The Monroe journal., 1921-05-20
EDlSOH'S QUESTIONS HAVE
CREATED QUITE A STORM
Victims oi Test Say Only a Walking
Encyclopedia Cauld Answer
All of the Questions.
LIST Il KEPT SECRET

Thomas A. Edison's examination
questions for college graduates seek.
ing employment as executives in his
plant and the inventors unfay0ra ble
opinion OF college men because they
couldn't answer the questions, have
evoked many protests. both from
victims Of the examination and
others. The general tenor Of the
comments is that the questions only
could be answered by q walking en-
eyclopedia and are a test 81 a mans
memory and store OF miscellaneous
information. rather than Of his
knowledge. reasoning power or intel
ligence.
Several letters commenting indig-
nantly upon the test have been re-
ceived by the New York Times. A
typical one suggests that t was mot
Tom Edison but a Tom Foolery
test. Another SAYS that even a col
lege graduate is a human being and
IS interested in Other things besides
the depth of the ocean. while a third
accuses Mr.. Edison OF having been
guilty of test conspicuous human
frailty against which Socrates gave
warning: Belief that because he
knows one thing well. he knows all
things well.
Refuses to Make Questions Public
An effort was made TO get from
Mr. Edison or his representatives.
both a reply to the critics and an au-
thentic list of the questions. Mr.. Ed
ison was al home because of a slight
cold and would not talk. H. W.
Meadowcroft. Mr.. Edison's secretary,
refused TO make the questions public
on the ground that future applicants
would be enabled TO cram for the ex-
aminations.
THE whole point of the test would
be lost If its contents were published,
Mr.. Meadowcroft said. Il will saw.
however. that il covers pretty thor
ouchly mans supply of general in
formation. Mr.. Edison originated the
questionnaire three or four months
aso and is well satisfied with the re-
suits. Only some thirty of the sew
eral hundred applicants have man
AGED to pass the test. IL is true. but
those who did and thus became in
spectors of the factory have made
good in every case The plan is TO
advance those men to executive and
positions ii their fu-
ture progress is satisfactory.
Though the official list remained
! carefully guarded secret. known in
rs entirety only to Mr.. Edison. Mr..
Aeadowcroft and a clerk, 141 of the
questions were sent to tie Times yes
erday by Charles Hansen. an unsuc-
,essful candidate. No person who
axes the examination is allowed to
write down the questions or make I
totes of them, so Mr.. Hansen's list 4
s from memory. and he makes no
'retense of giving more than the sub I
'tance and purport of the queries.
Fhe attitude of Mr.. Edison and his
ids made verifeation impossible.
Here Is Hansen's List
What countries bound France?
Where Is the River Volga?
What country and city produces
he finest china?
Where does the finest cotton grow?
What country consumed the most
ca before the war?
What city in the United States is
oted for its laundry machine max
lg?
What city is the fur center in the
'nited States? I.
Can YOU play any musical instru-
lent?
What country Is the greatest tex
e producer?
Is Australia larger than Greenland
| area?
Where is Copenhagen? II
Where is Spitzbergen?
In what country other than Aus
ALA are kangaroos found?
What telescope is the largest in
le world?
Who was Bessemer and what did {
: do?
How many states in the Union? I
Who was Paul Revere?
Who was Hancock? '
Who was Plutarch?
Who was Hannibal?
Who was Danton? \
Who was Solo?
Who was Frances Harion? c
Who was Leonidas?
Where did we get Louisiana from?
Who was Pizzaro?
Who was Boliver?
What war material did Chile eX-
vi TO the allies during the war?
Where does the most coffee come
ON?
Where is Korea?
Where is Manchuria?
Where was Napoleon born?
What is the highest rise of tide p
the North Atlantic coast2
Who invented logarithms?
Who was Emperor OF Mexico when g
,rtez landed?
D III HorWnu N n