The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-08-04
WHO ARE GREAT MEN
(Orlando Reporter-Star.)

(OrandO RepOrterStar)
John F. Schumann editor of the Frankfort Crescent
News. Indiana, and associate editor of the Reporter
Star in order to test out public opinion the of
the day who active in public affairs sent out
questionnares to seventyfve prominent men of that
city, the list embracing professional. business and
working men, and of both political parties, the ma
iority being Republican in about the proportion that
the city is Republican.
The questions were: First Whom do you regard as
the foremost living American? Second Whom do you
regard the constructive statesman of this day?
Third Who is the safest industrial leader? Who the
safest labor leader?
Answers came back from all but eleven
To the first, William Howard Taft led, with Wood
row Wilson second Thomas A. Edison third and Chas.
E. Hughes fourth There scattering votes for
Ford who by the way, stood next to Hughes; Bryan
received |; General Pershng, l. President Howell, of
Harvard, l. Chas Dawes 1; Hoover 81 Root, 5; Pres
ident Elliot, /; Roger Babson, l. Mr. Harding was
mentioned by but two
The second inquiry to the most constructive
statesman Albert j. Beverage led; Hughes next;
Hoover third, and Root fourth Close to Root stool
the for Senator Underwood. Others named were
Senator Hitchcock, of Nebraska; Samuel NJ. Ralston,
Senator Cummins, Mccormick of Illinois, and
Senator Lodge received vote, Mr.. Hughes was not
named at all in this class.
The third as to industrial leaders brought Mr. Ford
to the top. Charles Schwab second, Judge Gary.
third and Herbert Hoover fourth There were votes
for John D. Rockefeller, Jr, President McRae, of the
Pennsylvania Railway and President Markham Of the
I. c. r. R.
The fourth as labor leaders gave Secretary Davis
first place. Secretary Stone, of the Railway Brother
hood, second President Mitchell third and Samuel
Gomper3, fourth There just vote for John
T. Lewis, one for Ben Hooper, and two for E. F.
Grable.s
The interesting feature of the is in the fact that
so soon after a bitter national campaign Americans
can forget bias and prejudice and recognize the
worth of great Taft and Wilson were apparently
repudaed by the people at the polls Yet today they
are recognized and acknowledged the two greatest
Americans 1t is splendid comeback into the hearts
of the people.
The report is remarkable, too, for the not
mentioned Ex-candidate Cox is not mentioned. No
member of Mr. Wilson's cabinet is mentioned; not even
Mr. Lansing, who made effort appear big No
who has sponsored the McCumber- Fordney tariff
bill is mentioned Vice President Coolidge, who doomed
large prior to his election to the vice presidency. is
forgotten. As to Mr. Harding, the stingy mention of
him only be taken at its value. He is not, ana
never was, regarded big man. He is considered
of honest intentions but not forceful He not
numbered with great men, He selected by the
few senators who wanted a who would do their
bidding, and he has done that fairly we'll. All the
other named recognized strong men.
1t is noteworthy too that of the labor leaders named,
a single radical is named. Some would place Mr..
Gompers with the radicals but he is not He is far
from it. While he has been extreme in his demands
for labor at times he has always been for Americanism
first and has prevented from getting control of
labor Red ideas were never tolerated by Gompers.