The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-08-04
RumOrs of Discord in His Com
panies Denied as Frank Dyer
Accedes TO Presidency.
INVENTOR WILL DO MUCH
RESTING AND TRAVELLING
Expects to Devote a Good Deal OF
His Future to Investiga.
tions in Chemistry.

Rumors OF discord In the big Edison
companies at West Orange that have
been rife for the last two months cul-
minated today in the announcement
that Thomas a. Edison had withdrawn
from active management and that
henceforth but little would be seen Of
him at the West Orange shops.
Mr.. Edlson's decision to give up
active labor during his declining years
the famous inventor Is 62-follows the
resignation of William E. Gilmore. his
right-hand man for eleven wears. and
the election of Frank l.. Dyer, formerly
general counsel. to the presidency of all
the Edison companies. Mr.. Gilmore is
in Europe, ostensibly for his health, on
a wears tour. Rumor has 1t that he
goes abroad as M Jidison's represen-
tative and win handle the immense for
eign business of the West Orange COM
panies.
Denial is made of the rumor that Mr.
Edisons withdrawal from active man
agement of his business affairs follows
a three months experiment on the part
of the inventor who tried during thaI
period to become business man. Dur
ing this time, when rumors of impend-
ing changes were thickest, it is saio
that the face of the "old man." as the
inventor is affectionately termed by his
employees, was seen oftenest in the fac
tory. and least in the laboratory of any
time within the memory of the Oldest
employee.
business Not for Him.
At The Office of the newly elected
president. Frank L. Dyer, 1t was said
today that Mr.. Edison might have been
trying to become business man and
manage the financial and executive at
fairs of his companies, but
'If such IL the case" said Mr.. Dyer's
spokesman. nobody here knew of 1t.
Mr.. Edison may have discharged a
few employees" he continued in re-
sponse to a question, but what of 1t
He may have spent a great deal of his
time i'm the factory recently But sup
pose he did? We don't think it's any
body's affair but his own.
However, Mr. Edison is now going to
rest. He will devote his time hereafter
to scientific investigation and will not
confine himself to electricity. Chemis-
try will claim much of his attention.
MIR. Edison Is anxious to devote
more time to pure science and less time
TO commercial investigation. He plans
i'm future to engage In the kind of
work done by F'arraday. Clark, Max
we'll, Helnupoltz, Lord Kelvin ana
other scientists.
Couldn't stop Work.
'The change doesn't mean that Mr..
Edison is going 10 stop work. He is
the kind of man who thrives and lives
on work. He couldn't stop working II
he tried. 1t simply means he is going
to do the kim of work he wants to DO,
regardless of its commercial value"
Mr.. Edison expects to leave for the
West on one of the first vacations he
has known for many ..'ears the latter
part of the month. With him will go
his wife. He will stay as long as his
fancy pleases, although he declares he
cannot make his first trip longer than
a month.
A fine winter home has been bought
by Mr. Edison in Florida, and there
the inventor will reside next winter.
He will devote much of his time to
seeing the world, making short trips
here and there.
With a fortune of s25, 900 the great
inventor believes that the time for his
lfes vacation has arrived, his friends
declare.