CZECHOSLOVAKIA: End of Bat'a

Next to Henry Ford himself the world's foremost "Fordizer" has been Thomas Bat'a (pronounced Bahtya). Fifty-six years ago he was born to the wife of a poor cobbler in Zlin. He made Zlin the "Shoe Capital" of Europe. Last week he met his death at Zlin. One of his last philanthropies was a thumping gift which completely wiped out the civic debt of Zlin.

Because, like Henry Ford, he profoundly mistrusted financiers, Thomas Bat'a took care to remain the First Working Partner in a partnership which embraced all his employes. No one outside...