Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-23
DONE IN PHILADELPHIA

AN INSTITUTION that enters upon its
N s1st year of activity, it seems to me
4 Amight very we'll be called venerable,
but knowing the enterprising character Of the
Franklin institute as 1 do, the term vener-
able does not exactly At. 1t implies weakness
along with respectabilty; 1t seems to echo
the past But, while 80 years ago the insti-
tute was the most progressive organization IN
it's own field in this country, so 1t Is the very
last word in modernity in science applied TO
mechanics today.
And write this just because had my at
tention called to the reopening of the schools
of the institute last week.
r BELIEVE that probably half the popula-
i ton of Philadelphia, If asked, would con-
fess to belief that the institute was founded
by Benjamin Franklin. do not know how
this idea got abroad but I find there Is
strong inclination to attribute to Franklin
even more numerous achievements than he
claimed for himself. But when it is realized
that the institute is only now entering upon
its 91st year It will be needless to assure any
one that the immortal Ben had no hand in
its organization.
However I feel sure that it was out OF
compliment to the valuable contributions to
science made by Franklin that the group OF
young men who formed the institute took
pride in associating his name with their
movement.
TN 1924 when the institute was formed an
i inspiring movement among young me-
chanics spread over the eastern part of the
country It led to the formation If mechanics
institutes. I believe there were several OF
them in this city at the time. But 1t was
rather exclusive. Because of the stringency In
their qualifications for membership, the very
names of these organizations are forgotten,
but the name of the Franklin Institute is
held in high repute by scientists all over the
world.
Samuel Vaughan Merrick. afterward one Of
Philadelphia's most noted ironmasters. found
himself as he once mentioned, the owner Of
a workshop at 21 years. but without me-
chanical education or with scarcely me-
chanical idea He believed he could improve
himself in order to properly superintend his
foundry If he could become a member of a
mechanics institute. He applied for admis-
sion to one of them But Mr. Merrick was
promptly blackballed, because he was not
mechanic He was an employer.
TIE COULD not say in 1924 what man in
II similar position today could say he
could not take his rejection lightly and turn
not share the information with these young
mechanics, he must settle himself to learn
his trade and it's secrets by the slow process
of observation in his own foundry. Mr..
Merrick did not choose to do that, but deter
mined to interest others in the establishment
OF an institute that would be founded not
only upon more democratic principles but
also would considerably expand the original
idea of mechanical Institutes.
THERE are not many young men of 81
i with the force of character or the neces-
sary initiative for organizing such an asso-
citation. But young Merrick managed to
interest such men Matthias w. Baldwin,
who, it must be remembered, had not yet
built his first locomotive; James Ronaldson,
the type founder; DR.. James Rush, who
founded the Ridgway Library; William H.
Kneass and Samuel r. Wood, among others,
in his plan.
Consider the method by which these
organizers obtained an audience for their
meeting. They held 1t in what we now allude
to as Old Congress Hall, at Sixth and Chest
nut streets They selected and sent invita-
tions to a list of 1900 names taken from the
directory. Unless you realize that in 1924
there was no postal service such as we now
enjoy, you cannot appreciate the magnitude
Of this attempt.
The meeting was attended by large num-
ber of young men. and within two weeks
there were enrolled between 400 and 500
members.
TN ITS declared object-to promote and en-
courage the mechanic arts-the institute
even in its infant days was true. 1t held the
first industrial exhibitions in this country
Small as these were at the start they grad
ually became more important, and for many
years were continued annually, attracting
manufacturers and inventors from all parts
of the United States. The exhibition the in
stitute held in 1874 in the old Pennsylvania
Railroad freight depot the site OF Wanna
makers, is remembered with pleasure by
many Philadelphians, The Electrical Exposi-
ton which the institute held at 32d and Mar
ket streets in 1884 was the first universal
showing of the mysterious new force that
the world had seen.
THERE are half dozen medals and pre-
l. miums at the service of the institute to
bestow upon inventors and discoverers and
need not tell you that they are priced far
above their monetary value by their winners,
who are not always Americans They are
not bestowed until a committee thoroughly
examines the claims for the invention or dis
covery entered for the prize, and the award
in itself is proof everywhere of the value of
the idea that is accepted.
In the weekly lectures and meetings OF the
various sections of the institute each winter
the visitors will hear the last word on the
Ia taG ri n ha MI,