New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-02
Mr.. EDISON AND PROFESSOR HUGHES.

A LETTER FROM TIE LATTERs BIoTHER-IT Is THE
MCGOPHoNE Nor TIE TnERMoPILE, WHICH
PROFESSOR HUGHES CLAIMS.
To the Edtor Of The TrtbuHe.
SIR: Having noticed in your issue Of June 27,
Mr. Edison's answer TO the card cablcd over by Mr..
Preece and Professor Hughes, in which they deny
the assertions that he has made take the liberty
of asking through your columns a suspension OF
Judgment until Mr. Prcece and Professor Hughes
have time to answer in detail. As brother of Da-
yid +. Hughes, do not think 1 ought TO wait for
strangers to defend him. and knowing that he is in-
copable of what Mr. Edison has accused him of, il is
no more than natural that should rise in his de-
fence. Science knows no country, and nationality
ought not 70 affect prejudice the public in passing
Judgment on an inventors claims.
David f. Hughes's record an inventor and as
man the last twenty years, ought to have some
weight IN the United States to induce the public to
wait and let the accused make his answer IN full.
Mr. Edison living In this country, has all the adj
vantorrs of being able at any time to publish details
and n statement in full whilst Professor Hughes,
living m "a foreign country, has not the same tacil-
ties TO make his defence the United States or to
90 into details, on account OF time and distance
Why does Mr. Edison only give part OF their card IN
his answer and that the line where Mr. Preece says
4" Unobes has not brought out any thermOpile'
In the numerous interviews that Mr. Edison has had
ON the subject and cards that he has published he
alwaysmakes the lhomopile prominent The micro
nhone is what Professor Hughes claims, and not the
tbernopile and if one will read the claim closely he
will find that the micr0phOnes constituencies To neat
was only men toned III AN incidental manner IL mas
never been question rs TO who invented the ther-
mopile but who has the right 20 claim the uls-
coyery of the micrOphOne, by which SOUNDS can De
distinctly heard that have been hrfetOIoie lauuloie
We have no record OF Mr.. Edison hearing the
tromn of n hyD etc., before Professor Hughes
brou ght out his discovery. y.
Rs There could be no financial object las the dis
cnyery was gwen to the w0rd) one would hafdly
snnnoSe that Professor Hughes after beng h0nored
with Orders from the different Governments That
have adopted his printing telegraph IN Europe,
yynuld risk the reputation that it has taken me-
time 10 acquire or descend to uso another mans
,deaa os his own. have no wish to take part IN the
cnntroyersy or to east reflections any one feel
n delicacy in Obtruding ON public notice, but NY
hrothpr being i'm foreign land ana not having the
same facilities 10 defend himself IN the United
States that Professor Edison has 10 make accusa-
tions I ask through your columns suspension OF
nGonent on tic part of the public until it has
full statement FROM both sides. kespectInlly
j. A. HUGHES"
Cincinnati, Ohio June 20. 1873.
$50 far as this dispute 10 between Mr.. Edison and
Professor Hughes, no feeling of nationality can DO
involved since 1--WE believe) both are Americans. AT
any rate. when Professor Hughes began his career
by efforts to perfect his printing telegraph In coop
Grafton with Mr. Phelps, of the Western Unions
force he WAS understood to be a music teacher from
Kentucky. His Geographic inventions did not sue
coed in this country, but they have brought nun
large patronage and abundant decoration IN Europe.
His standing in the English scientific world seems
to be excellent.-Edl