Omaha daily bee., 1910-06-22
CIVIC COUNCIL OF STATE
Meeting at Commercial Club Decides
to Form Nebraska Branch.
JOHN MITCHELL GIVES ADDRESS
Governor shallenberEer to Name Com
mittee--As Chairman re Selects
Organization BOdy-TO Bet
ter Many Conditions.

At the close of a meeting held at the
Commercial club rooms Monday afternoon
action was taken to organize a state coun-
Gil OF the National Civic federation.
BY a motion made by Victor Rosewater,
Governor Shallenberger as chairman of the
meeting will appoint a committee to for
mulate plan for the organization of such
council in Nebraska The governor said
he Will name the committee after giving
the matter some further consideration.
This action followed brief speeches by
the governor, Ralph Breckenridge of
Omaha, Dean Burnett Of the State Agri-
cultural school, Jotr Mitchell, former pres
ident Of the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea, who is now the chairman of the trades
agreement committee of the federation, and
Ralph M. Easley chairman of the execu-
tive council of the same body
In opening the meeting, Governor Shall
lenberger made the point that more uni
formity IL not the only thing to be desired
in law, as uniformity might become merely
another name for medlocrity. He did not
believe it would be well to have In Ne
braska such an organization, as was pro-
posed, and expressed the belief the
great western section of the country would
yet be able to act successfully as mediator
or referee for the warning factions of
capital and labor congregated in the older
sections, where population is congested and
where the industrial struggle is severest
lettering State Statutes.
Ralph w. Breckenridge, connected with
the committee on reform in legal procedure
of the American Bar association and a
member of the conference Of commissioners
on uniform laws, briefly outlined some
Of the work already done In the direction
of lettering the statutes. of states. He in
stanced the securing of uniform negotiable
instruments, merchandise receipts, bills of
lading and of sale, and similar features
In many of the states, and outlined many
other matters on which the effeort has
now been centered. He said Nebraska has
heretofore been rpresented in the move
ment by volunteers paying their own ex-
penses, and expressed the view that the
time has now come for the state to place
its representation on a more dignified and
respectable footing.
The laws of Nebraska should now take
cognizance of this movement" said Mr..
Breckenridge. Its purposes, objects and
hopes are common to all the people of the
country, and l hope the Nebraska coun-
Gil, when organized, will have a great and
signal success"
Dean E. A. Burnett of tho Nebraska
school of agriculture discussed some of the
things an agricultural state like Nebra aka
could very properly take up and endeayor
to have enacted into law in connection
with other farming states. Among these he
mentioned good roads, contagious diseases
of animals, such as hog cholera which can
now be controlled or prevented, If the
state will assist pure seeds, the standard
ization of commercial fertilizers and the
shutting out of spurious products 1t
would be necessary, he held, to educate
the people on these matters. but the effort
would be worth while, and great good
would ultimately result osINan
John Mitchell Talks.
John Mitchell was given q warm greeting
by the business and professional men
present as well as by the representatives
OF the labor organizations He discussed
Compensation for Industrial Accidents"
from the standpoint Of one who has made
a close study OF the subject He said five
states now have at work commissioners
appointed to examine into the questions
end report to their legislatures at the next
session. These are New York, Illinois,
Ohio. Minnesota and Wisconsin. He had
himself been member of the commission
in New York, which had succeeded In
having enacted into law its recommends
ton for an automatic plan of eompensa-
ton.
by this PLAN" said Mr.. Mitchell, "a
worker who Is injured is entitled to half
pay for a certain length of time, regard
less of fault, and In case OF death his
widow or heirs are entitled TO a sum equal
to three years wages"
The former president of the miners or
ganization said he believed thoroughly in
open discussion of differences between capt.
tai and labor and mutual concessions based
on genuine understanding of each others
position. On this theme he was earnest
and eloquent, and evidently impressed
his hearers with the sincerity and the
soundness of his conclusions.
Toll of Industry.
More people are killed and manned in
the conduct of our peaceful Industries in
this country every year" said Mitchell,
than would be the case IL two great ma
lions were continually and perpetually at
war. Most of the accidents causing this
tremendous waste Of human life and de-
struction of limb are preventable; If not
all at least most Of them. 1t is high tlmeI
that we attempt to prevent this fearful
sacrifice Of our workers.
Some statistician has figured 1t out that
100000 men, women, boys and girls are
killed or MANNED during a year in this
country OF these 1900 to 5000 are killed,
and the balance injured or MANNED. That
frlghtful total could be cut down very
materially II better care were taken in
mine, mill and factory; II more money were
spent for proper protection. In case Of war
with any other nation We would spend our
last dollar to protect our fellow citizens.
1t is time we consented to spend some
money TO conserve our most valuable asset,
human life. Those who can change this
condition should be made TO do so. The
amount Of money spent by employers every
vaar fhr liability Inanranca would 90 fnr