The sun., 1919-09-07
ZNANZ&&SMZNNyAN
INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACY IN PRACTICE
Idea Developed by John Leitch Working We'll Where
Tried Though He Faced World Problem
Devising 1t From Our Constitution
By JOHN WALKER HARRINGTON

By JOHN WALKER HARRINGTON
%TRIKES should be no more. In the
opinion of this new figure in the
arena of business life, John
Lettch, founder Of the new industrial
democracy. Whether one accepts his
theories Of II or not 1t is evident that
many men Of practical insight and well
proved sagacity have actually adopted
the principles which he has set forth
in his new book, Man to Man." which
its publishers aver has already passed
the 100000 mark. He is going about
the country organizing factories and
huge Industrial plants according to his
system. which he frankly admits he
borrowed from the Constitution of the
United States. The trade journals de-
vNSd to industrial engineering and
high tension efficiency have taken up
his theories and examined them with
the scrutiny of sober interest. The
local press in communities where the
Leitch plan has been adopted in the
leading industries has been reporting
the proceedings Of the Houses of Rep
resentatives, and the Senates and the
Cabinets which have come into being
in the realm Of pulleys. reels and jigs.
Practical Experience Counts.
One Of the elements in the system
which inspires confidence both with
the employers and the employed is
that Leitch certainly has had the prac-
teal experience in the world of labor to
entitle him to be heard. In his fifty
two years Of life he has undergone
many contacts with practical life. He
began to formulate his ideas when as
youth he drove cattle about the
Chicago stockyards. He gradually
grew into the belief that the whole
trouble with our modern relations be-
tween labor and capital was due to
the growing inclination OF those who
hired and fred to consider toll as a
mere commodity, to be bought as
cheaply as possible. Thus men were in
his view led to think less and to be-
come mere machines.
His type OF an employer. who at
least had a glimmering OF the new
NH Vtd n o
on sorry nag about the stockyards,
saw man working in the mire in
thin clothes and leaking boots.
"Herel" demanded Armour, what
do you mean by coming out in rig
like that?"
TITS all I've got" insisted the work
man.
Nonsense" roared p. d. you
quit right here! Go out and buy a
decent suit OF clothes and a pair OF
warm rubber boots and have them
charged to me. A good man like you
has no business to endanger his
health"
II p. D. Armour had lived longer
ne might have done something for the
Leitch brand Of industrial democracy
and the reason that he did not was
because the founder had not yet con-
templated his formula
10 II was that John Leitch. fafins
turther into the world. became q
hoorer In various places, a clerk. q
salesman. and advertising agent. and
good one Some persons have called
MIN an efficiency engineer. a title
which he detests, for most worlzmer
when they see anybody with such q
label instinctively distrust him andin.
ier that he is trying TO speed VI
the work at the price Of their bon,
and sinew. So Leitch might be called
combination OF an Industrial engi
neer and a peripatetic philosopher o.
the new era.
CHALLENGES World Problem.
Leitch has boldly challenged one o.
the most complicated problems in tn,
world. He has ventured to sugges
70 labor that high wages are no solu
uon OF the cost OF living and all tn,
troubles that go with It unless the!
are justified by increased production
and economy. He makes so bold as I,
teh the employer how the boss car
steer between the two whirlpools an,