Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-10-16
Sawyer Says
BusinessOK
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most part we are in wonderful
shape" Mr.. Sawyer commented.
While there is no need at all,
in the Secretary's opinion, for
make work" there are things the
Federal Government can do to
secure better distribution of ma
tional prosperity. For example.
Federal procurement contracts
might be broken up.
In your talks with business
men, how do they react to the
possibility of another round of
wage Increases" the Secretary
was asked.
Businessmen generally are
concerned because the resulting
increase in costs will probably
have to be levied on the consumer
at a time when consumers are
becoming more selective in their
purchases. The solution would
seem to lie in increasing the actual
wage of the workingman by re-
ducing the price of the things he
buys. That means moderation and
restraint on both sides and
cooperative endeavors to trim
current costs of production and
distribution.
Small businessmen, in particu-
lar. are apprehensive with refer
ence to any more rounds Of wage
increases. Many of them are OPP
Grating close to the break-even
point now and feel that they can
not increase their prices, which
they would be forced to do if they
faced wage increases at this time
that is. they would be forced to
do this or go out of business. It
is no answer to their problem to
say that a few large corporations
can afford to make the increase.
Mr.. Sawyer was Lieutenant
Governor of Ohio in 1884. He
ran for Governor in 1898. unsuc-
cessfully. He won the primary in
a very bitter fight against the in
cumbent Governor but was beaten
in the election by John Bricker.
now Senator from Ohio. A Mason
and an Episcopalian. for some
years Mr.. Sawyer has been a
trustee of Oberlin College. located
in his home State. The Belgians
remember him for his continued
help in their effort to rebuild their
economy, an effort which was
dramatically successful. Belgium
was the first to recover and still is
one of the strong points of West
ern Europe. While Ambassador
to Belgium Mr.. Sawyer won wide
popularity for his part in obtain
ing the return of the Van Eyck
altar triptych, which had been
plundered by the Nazis. Thou
sands of Belgians and others
among them the writer-thronged
the museum in Brussels when the
returned art work was displayed.
Has Varying Interests
In dress and manner, Mr.. Saw
yer gives the impression of being
an alert and active business execu-
tive. Although he has sat on
many boards of directors, his main
work since he graduated from OBJ
erlin College in 1908 has been that
of a lawyer. Before taking the
oath of Office as Secretary of Com
MERGE he resigned all connections
which might conflict with his OFF,
cial duties.
Mr.. Sawyer always wanted to be
a publisher. Only the award of a
scholarship to Cincinnati Law
School in 1908 changed the course
of his life. But he is today q
publisher nonetheless. In Lam
caster, Ohio population 100000.
his daily Eagle Gazette sells $4,000
copies. Also. he owns two radio
stations, in Dayton and Spring.
field. Ohio.
Mr.. Sawyer is a minority stock
holder in the Cincinnati Reds.
The team didn't do so well this
year, so he does not boast too
loudly of this connection at the
moment. But he is quite ready
to talk about Cincinnati Gardens,
a sports arena, which he organ
lied and carried through after he
resigned his duties in Belgium.
Cincinnati Gardens is the largest
of its kind between New
York and Chicago.
In conversation Mr.. Sawyer does
not grope for. words. He knows
his mind and freely speaks it, If
sometimes "off the record" In the
Commerce Department he is known
for his democratic ways and re-
tentive memory. On his toes and
a fast operator, che can just zip
through red tape" according to
people who know. Younger staff
MEMBERS sometimes nave trouble
keeping up with him.
When Commerce officials retire
nowadays, they are personally
greeted by the Secretary. At
Christmas, the whole staff is re-
ceived, in groups. for a handshake.
Last Christmas as one such group
passed through his Office, Mr..
Sawyer observed: you must be
from Census" How did you
guess, Mr.. Secretary" Mr.. Sawyer
was asked. Your hands are so
cold, figured you must have come
from Census hel crs across
the Anacostia Ri..- was the
reply.