TODAY IN WASHINGTON 27, III , 1945 By David Lawrence Totalitarian Doctrine Seen Embodied in Man-power Bill. Washington, March -Fascism abroad, which is a war plant. Such a position would be consistent partnership between capitalistic interests and the if the Government managed all the war plants and state, has regimented workers and forced them to there were no private profits involved. The logical work for the private profit of management. That sequel of the situation created by the new man- same totalitarian doctrine has been embodied in the power bill would be to abolish all profits and put new man-power bill which has come from a confer- all governmental and non-governmental activities ence committee of members of the House and Senate. under complete governmental control so that there If passed, this bill means that workers in America would not be a single dollar of profit made out of will lose their right to quit work and that they must the use of patriotism to force workers to stay. on take jobs the Government gives them and work for their jobs. Maybe organized labor will soon begin designated employers. to press for such legislation. The theory back of the much-talked-of universal Opponents of democracy will derive considerable service is not being applied. When a man is ordered satisfaction out of what is happening. Hitler and into military service, he gets $50 a month and no- the Nazis may well smile at the spectacle of body makes any profit out of his service to his democracy, which calls itself free, finding that it country. But now the Government, claiming it is cannot organize itself on a voluntary basis to win fulfilling a war purpose, orders American workers the war but must threaten jail sentences to get to serve private employers who make profits. If the the war production job done. Hitler is losing the workers refuse they are subject to jail penalties. war but apparently his philosophy is winning. This strange development has been fostered by a Will the Senate and House acquiesce as did the small group of universal service advocates who think Reichstag in Nazi Germany and as have parliamen they can spare the profit system from similar treat- tary bodies also at other great moments in history ment. Instead they will bring the kind of contro- when the steamroller of military necessity rides versy that should never have been permitted at this roughshod over them and demands action? Or will stage of the war. For the issue of freedom versus members of Congress stand on their rights and in involuntary servitude is raised. sist on a truly voluntary plan? Senator O'Mahoney of Wyoming, Democrat of the liberal and progressive school of thought, rightly The real reason for the man-power muddle has condemns the proposed legislation as regimentation been inefficiency in the administration, which now such as Hitler used and Stalin promulgated to get seeks a way out by drastic measures that will cover control of the workers in Germany and Russia, re- up its mistakes. It is tragic indeed that, as Amer ican armies are winning a great victory, this democ spectively. Organized labor has asked the Congress racy is asked to adopt totalitarian methods. Fas- to defeat the measure. The proposed legislation is vicious in that it de- cism has always been simpler than democracy but the American people, up to now at least, have pre prives an aggrieved citizen of any-court appeal. It ferred the cumbersomeness of democracy to the offers, to be sure, an administrative or inter-depart- efficiency of Fascism. If we were losing the war by mental committee to hear complaints but, under re- our methods it would be different, but we are win cent decisions of the courts, there would appear to ning. The administration's idea of reward evident) be no possibility of review by the courts of decisions is to force workers to become part of a strait jacke made by the bureaus enforcing such legislation. which deprives them of the oldest right in American There is certainly no opportunity for relief within history-freedom to work without state-mai rules the time limits of the bill. of enforced work or slavery. It is fallacious to say that if the Government can order n man into the Army, it can order him into Copyright, 1945. AM Rights Reserved.