The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-06-07
INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACY EFFORTS.
In Five American Cities Are Being
Watched Closely.

New York. June Manufacturer
and union labor leaders all over the
United States are said to be watching
with interest and sympathy the expert
ment in industrial democracy which is
now being conducted in five eities-Fort
Wayne, Ind, Shelton, Conn, Cleveland,
O., Paterson, y. j., and Brooklyn. n. Y.
and which, it is believed by some of
them, will scotch if it does not prevent
bolshevism in industrial eenters where
il is put into effect.
The originator of the plan, John
Leiteh, an efficiency engineer, started it
| among 300 employees of Fort Wayne
piano factory. Its basis was the eonsti- |
tuition of the United States. The fac |
tory was administered by Senate, a
House Of Representatives and cabinet /
corresponding to the aids and advisors OF /
the president. Its success is said to have /
been immediate and permanent Yale
university, the national council OF de- !
fence and the National Association OF I
Manufacturers are said to be a few of /
the bodies that are investigating the !
merits of the plan
b. Edmund David, head of silk man. |
ufacturng corporation in Paterson, n /
j., who was instrumental in introducing |
the system in his factory in that city |
about year ago, expressed to-day the |
keenest satisfaction at the results at. |
tanned and said he hoped, ultimately. to /!
established similar working conditions in /
four other of his mills in York, Reading. !
Scranton and Beayertown, Pa. The Pat. /
erson manufacturer, however, said the /
new system should not be considered a
''panacea' or adaptable to all kinds and /
sizes Of industrial establishments. i
Its outstanding feature" said Mr.. |
David lis the ungrudging recognition, |
on the part of the employer, of the work !
ers right to voice in the determine. !
tion Of matters which are of vital inter.
est to him which lends the additional /
dignity to his position which self gov. |
eminent invarsble carries with il"
Industrial democracy or, constitution. |
alism in industry" he said, was first /
explained to the workers broad and |
fundamental set of rules adopted which |
was to guide management and workers |
The four corherstones of this business ed. /
flee were justice, cooperation. economy |
and energy. It's capstone was service
This policy, as the supreme law of the 4
establishment, has never failed to sug- .
gest solution when troublesome ques-
tions arise"
In proof of the SYSTEMS practicability, (
Mr.. Davis pointed out that last winter,
when almost every other silk mill in
Paterson was closed as the result of a
strike, the David mill was not affected. !
but maintained full production and was
kept in continuous operation as by mem.
bnrobin 80 al ~
GUS family.
Explaining the operation of the plan.
Mr.. David said the cabinet consisted of
the executive officers of the company,
chosen by directors of the corporation.
1t has the power of veto and may init
ate Legislation" as well as make sugs
gestions to the Senate and House.
Neither the Senate or House are obli
gated to adopt the cabinets reeommen.
dations and when they do they have the
power to amend them. The cabinet,
therefore, instead of issuing orders, is
merely a part of the democratic control
of the whole plant.
"The Senate" explained Mr.. David, SIS
composed of the foreman and depart
ment heads. 1t may initiate legislation
which, before going to the cabinet for
approval must be accepted by the House.
"The House is elected by a secret vote
of all the workers in the MILL one repre-
sentative for every 20 workers. TheA
House meets weekly on company time.
Much Of the legislative work is done BY
committees appointed by the presidents
of the. Senate and. House.
"There is review board to which
discharged worker may appeal his case,
and board of appeals given each work
er an opportunity for the redress Of
grievances, real or fancied, at the hands
of a department head. :"
Every two weeks a dividend" is paid
to each worker who has scored certain
number of points in efficiency, economy,
.punctualitY and regularity Of work.