BRASS TACKS

Eric Johnston, new president of the United States Chamber of Commerce, in the current Reader's Digest proposes a program for progressive business management: business and labor are to "be firm allies in preventing the governmentalization of this country"; and labor is to have a voice in reaching decisions, for "labor today has its thinkers, just as management has its thinkers."

Much cooperation and pooling of brainpower between labor and management can already be seen in American industry--indicating that Mr. Johnston's attitude is, if not commonplace, at least not unique. From the shipyards of Maine to the airplane factories of California, far-sighted management has come to regard union leaders more as consultants than as opponents. Upgrading, job-rating, and other worker relations are being thrashed out in labor-management committees. Such firms as Bethlehem Steel have been frank to admit that they are amazed and delighted to find a valuable friend and ally behind the labor bogey man.

But even progressive business leaders still refuse to peek behind the bogey man they call "government." Thus Mr. Johnston asserts that "either private business or government bureaucracy must save this country when the war is over," and that business must do it or else "there will be no more freedom and no more business men." It would appear that, although labor and capital can lie together, there is no room for a third bedmate.

From this dangerous attitude have arisen demands that all government wartime controls be ended the very day that victory is ours. Many business leaders, including Johnston, talk of the postwar world as if it is to be reached in one short hop from the cessation of hostilities. Actually, the demobilization period will be more difficult than the following years--and only if this transition can be accomplished with neither a violent boom nor a tragic collapse can private industry take over the direction of our economic efforts. Private industry without governmental direction and controls will be no more able to demobilize than they were able to mobilize. There are problems obviously too vast for any industry or group of industries to solve. Which of our citizens are to get the first automobiles? Who is to finance the conversion of plant and facilities able to turn out billions of dollars worth of munitions? Who is to guide the AEF back to 10,000,000 jobs? And who is to arrange an orderly and comprehensive solution to all the other problems? Mr. Johnston is willing to make labor a partner in solving these problems, but he will be forced to make government an equal partner in planning and executing the great postwar adventure.