ment met with a bit of chilliness
In some of the labor union leaders
She was valued adviser of the
late President Roosevelt on many
important personnel matters and
has a wide acquaintance among
labor leaders. In recent years she
has been successful in the private
practice of industrial relations
serving as industrial relations
counselor for the Rockefeller in
terests and for large industrial
concerns.
One thing can be said now-if
anybody can keep the top brass
from becoming upset by industrial
relations problems and personnel
questions having to do with reserv-
lists and the wise use of manpower,
as contrasted with the waste that
has so often crept in, it is Anna
Rosenberg.
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