Harry Norwitch

Harry Norwitch (born Hershel Arnowitch, June 18, 1894 – April 16, 1973)[1] was an organized labor leader and Democratic politician from Philadelphia.

[2] Norwitch became affiliated with the Amalgamated Clothing Workers union and moved to Philadelphia in 1926 to work as a business agent for the Joint Board Cutters and Trimmers Local 110.

[4] In 1954, he successfully opposed the efforts of fellow Democrats James Tate and Michael J. Towey to weaken the civil service reforms of the new charter.

[17] After Tate was elected mayor, Norwitch continued to support him, and clashed with fellow Democrat and City Council President Paul D'Ortona over taxation issues.

[18] In a change from his position of a few years earlier, Norwitch held the line on spending, voting to stop proposed pay increases for some city workers.

[20] He accused party chairman Francis R. Smith of pitting blacks against whites and seeking a "racial fight when all Philadelphians should be working hand-in-hand to solve the problems of our big city.

[2] Norwitch died of heart failure at Albert Einstein Medical Center in 1973, and was buried in Mount Lebanon Cemetery in Delaware County.