"What the Worker Wants"

COMMONWEALTH

(British Commonwealth of Nations)

To sit and vote as equals in a new "House of Parliament" hurried, last week, representatives of the toilers and officers of the vast Dunlop Rubber Co., near Birmingham. Each proud, contented toiler-"M.P." had been elected by the secret ballots of 150 constituents. A "Constitution" stood ratified by the "House of Parliament," and to it all Dun-loppers pledged allegiance and obedience. . . .

All this--"Parliament," "M.P.'s," "Constitution"--is the ripe product of eight years spent in creating "what the worker wants" by Sir Eric Campbell Geddes, astute, experienced, intelligent Chairman of Dunlop's board.

Said Sir Eric: "We now have a council chamber that is at once a monument to what has been accomplished and a symbol of future harmony. ... In the bad old days in industry, before the round-the-table idea had taken root, operatives knew nothing and cared less about the difficulties of management. ... It is not too much to say that the increasing cooperation of our operatives has been a most important factor in steering this organization into smoother financial waters. .

Better known in the U. S. than Sir Eric Campbell Geddes, 52, is his younger brother, Sir Auckland Campbell Geddes, 48, recent British Ambassador to the U. S. (1920-24) and previously Principal of McGill University, Montreal.

Sir Eric Geddes, less the scholar-diplomat, more the born executive, came young to the U. S. from England and forgot social caste while he worked for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Soon he went out to build bridges, tracks and soaring trestles in India. Returning, he won further experience with the British North-Eastern Railway.

During the War he solved transport problems for the British General Staff and was rewarded with the First Lordship of the Admiralty (1917-18). Intensely practical, he soon secured appointment to deal with reconstruction problems as Minister of Transport (1919-21). Since then two industries have engrossed him: Dunlop Rubber, and Imperial Airways Ltd., the veteran cross channel flying firm of whose board he is active Chairman. On rails, on rubber, and on air his high achievements leap and lead.