The weekly Alaska citizen., 1917-12-24
HURRY UP HURLEY

One of the most important figures in the country today is Edward Nash Hurley,
 formerly chairman of the Federal Trade com
 nisson and at present at the head of the Federal Shipping board, which is charged with the rebuilding of the American mer chant marine Mr. Hurley is now being called on by the senate Investigating commit tee to give an account of his stewardship of the task entrusted to him, and if the con lidence which his friends and business asso- ciates have in him is justified he will dem onstrate his fitness for his present position.
 Mir. Hurley is new figure i'll the life of the nation and when he was appointed by President Wilson to sit on the Federal Trade commission, in 1915, very few people had ever heard of him. He is not politician, nor has he ever taken any activity in national .politcs, his appointment being made on merit, and not as payment of political debts.
 Since coming to Washington three years .ago, to the Federal Trade commission, MT. Hurley has earned his new name of Hurry Up' Hurley. Under his directon the Fed eral Trade commission made itself felt as a power for good to the industries of the ma ton.
 When the dispute between Mir. Denman, formerly chairman of the Federal Shipping board, and General Goethals, general mana ger of the Emergency Fleet corporation, made necessary a reorganization of the shipping )oard President Wilson selected MT. Hurley IS the man best suited for the enormous task which faced it. This too, in spite of the fact that Mr. Dcnman is in no sense a ship ping man. But he has proven that he is quick to assimilate knowledge, and is a spe- cialist in organization, as we'll as a leader of men.
 Said Mir. Hurley, when he accepted the chairmanship of the Shipping board: No, l have not had much experience with things that float. My only experience i'll that line until 1 took the Chairmanshp of the Federal Shipping board was with a tub i'll Cedar Fork creek. Cedar Fork creek runs through Gales burg (Mr. Hurley's early home) and under the streets for several blocks, making 1t a wonderful subterranean river for youngsters to explore in their spare moments. 1 have sailed many an ordinary wash tub through that tunnel with the other boys of the toWn.' ike many of those who 'haVc arrived Mr. Hurley started his career as a railroad Ter, but quit this for a salesman job for rail road accessories manufacturing concern. From this he turned inventor and, using ideas of his own, organized the Standard Pneumatic lcompany, of Chicago. This firm was orga- nized in 1898 with a capital of S5O,OOO, most Iof which was secured by mortgages on ev- erything the young inventor possessed. Four years later, in 1902, Mir Hurley, then thirty eight years old, sold out to his only competi- tor at price which made him a millionaire
 His record made since coming to Wash ington has made him many admirers, and these declare that if he keeps up the pace made by him at the head of the Federal Trade commission, the Stars and Stripes will shortly be flying in more ports than it did before the American merchant fleets began to dwindle many years ago. As the most important witness who will appear before the senate investigation committee his testimony is awaited with interest throughout the |country.