Evening star., 1951-12-09


by Roger Lowell Putnam, the Spring.
field (Mass.) manufacturer and ex-
Mayor. He is just taking over from
Eric A. Johnston, the motion picture
"czar," as director of economic sta
bilization-meaning that the tough
policy decisions on price, wage, credit
controls henceforth will be his babies.
Let's see what are some of the
problems that make Mr.. Putnam's
job an unenviable one and then take
a look at the mild-mannered, ST.
year-old New England "blueblood"
who is the latest addition to the
mobilization top command.
In the first place, prices - and
wages, too-have started to creep up
ward again after being held in check
last summer and early fall. There
is the beginning of what the econo-
miSts call new inf1ationary spiral
meaning that prices and wages are
beginning to chase each other up to
new heights. It is a slow spiral at
the moment, but the pace will accel-
crate If sufficient pressure for higher
prices and wages develop.
Steel Poses Problem
Then, almost Immediately, MIR. Put
nam will have tossed in his lap a
situation that could set in motion
possibly disastrous price-wage spiral.
It is the steel industry contract prob
lem. where million workers are now
negotiating wage increase. Their
representative, the CIO United Steel
workers. avowedly are out to bust
wage controls if necessary. The steel
companies say the size of the wage
raise they can give depends on the
price increase the Government will
allow on their products. Higher steel
prices affect the costs of most de-
tense and consumer products. In the
background is the threat of a strike
What to do will be MI. Putnam's
problem.
After steel will come COAL John
L. Lewis miners contract with the
coal operators is up March 81. And
the belligerent Mr.. Lewis never yet
has been satisfied with a wage in
crease of size given by steel or
other industries
The long-term problem facing Mr..
Putnam concerns shortages of con-
sumer hard goods that are expected
to develop in 1852 as the demands of
defense production cut deeper into
supplies of steel. aluminium and cop
per. Pressure on price controls in
creaseS as the things people buy be-
come hard to get.
Come what may, Mr.. Putnam says
he Is determined to hold the lines on
prices and wages at just about the
present level, although he hasn't been
around long enough to say just how
he plans to do it.
First, Find the Lid
'It is my job to sit on the (price-
wage) lid just as hard as I possibly
can-put all the weight of my Office
on it," says Mr.. Putnam. A wag
commented that Mr.. Putnam's first
job will be ito find the lid" meaning
that it had been removed and lost
in the granting of past increases.
United States economic stability,
Mr.. Putnam continues, "is the staff
on which the whole free world leans
for security in these troubled times.
1t is my job to keep this staff strong
so that we in America may be the
guiding light for freedom every
where"
Mr.. Putnam is president and chair
man of the Package Machinery Co.
of Springfield, which makes machi-
merry for packaging cigarettes, foods
and many other things. He was
happily directing the activities of his
900 employees when he was called to
Washington several weeks ago by
Defense Mobilizer Charles E. Wilson
and offered the stabilization job.
Many people, Mr.. Putnam knew,
had turned down the position.
Friends, who said nothing good could
come from it. advised him to do
likewise. He was about to say mo,
thanks" when his middle son, VIII
liam Che has three sons and three
daughters), intervened. William,
who is with the Springfield Chamber
Of Commerce, said he didn't see how
any one could. in good conscience,
refuse to serve his country at this
time.
Son Wos His Conscience
William was my conscience and
followed his advice" says Mr..
Putnam.
The new boss of economic controls
is a stocky. friendly man who fairly
exudes energy and intense interest
in things. He comes from two of
New England's most distinguished
families, members of which have
been prominent in cultural, indus
trial and public affairs of Massachu-
sets since the days of the Pilgrims.
The Putnams settled in Salem Vii
lage in 1886 and the Lowells, Mr..
Putnam's mothers family, arrived at
Newburyport year later. A great
great-grandfather of Mr.. Putnam
was the first circuit court judge
appointed by President Washington.
An aunt was Amy Lowell, the spin
ster poet, and an uncle was A. Law
renee Lowell, one of Harvard Uni
versity's best presidents. A recent
news story described Mr.. Putnam
as "a direct descendant of Amy
Lowell"
IT never heard of my aunt being
involved in anything like that" Mr..
Putnam commented. eve did take up
pipe smoking at the same time-I
was in college at the time. You knew
she used to smoke cigars in public
and pipe at home"
Mr.. Putnam was graduated magma
cum laude from Harvard in 1915,
majoring In mathematics. He took
graduate work at NIT. After couple
of years industrial work he enlisted