Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-20

A jury is not necessary to pass on the
qualifications Of this man or to explain why
he should be thus honored. The achieve
ments of his long career speak loudly enough.
Mr.. Hill is not famous because he is one of
the wealthiest men in America nor because
of personal exploits. These things do not
constitute foundation for lasting fame. Mr.
Hill owes his distinction to the fact that the
things he has accomplished have been in the
service of the people. They are the ones who
have profted
Mr.. Hill also belongs to the class of bare
foot boys" who have howered into the fame
which rests upon real achievement He takes
on added distinction because without the aid
of a college education or even a high school
course, he has acquired so much learning
that universities delight to honor him. Just
as Harvard University bestowed an honorary
degree the sef-educated Benjamin Frank
lin a century ago. so has that institution rec
ognzed the merit of James ]. Hill with an
honorary degree.
Railroads Must Precede Farmers
1t is as the Empire Builder that the United
States and Europe know Hill best And Eu-
rope has known and feared his genius per-
haps more than his own country has appre-
ciated it. The passion of Mr.. Hills whole
life has been the development of the great
Northwest. To get settlers into this vast un-
developed country, and then to get their
crops into the world market, Mr.. Hill saw at
once that the railroad must precede the
farmer and that the two were dependent on
each other To this task he brought an un-
usually clear and far-sighted vision and a de-
termination which nothing could balk
Mr. Hin had not been in Minnesota long be-
fore he saw the need and possibilities Of the
great railway system which he subsequently
built up. With rare vision he perceived what
in later life he explained thus:
"our population is doubling every thirty
years. At the most not over one
third can be employed in manufactures rail-
roadng, trades and the professions. The
bulk of the remaining must go to the land
The great increase will be in the valley of
the Ohio, the Mississippi the Missouri and
westward. What will these new millions pro-
duce2 They will produce the three great
staples of trafhc-food. fuel and shelter. but
food in the main.
Now cross the Pacific and what do we
hnd? Millions of people. and what can they
! buy? What can a man who earns shilling
a day-and that is the average wage OF the
| orient-buy from us? Only what he is com
| PEELED 10 buy TO sustain life. The princinaI
demand will be for food-just the products
which the present population of Americas
great central and western zone is prepared
to furnish. The great traffic proposition is
to carry our goods to the Orient and bring
theirs In return. The question is: viii this
traffic go by the Pacific or by the suez and
Cape Horn? ! hope that America will handle
1t, and by the Pacific Geography ana ma
ture demand IL and trade cannot resist
/ them"
agree With Him or Kin Him"
This was the picture in Mr.. Hins mind
when he began his career. and he pursued
the vision with a determination which maae
the late Elbert Hubbard say OF hirns
You've either got 10 agree With hin, N.
kin him"
Hin began his extraordinary transportatson