The New York herald., 1922-03-23
EDISON ANGRY OVER
RAP BY PROF. SCOTT.
Wrote Wizard He Lacks
knowledge of Even A BIC
Of Finance.

Special Dispatch 10 1nr NEW yonk HERALD
MADISON Wis March 22.-Thomas A,
Edison and Prof w. A. Scott. director
OF the course of commerce at the Univer-
sity Of Wisconsin, are engaged in de-
bate on the question whether Prof Scott
was discourteous to Mr.. Edison.
on Tuesday. simultaneous with the
publication by twenty-four professors
here of an intelligence QUESTIONABLE as
a substitute for the one compiled. by Mr..
Edison some time ago. came protest
10 the Board of Regents from Mr.. Edi-
son that professors letters TO him
were discourteous.
Prof Scott to-day admitted corre-
spondence with Mr.. Edison but declined
TO reveal its nature.
MY correspondence is private he
said. "and / thought Edisons was"
From the correspondence it appears
that MIR. Edisons QUESTIONABLE on finan-
eial subjects. notable in which was the
Implication that stored commodities were
as sound basis for paper money as a
gold resolve was sent TO the professor.
but elected no reply that Mr.. Edison
wrote to the professor again and urged
him to answer the questions, whereupon
the professor replied. disparaging the
QUESTIONABLE.
From another source copies OF both
the Edison and the Scott letters We're
obtained. Following is Mr.. Edison's let
ter to Prof Scott:
"ORANGE, n. j. Feb. I. 1922.
ITO Mr.. William A. Scott, Director of
the Course in Commerce and Pro-
fessor of Political Economy. Univer-
sity of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis
Dear Sir. or late the newspaper
people have been urgent for interviews
with me in regard to money and bank
ing. I have expressed myself on some
aspects of these subjects, but seem to
have aroused some criticism.
"As / do not want to mislead any one,
nor unwittingly cause any injury, Fhave
prepared the enclosed QUESTIONABLE
through which / may obtain information
from those who are skilled in economics
and banking. II am not sound in my
views | want to be put right in order
that | may make no statements which
in the last analysis would be found to
be incorrect.
Therefore, shall be glad IL you will
kindly favor me with answers to the
questions. Let me say that these an
swers are for my own guidance only
and will be regarded as confidential
No names will be mentioned without
permission. Yours very truly,
THOMAS A. Ed SON
Following is Prof SCOTS reply to
Mr.. Edison:
Ma. THOMAS A. EDISON, ORANGE. y. ].
My Dear Mr.. Edison: | have de-
layed a reply to your communication
OF February in the hope that ] might
find time to answer your questions.
After reading them over. however, am
convinced that nothing short of a
treatise on the subject OF money and
banking would be adequate and haven't
time to write that much. 1t is my be-
lief, however, that any good treatise.
even any good elementary textbook on
the subject, would answer the most
fundamental of your queries, ] confess
that I find it difficult to understand
how a man like yourself. II he has
seriously studied any of the literature
Of the subject can seriously ask such
questions. They betray 10 me an utter
lack OF comprehension OF even the
a B C of the subject, and | should
consider that only clear setting forth
of the very elements- of--laesz. subject