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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 10, 1944)
Committees for Economic Development Plan to Maintain Employment After War _ <&> <%■ Surveys Being Made In More Than 2,000 U. S. Communities By AL JEDLICKA Released by Western Newspaper Union. In over 2,000 communities throughout the United States, people are laying their own plans for a return to a peace time economy when the war ends and the country’s gigan tic armament production ceases. ( Although these people are being guided by the Commit tee for Economic Develop ment, they are no trained technicians nor market ana lysts nor economists them selves, but just plain Mr. and Mrs. America familiarizing themselves with the condi tions peculiar to their com munities and anxious to pro vide opportunities for its pros perity in the critical postwar world. Citizens in towns and cities rang ing from hundreds to thousands in population have grouped to under take a problem that otherwise might be cast solely upon the shoulders of the government, and thus they have sought to apply democratic princi ples directly through themselves rather than through distant public officials. Recognizing the great business possibilities in the postwar world, and seeking to acquaint the people the country over with them so they might relieve any distress attend- , ing demobilization of the military establishments and industry, the Committee1' for Economic Develop ment, or CED, was organized in 1942 and began its operations in 1943, with the intention of assist ing in the creation of postwar plan ning groups in communities of more than 10,000. But with the realiza tion that only through a widespread organization affecting every eco nomic segment of the country could any movement be effective, the CED extended its activities to smaller cities as well, where the limited fields offer an even more thorough application of the plan. Headed and supported by the nation’s biggest businessmen, the CED makes no bones about its ob jective of stimulating individual ini A student from Fairleigh Dickin son junior college interviews the lo cal hardware and paint dealer on his postwar employment plans and sales expectations. The college stu dents did the survey work in coop eration with the Bergen County, N. J., Committee for Economic Devel opment. tiative to assist in the solution of the grave problems which demobiliza tion will present. But, in pursuing its goal, CED’s organizers welcome the backing of every economic group within a community: the business men, the farmers, labor, public offi cials and any other persons who might be interested. Each City Makes Own Plans. In proceeding with their work, CED’s organizers insist upon each community developing its own plans, on the principle that its members are more familiar with the city’s circumstances than anybody outside of it might be. CED actively en ters the picture through its guid ance in organization, the distribu tion of findings of its expert research departments, and its establishment as a clearing house for the exchange of information gathered through its country-wide operations. As an indication of the grass-roots character of the communal post war planning, CED’s records show that 35 per cent of the cities organ ized are under 10,000 population, and in the typically rural state of South Dakota, for instance, 130 out of 172 communities engaged in the pro gram have less than 1,300 people. A Bergen County, N. J., house wife tells a college girl what she in tends to buy after the war in the line of home furnishings, and what the family plans are for remodeling or repairing the house, purchasing an autortiobile, traveling, and so on. The working of the program may be best explained by a study of its actual operation in one of the small cities, as described by Mr. Hermann C. Wehmann, CED's regional man ager for the Ninth Federal Reserve district, embracing the Northwest. In helping to organize a town, Mr. Wehmann said, CED representatives contact some representative mem ber of the community, who then as sembles other active citizens to dis cuss the program. Expenses are negligible, since the local cham ber of commerce, etc., furnish the headquarters, and financial outlay is limited to stationery and postage stamps. To get an idea of the possible post war conditions in the community, various surveys are conducted, Mr. Weymann continued, with local in dustries canvassed as to the num ber of employees they expect they will be able to hire, and residents polled as to the different kinds of merchandise they plan to purchase. Businessmen then figure on how many people they will need to serv ice the demand. Surveys also es tablish plans for postwar public works to take up any employment slack. To provide a solid basis for the business community to figure on, residents polled also are asked to reveal whether they intend to pur chase goods out of current income, installment credit, savings or bank deposits, or war bonds. Through banks, building and loan associations, postal savings and war bond sales, financial assets of the community are tabulated, to de termine the extent to which post war activities might be supported. Albert Lea, Minn., Survey. Typical of the consumer surveys upon which businessmen can pro ject their potential needs, Mr. Weh mann said, was the one conducted in the town of Albert Lea with its population of 12,200, in Freeborn county with over 31,000 people, in Minnesota. The survey showed that residents of the town expected to buy 1,156 automobiles at $1,217,268, and farm ers of the county 1,140 cars at $1, 105,800. People in the town hoped to buy 442 new houses at an average cost of $4,068, while farmers looked for ward to the construction of 150 homes at $3,150 each. Repairs averaging $514 were planned for 714 houses in Albert Lea, while similar work averaging $900 was anticipated on 540 farm homes in the county. In addition, farmers indicated they would build 360 barns at an average cost of $1,473, and 360 silos at an average price of $539. , Farmers also expected to pur chase 780 tractors averaging $926 each; 810 prefabricated small build ings averaging $566, and 810 electric services averaging $325. With businessmen thus able to fig ure upon their possible employment needs, and with surveys of local in dustries determining their future op erating prospects, communities can partly visualize their postwar con dition. New Industries Encouraged. Towns that may be faced with a surplus of employables can be en couraged to explore the possibility of developing a new industry after con sultation with economic experts at their state universities. In cases where such development may be de sirable, consideration may be given to some industry which might be based upon a local agricultural crop. After extensive field work, Mr. Wehmann has set up a chart of the employment prospects of towns which have undertaken communal planning within his region, and as evidence of the value of the survey, consultations with Governor Thye of Minnesota have resulted in the state’s consideration to locate public works projects within those areas where labor surpluses may develop. In organizing communal planning the country over, the CED does not hold that such preparation will be a sure-fire cure for the employ ment and business problems that will develop upon military and in dustrial demobilization after the war. The CED does not overlook the importance of industry quickly re converting to civilian production to absorb the mass of employables, nor does it ignore the fact that any solid stability can be expected un less agriculture is assured an ade quate market at a fair price. On the question of reconversion, CED stands for the swift settlement of cancelled war contracts to pro vide industry with funds with which to finance the switch back to civilian goods. At the end of the war, CED figures that about 10 billion dollars of claims will be entered against the government, of which probably 2 billion dollars will be subject to dispute. Government Surplus Sales. Besides reconversion, CED also advocates the orderly disposal of surplus war material, so as not to | repeat the mistakes that followed marketing of such goods after the last conflict, with the subsequent disturbance of normal channels of production and distribution. In this respect, the government already has established an agency for handling surplus goods, with emphasis placed upon a maximum return for any material. In a recent address, Paul G. Hoff man, chairman of the board of trus tees of CED, declared: “Private business cannot by any means do the entire job of provid ing postwar employment. But it is aware of its obligation to make its maximum contribution to that end. With labor and agriculture, it hopes to see reestablished after this war a free and growing American econ omy . . . “What is America’s postwar goal for civilian employment? The Com mittee for Economic Development places that figure at from 53 to 56 million jobs. That is 7 to 10 mil lion more than in 1940, the banner year in all our prewar history . . . “It is clear that private busi ness—in which I include agriculture and the professions—must provide employment for the overwhelming proportion of those Americans who after this war will be seeking jobs. No governmental employment yet planned—let alone blueprinted—can take up more than a fraction of the unemployment slack that would exist if private employment were j not able to go full steam ahead when the war ends . . , Opportunity for Profit. “Meanwhile, the Committee for Economic Development is com mitted to these beliefs: "The American economy after this war must be predominantly one of private enterprise, in which the opportunity for a fair profit will en courage businessmen to expand present operations and to undertake new ventures. “The American economy after this war must be an expanding econ- j The president of the bank in Ruth erford, N. J., gives pertinent finan cial data to a college girl inter viewer. The figures on savings and demand deposits, war bond sales, personal loans and sales on credit, help the Committee for Economic Development in forecasting the pur chasing power that will be available to buy goods when peace returns. omy in which more wealth will be created and consumed year after year, and in which the American standard of living will steadily rise. ‘‘The American economy after this war must be such as to give every encouragement to the small busi nessman, for small business, and particularly new enterprise, pro motes competition and flexibility in our economy, and thus furnishes pro tection against monopolistic prac tices which maintain prices and re strict production . . Three leaders of the national Com mittee for Economic Development study the map showing location of 1,933 CED committees in all 48 states. Left to right, C. Scott Fletch er, director of CED field develop ment division; Paul G. Hoffman, president of Studebaker corporation and chairman of the board of trust ees of CED; and William Benton, vice chairman. The Committee is aiming at post war production levels 30 to 45 per cent greater than in 1940. Jled&O' Looking at HOLLYWOOD A CTORS are people, but not many ** studio bosses realize that. Too often here grease paint gals and boys are rated ns so many pieces of prop erty to be used or not as the bigwigs see fit, then turned out to pasture. I once knew a young director who stated flatly that “actors are bums." He reeled off an entire column to prove his point that by and large actors not only bite the hands that feed them but will take the arms off at the elbow. “They come to town with profiles and paper suitcases," he snarled, anxious for a chance, or so they say. But with their first success they turn on the people who built them up, re fuse to do this or Dolores Moran Joan Leslie that part, and in general stink up the joint." Those studio gold - braids who share this direc tor’s point of view —and there are quite a few—carry on a strange Rind of war with their actors in which, or so it seems, they try to impede their professional progress. I say “strange kind of war” because to me it’s ridiculous to sign a batch of kids, boys and girls, to long con tracts, then to keep these kids miles from a camera until at option time they are unceremoniously given the gates. Exceptions That Make Rule This is not the rule at all studios. And many times the nobody of today becomes tomorrow’s star. Let’s take Joan Leslie, who has been in noth ing but big pictures since she checked in at Warners. Right off the bat she was handed the femme lead opposite Gary Cooper in “Sergeant York.” Then an important part op posite Jimmy Cagney in “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” Joan held down an extremely impressive role with Ida Lupino, Dennis Morgan, and Jack Carson in "The Hard Way,” fol lowed by the feminine lead ^“Rhap sody in Blue" and her newest, “Cin derella Jones." Jo^n came to War ners to work. She's working. She’s one of the lucky ones. So is Dolores Moran. Dolores, an absolute greenhorn at acting, wasn’t rushed into a picture on arrival. In stead they let her get her feet on the ground before giving her a dra matic role as Miriam Hopkins' daughter in “Old Acquaintance." Dolores came through, so now she’s with Humphrey Bogart in “To Have and Have Not.” Dolores Moran, it should be noted, is on her way up— not out, as she might have fared elsewhere. There's also Alexis Smith, whose story is too well known to bear re telling here. No Time Wasted Take the case—and what a case! —of Robert Alda. Bob stepped into stardom with his first picture. “Rhapsody in Blue." A product of burlesque. Bob was signed like hun dreds of others each year, but, un like others, he wasn^ asked to sit around—he was put to work. Now, after a big buildup as a newcomer playing (ieorge Gershwin, he’ll prob ably be seen first in “Cinderella Jones." Eleanor Parker might be just an other pretty girl. Certainly the Cleveland, Ohio, youngster is pretty enough But her first part was that of Joseph P. Davies’ daughter in “Mission to Moscow.’’ Eleanor clicked, so in her next—"Between Two Worlds”—she got the feminine lead opposite Paul Henreid. They’ll Bear Watching Dane Clark tried out at a couple of other studios before reporting to Warners, where he was shoved into "Action in the North Atlantic" with Humphrey Bogart. He’s just finished “The Very Thought of You,” and un less he does a part for Uncle Sam instead is definitely on his way in pictures. Other studios that take time to develop young players are Metro and Paramount. Marjorie Itcarriin came to prominence in "Stage Door Canteen’’ along with other young sters. Ditto Elisabeth Taylor, who’ll surprise you in “National Velvet.” Diana Lynn gets star billing in “Our Hearts Were Young and Gay.” And look what’s happened in one year to Sonny Tufts. Yep, star dust keeps clouding up our way, and we just keep on rolling along. • * • He’s a Deserving Boy Freddie Bartholomew, who’s do ing a Shirley Temple—meaning he’s just as good grown up as he was a child actor—is under term contract to P.R.C. . . . Minna Gombell, after playing mennies for years, went goodie in "Sight Life” for Uni versal. (I don’t mean “gooey.”) . . . Jimmy McHugh is proud over the success of little June Allyson. He predicted she’d be a star. Dick Powell also shares Jimmy’s enthusi asm. By VIRGINIA VALE Released by Western Newspaper Union. '"I 'HE first movie to be shown 1 on the Normandy beach head following the June 6th invasion was Columbia's tech nicolor “Cover Girl,” accord ing to information received from Col. E. L. Munson, chief of the Army Motion Picture service. The musical was shown to the in vading armies on June 16. and Colo nel Munson reports that "the boys loved it.” So this co-starring effort of Rita Hayworth’s and Gene Kel ly's makes movie history. -* Les Tremayne has added motion picture production to his acting ac tivities. He is serving as production aide on Gene Lester productions LES TREMAYNE (short features) and has completed his first assignment, "Peeks at Hol lywood," in which he also appears as an actor. Carleton Young will be remem bered by thousands of CBS radio thriller fans as “Chips Davis. Com mando." Some months ago he de cided to give up radio and become a movie actor. In his first big part. In Phil Baker’s “Take It or Leave It," he’s an announcer reading from a radio script. -* Gary Cooper certainly knows what' he does best. For his first person ally produced film for International Pictures he’s decided on "The Amer ican Cowboy," which is said to be a super-western. It’s laid way back In the last century—adding one more to the long list of costume dramas. Bob Haymes, playing an army crivate in Columbia’s "Mr. Winkle Goes to War,” was stuck by a pin when he put on a uniform rented from one of Hollywood’s big costum ers. Investigating, he found a note pined inside the jacket. It read, "This jacket was worn by me in ‘Seven Day* Leave.’ Let it look sharp on you, and act like a hero. I did. (Signed) Victor Mature.” Bob pulled out the pin and did his best. James Melton, who's now heard over CBS Sunday nights, has been elevated to stardom by Metro as a result of his work in "Ziegfeld Fol lies.” They’ve put him down for the lead in a musical version of "Cim maron." Meanwhile, after vacation ing on his Connecticut farm, and doing a series of “Oklahoma" re cordings with Jefmette MacDonald, he'll start on a concert tour which will last from October to March. And he’ll do six operas at the Met ropolitan. From Metro comes the news that the first Clark Gable picture follow ing his discharge from the army will be ‘‘Strange Adventure.” Based on the novel, "The Anointed,” it’s a prewar story of a merchant sea man and a non-seagoing girl. And we’ll see Myrna Loy as the girl. -'■# Former child stars who grew up to enter the armed services will be honored in the new Columbia Screen Snapshots subject. "The Kids Go to War,” which Ralph Staub is pre paring. The reel will include inti mate shots from Staub’s private film library of Jackie Coogan when he played in "The Kid,” Jackie Cooper in “Skippy” days, Freddie Bartholo mew at the time of "David Copper field,” and others, including Mickey Rooney. -* Jimmie Dundee, the ace stunt man, is having a vacation from do ing hazardous stunts; he’s playing a wise-cracking marine in Preston Sturges’ "Hail the Conquering He ro.” In 22 years his toughest stunts, he says, were driving an army jeep off a 100-foot embankment in "The Story of Dr. Wassell" (the first time the jeep rolled over, his head struck the wheel and knocked him uncon scious). and being blown up in a aix ton truck in "Wake Island.” -* ODDS AND ENDS—Marlene Diet rich brought a coral necklace for Maria Montez when she returned from Italy, the gift of Jean Pierre Aumont. . . . Top role in the re-muke of “Of Human Bondage” goes to Paul Heinreid; Elea nor Parker gets the Bette Davis role, opposite him. . . . Diana Lynn, billed as a stur in Paramount's “Out of This World,” rates the dressing room next Paulette Goddards on Star Row. . . . Lee Tracy has been signed by RKO for the lead in “Betrayal From the East," his first picture since his discharge from the army, in which he served as a captain. SEWING CIRCLE PATTERNS Princess Charming for 'Teen Age Cool and Practical Barebacker >8664 12-20 8662 11-18 Princess Charmer TTIE ‘teen age goes for these A Princess frocks as fast as the ne\y designs appear! Not surpris ing as they’re the most flattering type of dress a girl could possibly wear. Do this one in the pret tiest ginghams, checks or flower prints you can find! • • • Pattern No. 8662 is in sizes 11, 12, 13. 14, 16 and 18. Size 12, short sleeves, re quires 3% yards of 39-Inch material. A Barebacker C'ROM coast to coast women are 1 wearing these strapped, sun backs! It’s the new look in fash ions—and it’s practical, cool and When King Died in India, Elephant Chose New Ruler The importance of elephants in Indian history dates from the Vedic period, when they were In dia’s king-makers. They were sup posed to be gifted with an unerr ing instinct to spot the real scion of the royal blood. Whenever a king died childless, the royal ele phant was called upon to solve the difficulty. He was gaily caparisoned and given a garland to put around the neck of whomsoever he chose in his rambles for the quest of a suc cessor. Wandering through the hills and dales, the elephant would come upon the rightful ruler of his choice, and put the garland around his neck. Thus, sometimes a beggar’s bowl was exchanged for a kingly crown. In this way was the new king found, and the courtiers who fol 16wed the royal animal flocked to his standard and swore fealty to him. very, very pretty. Have at least one real barebacker with match ing jacket. • • • Pattern No R6G4 Is In sizes 12, 14. 16, IS and 20. Size 14. dress, requires 2Vi yards of 35 or 39-inch material; jacket. 1& yards. SEWING CIRCI.E PATTERN DEPT. 530 South Wells St. Chieafs Enclose 20 cents In coins for each pattern desired. Pattern No.Size. Name .. Address . KoolMd MAKES 10 m \rnoi DRINKS; Ready to be Enjoyed RICE KRI “Tba Crains ara Craal Food*'*— f&JJt • Kellogg’s Rice Krispies equal the whole ripe grain in nearly all the protective food elements declared essential to human nutrition. MUIMAN AND C O M P A' N Y* T E R ' R E ■ '& A U T E N © I A N A CLABBER GIRL goes the best of everything, for bolting