Norwich bulletin., 1920-03-11
NORWICH TOWN

At the March meeting of the Mems league Monday evening in the First Congregational chapel a most inter- esting account of the story of John Leitch was given by Herbert L. Yer rington The complete story is a gen. ecal review of the life of MT. Leitch, one of the most interesting figures in this country today, having gone from poverty and obscurity to a position of nationwide prominence. He is the new prophet in the world of industry, having introduced a new plan of CO., operation between employers and their employees, called industrial democracy, which is used in a score of more plants. The story explains the svs- te'n and tells some of the remarkable results it has brought about, of inter est to every man and woman, as the great problem today is that of the re- l&tion between capital and labor, be- tween employers and employees. John Leitch is helping to solve the matter which directly concerns every one of us.
 Industrial democracy is the orean- ization of a factory or any other busi- ness concern into a little democratic state, with a representative govern ment which makes it's own laws and has the power to enforce them. The
  tic.n or a small one. If the plant is large the government is very much like that of this country. It has a house of representatives, a senate and a cabinet. The members of the house are elected by secret ballot by the whole body of workers. There is one representative for every 20 to 100 workers. The senate Is not elective; it includes minor executives, depart ment heads, foremen-according to the organization. The cabinet is com posed of the executive officers of the company. with the president as chair man. The house and the senate mass the laws. The cabinet has the power of veto, but this power has rarely, if ever, been exercised. Questions of wages, piece rates, discharges or grievances of any kind, as well as ways and means of reducing costs, are handled by the house. AS an iIlustra- tion of the good derived from indus trial democracy, a certain manufac- turer stated to MT. Leitch about two year.' ago that the savings of his plant the year previous were $S0.0oO. It was after years of thinking. studying and experimenting by Mir. Beitch that the p.ar of industrial democracy was finally worked out.
 MT. Leitch was born in Chicago in April. 1868, and at the age of 10 wkas obliged to leave school and 20 to work. as his rarents needed the little that he could earn, first in a shoe store, at Ss a week. He was the first one on duty in the morning. and had to sweep the store, clean the cuspidors, deliver shoes, and in every way make himself I generally useful, not reaching home ] until g or 10 o'clock in the evening At Is he went to work Tn the stock | yards as a nemploye of commission | house, working from 10 to Is hours a | day. most of the time driving cattle | in muck and mire sometimes up to his l vnees. He remained here for a few | years. during which time he supported l his father and mother. MT. Leitch has l stated that he did not regret tht 1 strenuous life Of his younger days having tasted the bitter dregs of pov. l erty, as it has made him richer now IT knowledge mad understanding than h, otherwise could have been.
 1 Of local interest Is the fact that MT | Leitch married Miss Mary Schnabel daughter of George and Mary SteAd. man Schnabel who many years ags resided at AT Washington street i Mrs. Leitch is also connected with tn, l Hyde family, the SteadmRns ant most esteemed families of Norwich.
 The meeting of the First Congrega ticnal Home Missionary Sewing socie
 ty. which was to have been held Fri day afternoon. has been postponed | we elk owing. to the meeting that after
 noon of Park Congregational Hom
 Missionary society, to which the Nor
 wich Town society has been invited. Miss Ruth Potter of East Tow