New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-12
Beaten Germans to Rule
World, Edison Predicts
Continued from page !

This instruction wac necessary, TOT
one has to speak loudly and close 10
Mr.. Edison's right ear to make ones
,elf heard. The inventor was then
IN the large experimenting room re-
ceiving loud-voiced congratulations
from two friends, whose words could
be heard almost to the ground floor.
Mr.. Edison stepped in brisky, ut
tered n hearty "Good morning. and
sat down. Aside from his hat, another
feature of his dress was striking hs
blue cheviot suit must have seen not
only better days-it looked as II 1t hau
seen better generations. There had
been a hole at the left knee; the darn
ing was very plain.
Says Zeppelins Are Boges.
THE war" he said, as the interview
swung into motion, "has not produceu
ANYTHING in the line OF sclentihc IN
vention. The only destroying ue
vice that stands out is the 4Z-cehtI-
metre gun used SO wei by the uel,
mans. II is the principal factor III
riping out old methods OF warfare
The Zeppelins-in fact, all aircrait
were Overrated, il is now ciear' lney
are practically useless in destroying
life and property. and their value no"
lies in their power to scare.
"The submarine is OF twofold vaiue'
They are not only intensely destruc-
tive. but they are more threatening
than surface warships. And thht
brings up two questions now under
discussion.
"Tbe use by a bellgerent Of neu-
trail nations flag is not TO be con,
demned-it has been practised IN an
modern wars. And, touching on me
other question, | do not see why the
Germans are not within their rights In
establishing a war zone in the waters
around Great Britain and Ireland.
"What arouses comment is that TINS
ia n new condition Of warfare-a SUD-
marine blockade, whose effect IL more
largely produced by fear than perform
ance. II is quite a cheap way OF DOCK
adinE ports, and think our own 'hct
Sam should study that proposition ior
his own protection. We have opp0rtu-
nifty to establish several zones ana the
use. In them, of 300 or 400 submarines
would throw a scare into the Nesseis VI
every other nation
"What is your opinion as to the
probable length Of the war and the
victor ,"
Sees Peace in Two Years.
81 think two years more will see the
end" Mr.. Edison replied. ~ Is
question of food and supplies, OF
49,
food they will have to give up.
haven't a doubt that the Allies Will
win out. do not see how 1t IS pos
sible for the Germans to win, no mat
ter how brave they are. Everything IS
against them. But, | think. Germany
will win when she loses. Instead or
vesting her governmental authority IN
four or FIVE men sitting around green
table she will become republic, or
she will adopt the present Engllsn sys-
TEN.
with her superior training methods
she will be on top of all Of us within
fifty years. She will have got rid OF
her terrible burden OF taXation--that
is. if the Allies don't put in too large
bill, itemized. Her captains OF indus
try will be given freedom to act Tor
the best interests OF Germany ana
themselves, individually. When
country gives her captains OF Industry,
freedom of action that country VIII
have prosperity.
81 read few days ago that the sue
cess Of the Germ. ns in, getting troops
quickly TO threatened points was
ascribed to their strategic railroads.
That is wrong. Strategic railroads are
no good. Strategic automobile roads
nlay the big part in modern warfare.
Lauds Automobile as Battle Aid.
az the nations now at war had
locked ahead they would have devoted
wears to the building of automobile
roads. In that respect France IS 80
veil equipped that with automobiles
she could send her whole army to any
point on a battle line $50 miles long
in one night"
Mr.. Edison was not optimistic on the
prosperity outlook in this country,
"Wed have prosperity here quickly
IL Congress would adjourn for hyc
wears" he declared. big business men
here have lost their nerve because OF
the volume OF legislation put through
under Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson. You
can't do anything big until you give
your great business men opportunity 10
20 ahead, curbing them only when they
become too greedy or step over what
used to be the old lines.
81 have talked lately with a number
of men who 70 into those things, and
I am absolutely amazed at their atti-
tude. They are wOfully depressed.
have tried to do business with men
Who would not have hesitated a few
wears ago, but | find them unnerved
and discouraged. That situation has
reached such a threatening stage that
| | feared 1t was Overpowering me. A
few DAYS ago | told my wife that II she
saw me getting irrational she should
tell me at once. | am serious.
"Do you see any prospect OF NUT
ually beneficial understanding between
capital and labor
Industrial Woes Continue.
az do not. il the present methods are
10 continue. Those hearings of the
Federal Commission on lndustroial Re-
lations in New York will not do any
good. That sort Of thin: won't bring
EMPLOYER and employe together. Talk
doesn't seem to effect good results.
Even absolute proof seems not TO al
feet the people. =,
"The trouble is that while capital
understands what should be done, it is
too greedy to do it, And labor is not
properly led, nor does it understand. 1t
is always employing vinegar and sui
phuric acid-it never uses honey. II -
almost impossible 10 treat with labor,
for labor doesn't recognize any value in
mental effort. Two men have shops on
opposite sides Of the street. One man
makes 1000 things a day. The man
across the street, with the same sized
force and the same kind Of machinery,