Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-09-02
People You Ask About
Information About Folks in
the Public Eye Will Be Given
in This Column in Answer
to Readers Questions. Your
Name Will Not Be Printed.
Let The Bee Tell You.
Fought In Three Wars.

Fought in Three Wars.
Brig. Gen. James H. Wilson, u.
8. A. retired. who celebrates his S2d
birthday today, is one of the few
surviving general officers of the
union army. He Is a native of
Illinois and a graduate Of West
Point. During his active military
career he earned high reputation
as an engineer. After leaving the
service in 1870 he engaged in rail-
road work and eventually became
president of the old New York &
New England railroad. Then he
tried the foreign field and was in
China many months supervising the
construction of rail lines. In the
war with Spain he was commission
ed brigadier general and served in
Cuba as a corps and department
commander. When, in 1900, the
Boxer uprising in China called for
immediate action, General Wilson,
because Of his extensive knowledge
of the country, was again called into
active service. He commanded in
the capture of the Eight Temples,
and afterwards commanded the
American troops in Pekin.
ApSAt III oHVlSh AIdACs
James A. Farrell, who has an
nounced gift OF $4,000 toward the
endowment of a school at George
town university to train students in
all the details governing foreign
trade. and thus enable the United
states to maintain and expand its
commercial gains Of the last five
years, possesses an expert knowl-
edge OF the foreign markets, having
been In charge of the export bust
ness Of the United States Steel cor
poration before he became president
of that great corporation. Mr.. Far
rell is a self-made man, like so
many other American leaders of in
dustry and commerce At 16 he left
school and became mill boy in a
wire factory at New Haven. At 25
he went to Pittsburgh. where the
results OF his energy and long ap-
premiership began to bear fruit.
From a laborer in the mills he was
advanced to a position as superin-
tendent and then to the office of
general manager. Soon he was
recognized as one of the best "steep'
men in America, and in 1911 he was
named as president Of the great
steel corporation.
Arthur Henderson.
The Ri. Hon. Arthur Henderson,
M. p, who Is expected to pay an
early visit to America, Is secretary
OF the British labor party and an in
f1uential figure in public affairs in
Great Britain. He was a member
Of the Lloyd George war cabinet and
has also been honored with mem
bership in the Privy council. In the
industrial world Mr.. Henderson be-
gan as an apprenticeship in the
great locomotive works at Newcas-
tie and his public career was begun
as a member Of the Newcastle city
council. Since 1908 he has been a |
member OF Parliament Among the |
English working classes he is known
as a shrewd, bighearted man, and |
nght appears necessary To a native |
intuition, dignity and common
sense, he adds the essential quality |
Of a leader of men, strong and deep |
loyalty to those who work with and |
under him.
British Labor Leader.
George N. Barnes, who is to be
one of the representatives of the |
British government at the Interna- |
t1onal Labor conference, which will |
open at Washington in October, pos
sesses deep knowledge of work.
ers' affairs and a sympathy which |
arises from an adequate grasp of |
their needs. Quite a "self-made" |
man, he entered the House Of Com
mons IL years ago and soon rose to |
place OF prominence, becoming In |
time cabinet minister and a men,
Der of the British Privy council. He
began life as a jute factory hand.
Whilst still in his teens he entered
the ranks of the engineers, went to
London, and after his work in the
daytime studied hard at night
classes. Step by step he rose, and
became secretary Of the
Amalgamated Society of Engineers
the "blue ribbon" Of the British
trade union world During the
years that he held this position he
did much to promote the prosperity
and maintain the traditions Of this
powerful and conservative trade
union.