South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-03-25

Upon Charles Patrick NeilI Com
missioner of Labor under Presidents
Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson. the Uni
versity Of Notre Dame tomorrow viii
confer the highest degree Of honor
within its power. an honor symbol
zeal of the pre-eminence Of a lay
Catholic in America. the Lletare
Medal Because Of his unselfish
achievements i'm the field of public
service DR. Neill is eonsidereS 20 be
most worthy 10 be added 70 the
august group of Laetare Medalists.
Regarded as one of the most en-
inent authorities on the field of Ia
Dor economies his is a splendid rec
ord Of scholarship and achievements.
He was born at Rock Island. H., in
1866. but received his primary ed
ucation in Austin. Tex. In 1885 he
entered the University of Notre
Dame and studied there for -hree
years. Later he studied at the Uni
versity of Texas. at Georgetown. al
the University of Chicago, and re-
turned 10 Notre Dame for two more
years, at the completion Of which he
was granted an NJ. a. degree.
Advocated Child Labor.
DR.. NELL taught at Johns Hopkins
4 for several years and received a Phi.
ID. from that institution in 1897.
From then until 1905 he served as
assistant professor and professor OF
economies at the Catholic Univer-
sity of America at Washington.
From 1905 TO 1913 he held the posi-
ton of Commissioner of Labor, hav-
ing been appointed 10y Roosevelt,
reappointed by Taft, and again re-
appointed by Wilson. His extensive
Investigations led to many improve
ments in working conditions through
out the country, notably however, in
the Chicago packing plants, the steel
mills. and the cotton mills Of the
south. It was he who first insisted
upon the abolition \of child labor in
the cotton mills. and this action
called upon him the wrath Of Sen.
Tiuman who demanded his removal
from the post. This attempt was
unsuccessful. however. and Nell re-
NAMED to see child labor abolished,
not only in the cotton mills. but
throughout the country.
Following his career as Commits
sioner of Labor. DR. Neiu served as
a member of the board of directors
Of the American Smelling and REIN
ing company. having charge Of the
extensive department of welfare and
safety Of that corporation. In the
following six years he was manager
of the Southeastern Railways bureau
of information. a bureau organized
10 assist and advise i'm the handling
of labor matters. His experience in
the field of practical welfare has
been further augmented by numer-
Gus offices in charity organizations.
From 1902 to 1905 he served as
vice president Of the districts board
of charities. In 1907 Roosevelt APP
pointed him 10 membership on the
immigration commission. created by
congress in 1907. and consisting OF
three senators. three representatives
and three members appointed by the
president. For some time he has
been a member OF the executive
board OF the Boy Scouts Of America
Selects Leader Prom Laity.
The origin and purpose OF the
Laetare Medal is interesting. On
the fourth Sunday in Lent. called
Laetare Sunday, the church COM
memorates the call OF Moses to the
| leadership OF his people, on this
day the University selects a leader
for the American Catholic laity. a
man or woman whose achievements
indicate an auspicious future in the
service OF God and country, Annu-