The Butler County Press

LABOR-MANAGEMENT
MOVE U. S. OUTPUT TO
DOUBLE THAT OF '38

Washington, D. C. (ILNS).-Labor
and management have been doing a
tremendous job of increasing produc-
tion. As the U. S. Commerce Depart-
ment puts it, "most major indicators
of economic activity" have been moved
to new high ground.

"Some appreciation of the present
level of aggregate industrial output is
gained from nothing that it is just
double that in the middle of 1938. in
which period the production level was
approximately that which prevailed
throughout the whole period of the
first World War," it is pointed out by
the Commerce Department.

"The availability of unemployed la-
bor and plant has made it possible to
bring about the great expansion of the
past year with a minimum of friction.
The chief difficulty now is an inade-
quate capacity, both of finished plant
and required raw materials, for pro-
ducing in sufficient volume the type of
commodities needed by the country at
this time. it was stated.

"These capacity deficiencies are be-
ing rectified to some extent. The raw
material problem, particularly in the
metals, has grown increasingly seri-
ous and in July it became evident that
consumer goods industries competing
for scarce metals must face an accent-
uated curtailment of output, accord-
ing to the report."

It is evident that metal and other
shortages will continue to dislocate
employment-to create unemployment
which may be painful until there can
be readjustment to new jobs. The
A. F. of L. has set up special machin-
ery for working with government to
cut the unemployment to a minimum
by helping plants to find materials in
the face of shortages. But even with
the best possible effort it is conceded
here that there will be much mal-
adjustment before the industrial pic-
ture is ironed out.