The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-03

- HE welfare manager" is here.
W(SN A new profession offers itself
- for the choice Of those strong.
earnest. practical young men
an-impOrtant question. Which bit Of
the burden Of life shall elect to carry -
II IS profession that in the near fu-
ture bids fair 20 become well recog-
nized and even more important a factor
In the management Of manufacturing or
business concerns Of all kinds, where
any considerable amount Of labor IS
employed than is the advertising or
transportation manager to-day.
Some of the duties Of the welfare
manager are not entirely new; but hith-
erto they have been performed. in the
ie" large concerns where they have
been performed at all. in a more OF less
perfunctory manner. under the super
vision of the president o. PROPRIETOR
o. the business, or some other officer
Of the company, often on his own re-
sponsibiity.
History CT the Welfare Movement.
But the Executive Committee Of the
National Civic Federation. at its animal
meeting last December. believing that
rs efforts TO better the relations he
tween employers and empIoyes would
be materially aided by promoting well
fare work. authorized the appointment
or a committee to organize special de-
partment for the purpose.
The appointment OF this committee
was one of the last acts OF the late
Senator Hanna. the president Of the
Federation.
J. was not thought that men renrs-
sentiag such large interests could meet
oftcncr than twice a year. but the result
OF the first meeting on January @ was
pleasant surprise
il WAS the first time employees pro-
noting welfare work had ever been
brought together. and. without attempt
nag to organize or transact any bust
ness. they spent the whole day from
1890 a. m to p. m. IN general discus
sion OF the subject. adjourning TO meet
again the following month.
It Is worthy OF note that The men
present carry on their payrons more
than 5yO,o05 men and women.
Some of It's Officers.
With such officers as II. II. vreeland
for chairman. Cyrus II. Mccormick
John II. Patterson. Edward A. Filene
for vice chairmen. and Cornelius n
Bliss as treasurer. all Of them success
ful. practical business men. promoting
welfare work in their own establish
ments, skepticism as 70 the value OF the
work would be absurd
The plan OF work. among other things
includes three kinds Of conferences:
first. of employers for general discus
third. conferences Of welfare mana
gers.
AS Mr.. vreeiand said at thu conference
OF March l6. these meetings are for an
exchange Of experiences and to get
some concrete idea under which this
department should be conducted and TO
give publicity to the practical value Of
the work.
The Welfare Manager.
Probably no one can speak with more
authority on the subject than Miss
Gertrude Becks. secretary and active
manager OF the welfare department Of
the National Civic Federation
Ia her efforts for the 1900 or more
employees OF the Mccormick and Deer
ing division Of the International Har-
vester Company, she met with particu-
lar success, and as an investigator she
has visited practically all firms OF con-
sequence In this country.
What Welfare Work Is.
'Welfdre work" said Miss Beeks. lis
any effort 20 better the conditions under
which employees work and live. It may
include the physical comforts in the
workroom, the providing OF suitable
homes, educational advantages or op-
portunities for recreation.
NO set rules may be prescribed for