Omaha daily bee., 1919-03-17

A. S. Miller. Madison, Neb.--
Available American biographies fail
to give the names of the parents of
! Genaral Thomas Lyons Hamer,
| Ohio congressman and brigadier gem
eral in the Mexican war, who died
at Monterey, Mex, December .,
1916. One volume refers to them
as pioneer farmers of Pennsyl-
vania," in which State General
Hamer was born. Subsequently the
family moved to the borders Of Lake
Champlain, where his boyhood years
were spent According to one auth
GRITTY young Hdmer was IA years of
age when the family settled in Ohio.
He was a lawyer by profession, was
elected to congress in 1898 and SER
we'd three terms. Entering the Mexi-
can war as a major of Ohio voiun-
teers he was promoted to brigadier
general July I, 1896 and distin-
guished himself in the battle of
Monterey, a service which congress
recognized by voting "a sword of
honor to be presented to his nearest
male relative"
1t is difficult to realize that we
have with us yet, with promise of
can who made the world brighter by
his genius, Charles F. Brush of
Cleveland, inventor of the first prac-
teal electric light Mr.. Brush has
Just turned 20 years. AS a young
man, soon after completing a course
in mechanical engineering at the
University of Michigan, Mr.. Brush
conceived the idea of employing
electricity for lighting purposes.
Obstacles blocked progress for sew
eral years. Capitalists scoffed at
what they regarded as an inventors
dream. Eventually scientists took
notice, backing appeared, and prac-
teal demonstration of the new light
at the Paris electrical exposition
made the world his patron. The
inventor became a millionaire over
night France made him a chevalier
of the Legion of Honor.
Frank j. Goodnow. who is to as
sist in framing constitution for the
Polish government, is president of
Johns Hopkins university and y a
leading authority on government
Some years ago he was selected as
an expert adviser by Chinas high
officials in putting the infant Chinese
republic on its feet and later headed
the Institute for Government Re-
search. DR.. Goodnow had his Gull
tUral education at Amherst and his
professional education at Columbia
university, supplemented by studies
at Paris and Berlin, Returning to
the United States he became an in
structor in Columbia and in 1914 was
made president of Johns Hopkins.
He is the author of many books deal
ing with politics and administration,
taxation and municipal government.
Norman Hapgood, newly named
American minister to Denmark, is
well qualified TO tell it to the
Danes" as automatically as Maurice
Francis Egan,. whom he succeeds. |
Born in Chicago in 1858 and gradua-
ted from Harvard in 1890, Mr.. Hap
good entered the ranks of journalism
and has been identified with new
publications all his active life. He
served as editor of Golfers Weekly
from 1903 to 1912 and later strove
to rescue Harper's Weekly from lit
erary and financial rocks. AS a |
bookmaker he has several biogra-
phies and other works to his credit. |
Missouri links arms with Massa-
chusetts in putting state budget
system into effect. The state COM
mission charged with the work has |
just laid before the legislature a |
roster of ledger bills totaling $18,-
100000. The sum represents hat |
must be had to keep the regular |
state machine going Several addi- |
tional millions are available for dis |
bursement by the legislature, which |
surplus may save the budget from
the logrollers.