Proceedings of Sixteenth Annual State Council,
Held at Norfolk, May 25, 1920

Program

State Officers

Proceedings of the Convention

Report of the Committee on Credentials

     We further find present and entitled to a voice in the convention, but not entitled to a vote, the following District Deputies:
     John J. Hinchey, P. F. O'Gara, Dr. F. H. Morrow, John W. Guthrie, Frank M. Colfer, John H. O'Malley, J. Howard Heine.

Respectfully submitted,

FRANCIS P. MATTHEWS, Chairman; JOHN J. BOGAN, R. W. RYAN, J. M. LIEWER, FRANK J. KAIN.

     Francis P. Matthews, chairman of the committee, then made the following motion:

     On behalf of the Committee on Credentials, I move the adoption of the report as read and that the state officers and delegates named be declared to be entitled to a vote in this convention, and that the District Deputies named be declared to be entitled to a voice in the convention proceedings. Motion carried unanimously.

Report of the State Deputy

     The report of the State Deputy being the next item to be considered in the regular order of business, Worthy State Deputy Edward H. Whelan rendered his report.

     After the reading of the State Deputy's report, on motion of Past State Deputy George F. Corcoran, duly seconded, the report was adpoted (sic) as read and ordered spread on the minutes of the convention.

     (Owing to the absence of the State Deputy from the state, at his request his report is not included in this publication of the minutes of the convention.)

Report of State Secretary

     The next item in the regular order of business was the report of the State Secretary, whereupon the State Secretary rendered his report as follows:

Worthy State Deputy and Gentlemen of the Convention:
     As State Secretary of the Nebraska State Council of Knights of Columbus, I herewith submit the following report for the year from, May, 1919, to May, 1920:
     The records of the State Secrtary (sic) show that there are at present thirty-four subordinate Councils in Nebraska. Of this number, two Councils were instituted during the year just closed, namely, Councils No. 1966, Plattsmouth, Neb., and No. 2040, Lexington, Neb. These two Councils have a membership of 99 and 128, respectively. The report submitted to the state officers by the financial secretaries of the various Councils shows that on March 1, 1920, there were 10,562 members of the order in good standing in the state. This represents a net increase of 2,565 members during the year. However, there were 204 members suspended during the year and 118 members who voluntarily withdrew from membership. The various Councils also lost 56  members through death. The total loss of membership, therefore, totaled 378 members and the gross gain in members from March 1, 1919, to March 1, 1920, was 2,943 members, representing by a substantial margin the largest growth by the order in a single year in Nebraska. There were four Councils in the state which suffered a decrease in membership, according to the reports rendered. As was the case last year, the largest growth reported by any Council this year is shown by Omaha Council No. 652, which reports 786 new members; Fremont and Lincoln each report 131 new members; Creighton 120 new members; McCook 119 new members, and David City, 105 new members, which figures represent very satisfactory and encouraging growth on the part of these particular Councils. In the case of some other Councils, however, the reports are not so encouraging. There are 2,869 insurance members in the state and 7,693 associate members.
     The Secretary's office has collected the state per capita tax totaling $7,721.75. Of this amount $1,030.90 represents the assessment made for the Kearney State Normal, $2,577.25 represents the assessment made for the Western Missionary Fund, and $4,113.60 represents the assessment made for the use of the state Council.
     There is attached to this report a detailed statement showing the membership of each Council, the increases and decreases, suspensions, withdrawals, deaths, and the amount paid by per capita tax by each Council, the Treasurer's disbursements, and such other Information as is available from the records of the State Secretary.
     During the year just passed the duties of the office of the State Secretary have increased materially and the development which the order has experienced in the state has resulted in an ever-growing demand on the State Secretary's time. The plan under which the state Council has been working for the past few years, and which provides for a State Secretary who devotes only a part of his time, in

fact only a very small part of his time to the duties of this office, no longer meets the requirements of the order in the state. For some months it has been apparent to the state officers and to a number of members who have investigated the situation that some radical change must be made in order to improve conditions. There are many things needed to be done which cannot he properly taken care of at the present time and there is a vastly growing sentiment in favor of the employment of a Secretary who would devote all of his time to the duties of the office. This matter was discussed at the meeting of the state officers in Omaha on April 22, and at that time a committee, consisting of State Deputy E. H. Whelan, Past State Deputy George F. Corcoran, and the State Secretary, was appointed to investigate the subject and recommend such action as appeared advisable. Supplementary to the work of that committee the State Secretary addressed a letter containing a questionaire (sic) to the State Deputy of each state in the country with a view of ascertaining what the experience of other jurisdictions has been and with the hope of obtaining information which would be of value in assisting the state convention to pass intelligently upon this important matter and to act wisely in disposing of it.. Thirty-eight answers to this letter had been received by the State Secretary prior to last Saturday when he left Omaha to come to Norfolk. The answers to the questionaires disclose the fact that at the present time only one state in the Union has a State Secretary who devotes all of his time to the duties of his office. That state is the state of Iowa. However, the states of New York, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Colorado, California and Minnesota are making arrangements to employ such a Secretary. In some of these jurisdictions the State Deputy is provided with a private secretary, who looks after most of the duties which would be performed by a full-time State Secretary. But one state disapproves of a full-time State Secretary, and that is the state of Kansas. Many of the State Deputies express themselves most emphatically in favor of such an officer, and from the answers received to the questionaire mentioned above, it is evident that the employment of a full-time State Secretary is regarded as the most progressive step forward that any state jurisdiction can take at this time. It is needless to say that in acting upon this matter the state Council is deciding a most serious and vital question and that whatever action is taken, it should be the result of careful deliberation and serious consideration.
      The membership in the state has grown to such numbers that the management of the affairs of the state Council comprises duties similar to the management of a big business organization and the same principles which apply in the conduct of a big business should control in the selection of a full-time State Secretary who would be. In effect, a business manager of the order in the state. The State Secretary should be chosen In the same way and for the same reason that a big business organization would select its business representative and, in view of that fact, the selection should be made only after the most careful and impartial consideration of the qualifications of the aspirant for the position. Such a selection cannot be made in a day and the most businesslike and safest method to pursue in making the selection would be to empower the State Deputy and other state officers to select the State Secretary. The salary of the Secretary should be one that would attract the very best ability obtainable to

the position, for it is not necessary to remark that an incompetent man in the position, would be worse than none at all.
     The State Secretary should have a well equipped office in the most accessible town or city in the state. In making recommendations relative to the employment of a full-time State Secretary, several of the State Deputies suggested that a State Secretary should be located in the largest city in the jurisdiction. Like the selection of the particular man for the position, I believe that the amount of the State Secretary's salary, the location of his office and other details connected with his employment should be left with the State Deputy and other state officers to decide, after the most careful investigation and consideration, of what is for the best interests of the organization in Nebraska.
     In addition to the many other things that a full-time State Secretary could do to promote the prosperity of the order In the state, he could arrange to publish, through some medium approved by the state Council, such items of general interest as would keep the members generally, and the Councils of the state particularly, in touch with one another and so bring about a unity of interest and of thought and of action that would not be possible in any other way. The experience of Iowa with its full-time State Secretary proves beyond the question of doubt that such a plan is the only one which will make possible the proper measure of progress in any state jurisdiction.
     Before the convention adjourns, the delegates should indulge in the fullest and most frank discussion possible of this most important proposal and some action calculated to improve the conditions in the office of the State Secretary, and so make it possible for that office to function with greater advantage to the state Council should and must be taken.
     Confident that this matter will have the attention which it deserves, and that its final disposition will reflect the wisest possible course on the part of the delegates and state officers assembled, I submit this report for such action as you see fit.

Respectfully submitted,
FRANCIS P. MATTHEWS,
State Secretary.

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