Scouting, Volume 1, Number 17, January 1, 1914 Page: 8
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8
SCOUTING
C. P. NEILL NEW MEMBER
OF EXECUTIVE BOARD.
Brings to Our Work With Boys, Thor=
ough Education and Long
Experience.
MR.. CHARLES P. NEILL, formerly
United States Commissioner of
Labor, a new member of the Execu-
tive Board of the National Council of the
Boy Scouts of America, has had long ex-
perience in both industrial and social work.
As a director of the American Smelting
and Refining Co., and Chairman of that
company's labor committee, he now has
charge of the welfare of approximately
20,000 laboring men. He was a member
of the Board of Managers of the Asso-
ciated Charities in Washington, D. C.,
1896-1900; vice-president of the Board of
Charities of the District of Columbia, 1900-
06; assistant recorder for the Anthracite
Coal Strike Commission, 1903; recorder for
the Alabama Coal Strike Board of Arbi-
tration, 1905; member of the Federal Im-
migration Commission, 1907-10; member of
the Executive Committee of the Interna-
tional Congress of ^Social Insurance; mem-
ber of the National Institute of Statistics,
and a member of the Board of Trustees
of the National Child Labor Committee.
Mr. Neill was born in Illinois in 1865
and lived in Austin, Texas, from 1870 to
1889. In 1891 he received the degree of
Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown Uni-
versity (D. C.) ; in 1893, the degree of
Master of Arts from Notre Dame Uni-
versity (Indiana) ; and in 1897, the degree
of Doctor of Philosophy from Johns Hop-
kins University
He was an instructor in mathematics at
Georgetown University, 1890-91, and at
Notre Dame University 1891-94. He then
went to the Catholic University in Wash-
ington, and served as instructor in political
economy, associate professor of political
economy, and professor of political econ-
omy until 1905, when President Roosevelt
appointed him United States Commis-
sioner of Labor, which office, with reap-
pointments from President Taft and Presi-
dent Wilson, he held until 1913.
In an article published in a recent num-
ber of "The Survey," William J. Kirby
pointed out that the recent action of Con-
gress and President Wilson, under the
specific encouragement of both railroad
managers and employees, in placing industry
mediation and arbitration on a wider and
stronger basis, " is a long step toward the
realization of a definite ideal which has
been cradled in the mind of Charles P.
Neill, former Commissioner of Labor."
Mr. Kirby credits President Roosevelt with
the discovery of Mr. Neill, and Air. Neill
with the discovery of the Erdman act.
" Congress put the Erdman act on the
statute books, but Charles P. Neill placed
it definitely in the imagination of the
American people and focused upon it the
hope of the nation for industrial peace.
It is to Mr. Neill's credit that he found
and took advantage of the possibilities of
the Erdman act in spite of its limita-
tions."
'In that article the service which Mr.
Neill gave in demonstrating the utility of
the Erdman act's provisions in industrial
warfare was described, and the author con-
tinued :
"In all this work as mediator Mr. Neill
enjoyed the unlimited confidence of rail-
road managers, and employees alike. What
ever the bitterness, the differences in codes
of industrial ethics, and the misunderstand-
ings of fact which separated into bitter
MR. CHARLES P. NEILL.
l''ormer United States Commissioner of Labor,
Who Takes an Active Part in the Na-
tional Council's Work.
opposition the railroad managers and their
employees, there was no time when both
parties failed to give absolute confidence
to Commissioner Neill and to rely with
unquestioning trust on his judgment, on
his personal character, and the practical
wisdom of his suggestion. This extraordi-
nary tribute to him was primarily a tribute
to his character, but it was earned in part
by the marvelous accuracy with which his
imagination seized situations and all their
parts, and enabled him to talk the minutely
technical language of railroad operation.
The rare assemblage of mental and moral
gifts which characterize Mr. Neill was
fully recognized and nothing clouded that
recognition during his term of service.
* * *
" Nature, grace and environment con-
spired to prepare Mr. Neill for his work.
Ideals governed him from his early boy-
hood and gave him the courage to over-
come a typical range of obstacles in work-
ing them out. Everything taught Mr. Neill.
He had the rare capacity and the tempera-
ment to profit by experience. His ideals
of social service and his Christian sym-
pathies had been so powerful that nothing
frightened him and nothing side-tracked
him from his path. There is no way of
knowing fully the pressure that was
brought to bear upon him, or the dust that
was stirred up to obscure the practical
ideals that governed him in his work as
an investigator of the industrial battlefield.
Whether in a Congressional hearing where
a none too kindly spirit sometimes cropped
out, or in protecting the accuracy and good
faith of his bureau reports, some of which
aroused fierce antagonisms and were sub-
ject to bitter attack. Mr. Neill displayed
the same intelligent fearlessness, the same
restrained idealism and the same self-re-
liance which his friends have alwavs noted
and admired in him. He has had severe
academic training vet he has remained a
thoroughly practical man. He "is a brave
and honest fighter, without any love of
fighting for its own sake."
NEW YORK CITY SCOUTS
AT SAFETY EXPOSITION.
Attractive Exhibit, Contest and Lec-
tures Increase Public Knowledge
of Scout Activities.
IN a first-aid contest conducted by the
New York City Council of the Boy
Scouts of America, December 20, at
the Safety and Sanitation Exposition in
the Grand Central Palace, Troop 121, Mr.
Eckstein, 'Scout Master, won the first prize
of a very handsome troop first-aid kit pre-
sented by Messrs. Burroughs, Welcome &
Company.
Major H. H. Rutherford, of the Medical
Corps, United States Army, judged the
contest and remarked that the general
knowledge and efficiency of the boys was
most gratifying, in fact, was well up with
requirements as laid down by the Govern-
ment.
The contest was the conclusion of a most
successful week of Scout publicity con-
ducted by the New York City council for
the purpose of giving the New York pub-
lic a better idea of Scout activities.
The exhibit was most attractive, being
composed of a tent with furniture, and a
number of bulletin boards. Picture talks
were given in the evenings throughout the
week.
Twenty-one men were enlisted as volun-
teer Scout Masters.
A LETTER FROM ILLINOIS.
Typical of Reports That Come from All
Parts of the Country.
Belvidere, 111., December 13.
National Headquarters
Boy Scouts of America,
New York.
Last night our boys had a " Moonlight
Hike." We departed after school and re-
turned at 10 o'clock the same night. This
gave us six hours out in the open under a
perfect sky, with every opportunity to study
the stars and the sky. The boys cooked
and fried their food out in the open. It
was fun, frolic and pleasure, with study
and healthful experiences interwoven.
Our "boys" are the model boys of the
town—not sissy, stupid, dull or dead boys,
not a corpse in the troop, but alive, alert,
wide awake, apt, willing to learn and cour-
teous—real " Boy Scouts."
I have a big vote for the movement.
Success to the work.
Most cordially,
(Signed) Henry Edward Rompel,
Pastor M. E. Church.
Chief Scout Speaks at Academy.
Chief Scout Ernest Thompsr>n Seton ad-
dressed the Boy Scouts of Staten Island
Academy and their friends early in Decem-
ber. He illustrated his lecture with fasci-
nating views of animals and outdoor
scenes.
SCOUT LITERATURE
EXCHANGE.
Secretaries of Local Councils,
Scout Commissioners, Scout Masters
and Scout Scribes can effectively co-
operate with National Headquarters
and do a good turn to others by
mailing to the National Office at
least two copies of every piece of
printed matter, photograph or out-
line of new activities, games, plays
or entertainments, which they have
used successfully. The best of these
suggestions will be passed on each
month to other Scout Masters. By
helping them you will help yourself.
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 1, Number 17, January 1, 1914, periodical, January 1, 1914; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth282656/m1/8/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.