New Britain herald., 1921-02-10
THOMAS EDISON IS
 HEALTHY AT "A YRS.
Electrical Wizard Gives His
 Opinions on World Ills


 way from the sales tax to interna tional disarmament. Instead. he gave an interview yesterday in his Orange, (N. J.) laboratory that we'll might have served as q model for a current topics class of alert youngsters. Not only did he show that his men tai grasp still was firm and broad. When one of his interviewers ven- tured to interrogate him upon reports that illness had undermined his phys ical vitality, he sprang from his chair. assumed what is known in the drill regulations as the position of the soldier" and challenged: Do I look it?"
 Satisfied that his vigor was not called seriously into question. MT. Ed ison proceeded to offer his contribu- tions to some. of the perplexing prob lems of the day. Asked if he looked for a business revival with the change in the national administration he re- piled:
 That depends on MT. Harding and the men he selects for his cabinet"
 Turning to general means for rem edying the existing business depres- sion he said:
 "Rearrange and put on a business basis the stupid and bureaucratic form of government at Washington. Leave the business men to work out their own salvation without much in- reference.
 Would Tax All Sales.
 Adopt Otto Kahns plan for tax of one-third of l per cent on all sales, and place Hoover in a position in the Government where his great execu- tive ability and experience can be utilized best.
 s'Let the big bankers get together and organize clearing houses with technical inspectors to exchange com modities instead of credits, buyers and sellers being given a chance to check the quality of the commodity before accepting."
 Asked to suggest a means of pre- venting wars, MT. Edison declared himself in favor of alliances or un- derstandings between France, Eng land, America, Japan and Italy. He also advocated a 30 per cent disarm- ament
 1T believe, though" he added. that inexpensive experiments might we'll be continued so that we could have up-to -date models for every branch of warfare in case the measures to pre- vent war did not turn out as the na- tions expected. Then none would have an advantage.
 There probably will be many small wars, and the possibility of a large war will extend beyond our lives at least"
 MT. Edison believed there was dan- ger of war with Japan unless that country were permitted to have more room to accommodate its increasing population.
 But I am. absolutely opposed to letting them come over here," he add ed. Demands on Germany Reasonable.
 MT. Edison did not regard the al- lied demands for reparation from Germany as excessive, since the pay ments were to be extended over a period of forty-two years.
 Any time the payments are found ] to be excessive.' he commented, l and Germany presents honest and real facts, the Allies will and must 1 reduce them. It is absurd to keep 1 a man in jail for debt.'
 What remedies would you suggest | for the growth in the number of di- ! vorces in the United States" inter- l iected an interviewer.
 "I can't answer that" MT. Edison said. 1T didn't know it was serious"
 MT. Edison was pleased with pro- saying it was very beneficial to the workingman, but that it would take several years for the law to reach it's highest efficiency.
 A correspondent asked him he could give any advice to a young man start ing out on career in the business 
 II can't, give any advice on this subject" he replied. All I know is that if man has reached 21 and is dead mentally. no amount of advice, example or experience will ever change him in the slightest If, at some period between 12 and It he can be interested in some subject and becomes enthusiastic, he will ad- vance and become a high type of man. If not. he will be mental ! dead one"
 Plan to Oppose Bolshevism.
 Mr. J-dison favored business men raising a fund to get soap boxes and soap box orators to oppose bolshevist propagandists on their own ground and in their own way.
 We shall have no trouble with them so long as they do their talking from soap boxes," he added. We can set up opposition soap boxes"