Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-28
LOUIS F. POST--AN APPRECIATION


and the statesman are personalities;
but the editor, hiding himself behind
the royal pronoun we" is little known
and less appreciated by the people
whose lives he helps to mold. 1t is
gratifying TO know that this seal of
silence which has SO long restrained
editors from speaking of each other
is less strictly observed than former
ly.
Louis F. Post, who has been called
from his position as editor of the Pub
lie 70 the office of assistant secretary
Of labor, is a man in point. And it is
most gratifying to those who know
Mr. Post that his fellow EDITORS did
not greet the appointment with the
customary flippant notice OF plum"
that has dropped into the gaping
NAV OF a hungry politician"
Mr. Post has a much wider reputa-
tiCn than might be supposed from the
modest circulation of the weekly pa
per that he has edited for the last if
teen years. But this is due to some
thing more than his work as an edi-
charming personality that has endear-
ed him TO countless men and women
whom he has met on his lecture tours
through the country. Yet, notwith.
standing the fact Of his fifteen years
of service here, including innumer-
able addresses before local gatherings
and such services as that OF member
OBJ
and member of the charter commits
sion, his name may still be familiar to
comparatively few people, and many
who have heard his name do not ap-
preciate his worth. As one Of the
leading editors, who served on the
! charter commission, and came to
! know him well, said recently. The
people of Chicago little realize the
/ greatness of this man who as been
working so quietly in their midst"
| In what does the greatness of this
man consist? One might say, n his
[ logical mind; another, in his grasp OF
/ human problems; another, in his wide
range Of information; another, in his
broad humanity; another, in his love
/
/ attributes Of greatness that his
/ friends look upon him as an all
around great man. II there is one
characteristic more striking than an
other il is his modesty, his simplicity,
his sincerity; and no one need ever
withhold a compliment for fear OF
spelling him. So gentle is he in the
ordinary amenities of life that
stranger might be tempted to think
him effeminate; but let a principle be
at stake, or duty in question, and
the very elements cannot turn him
from his purpose. When truth is in
question his SOU is aroused and he
becomes a Titan in the fray.
Some months ago when Mr. Posts
friends besought him for permission
TO present his name for a cabinet po-
sition-and some Of the leading men
in the nations affairs were back of
the movement-he peremptorily refus-
ed, and would have gone TO the length
of writing Mr.. Wilson himself had it
not been for the appearance of refus-
ing something that had not been offer
ed. II was only after long discussion
that he could be got TO remain silent
and let his friends sound the presi-
dent-elect While these negotiations
were in progress he was asked IL he
would serve. in spite of his protesta-
lions, II he were appointed. His an
swer was. Il will serve anywhere,
down TO ditch digging, II 1t can be
shown TO be my call"
That is the keynote of his life
Show him where his duty lies, and he
will follow unfalteringly, no matter
where II leads. But when the call
came 20 serve as assistant secretary Of
labor, he had to be convinced that it
was a call At first he refused point
blank. Friends urged but he turned
q deaf ear, d, .lari- & he must attend
to his paper. kilograms began TO
pour In from different parts OF the
country. Still he refused. Finally,
when the kilograms bulked so large
on HIS desk that he had TO measure
them instead of count them, when
leading men in the administration i'm
lplored him and men came from Wash