The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-15

| New York, January 14-(Special)- Noted men from all sections of the coun- | try gathered in New York today in attend
 ance on the meeting of the National Civic Federation at the Hotel Astor, were very interview by Thomas A. Edison. the ia
 nous inventor.
 | MT. Edison thinks independently in the realm of high politics, as he does in elec- | tricity and other scientific. matters in
 which he is an authority.
 He Is not only one of the worlds great est inventors, but he is not afraid to prophecy with confidence as to the fu- ture.
 One of the most startling statements made by MT. Edison is to the effect that
 not only. Europe but America Is on the eve of political and industrial revolutions He expresses the opinion that in England
 and Europe generally these revolutions which will place control of governments in the hands of workers Is likely to come at any moment and they are not more than ten years ahead in the United States.
 Producer Is Desperate The producer, he believes is becoming desperate over the constantly increasing
 burdens imposed by war preparations and will compel universal peace. even if it is necessary to revolutionize existing gov ernments to bring it about He conf- dently looks forward to the abolition of lpoverty, through the enormous advances to be made in machinery and the better distribution of wealth, which will pre- vent any set of men, either through de-
 fective laws or superior ability from ac- cumu1ating more than their just share
 of created wealth.
 | The time Is at hand also, in his opin- ion, when the secret of artificial produc- tion of gold will be discovered and con- sequent revolution of the worlds mone-
 tary systems will be necessary. These remarkable statements of MT. Ed ison were discussed with great deal of interest by great many men of affairs who are in attendance at the National
 Civic Federation. They are not altogether
 in accord with Mir. Edison in many of | his statements.
 | Comment By John Mitchell l John Mitchell. former president of the United Mine Workers. said:
 "I am afraid MT. Edison is too opti-
 mistic. While labor has made vast strides | in the improvement of its condition both
 in Europe and America, the labor move ment is, I fear. good ways from dom mating the government of either the United States or England.
 q fear also that desirable as 1t may be | k,~~ ct~o <tok be able to secure for himself more than
 bis share of wealth, 1t will be a long time
 before society has so developed that this
 evil will be eliminated.
 1T believe civilization is gradually de-
 veloping along the lines suggested by MT.
 Edison and in time will reach that ideal.' Andrew Carnegie Asrees
 Andrew Carnegie agrees with MT. Edi- son on the proposition that universal peace between the nations will soon be l reached. He says he does not however, agree with him that there is liable to be
 acute revolutionary troubles in the i'm
 mediate future. MT. Carnegie Is inclined | to take a humorous view of the sugges- tion that the philosophers stone will be
 destroyed and that gold may soon be
 manufactured. This has been the dream of all chemists almost since history be- l | is any nearer realization now than it has
 been in past ages.
 George w. Perkins believes that the
 problems which MT. Edison thinks will | lead to revolution will be settled by evolu | ton. The minds of men of affairs are | turning to the settlement of these ques- | tions and there is a growing disposition, he thinks, on the patr of both labor and | it's employers to recognize each the right | of the other which will make for indus trial peace and the proper adjustment of
 various economic problems which have
 caused trouble and friction. He is not
 very hopeful of an era of peace between nations for long time to come.
 Many of the other gentlemen present were interested in MT. Edison's views but were not inclined to believe that his prophecies would be fulfilled, for the
 present at least.
 Lloyd George Is Optimistic
 London, January 14-(special. .)--Mr
 Lloyd George. chancellor of the ex- l chequer, was much interested in the statement made by Mir. Thomas A. Edi-
 son that England was on the verge oi
 a revolution, and that 1t was only mat ter of short time before the labor ele' ment will dominate the government.
 T am afraid" he said, that MT. Edi son is not fully acquainted with condf' tions in Englapd. should like very
 much indeed to have him como over her(
 and study the situation at first hand Hs
 you'd ind. boilovo, that BuRland hal