The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-11-04
S!;e:!ttinSl!l1n!!tlo;,
Who's1Io

live now7
who's Who in America" answers these~ques
lions for you. Volume Id 19261927 is just off the
press and ready again to tell the world In 2,271
pages the important facts about 26,915 men,
women and--yes children, who, in the estimation
Z of those who compile this monumental work, are
"the best known in all lines Of useful and
reputable achievement"
who's Who" was established away back in
1899 by Albert Nelson Marquis, then in the pub
fishing and advertising business His first volume
containing 1902 sketches, was evidently success
full venture for every other year since 1899 there
has appeared a new edition each containing more
material than its predecessor.
According to the preface, Who's Who "aims to
tell just the things every intelligent person wants
to know about those who most conspicuous
In every reputable walk of life birthplace, age
parentage, education, college or university de-
grees, occupation, position achievements, politics.
societies, clubs, marriages. etcin fact the chief
feature Of each career, without eulogy or criti-
cism."
Suppose we look up somebody. Let's take
Henry Ford. Here's what we find:
FORD, Henry. automobile mfr: b Greenfield, Mich.
July 80 1888; William and Mary 6ogotl FL ca
Ssid s ape dss heaSnsd dA naosIsIs a
Pres ToEd Meter GO
100000 persons; shout 1900 automo-
MOVING aH ten P e. thirty mil
oes aut aSSHS nnsnssr pero
Bankers
slloweraf BioO%nsd HIS County Pc.
o G1 Of Bqa Rs0 cnarersd
s% s S gs ese to e
cont q peace t. after
to s s%ea s1a g saS
mark and through Germany to The Hs s Main
employees and families also legal and @eaics
iaslg bu Henry Fora Hosp at cost Of s75oooOo,
ss e anddaee for sanse
Truman H Newberry 1918 Home; Dearborn, Mich
How does one get into Who's Who2 What are
the qualifications for admittance? Do you ask
to be included or do you wait to be asked?
BY. all means wait to be asked The publishers
work on the theory that If you are somebody your
name will somehow drift into their attention.
Then they look into your claim to fame, and II 1t
appears that you merit some mention in the big
red book, you receive letter requesting you to
hand over certain information about yourself This
you are told to fill in blank which~accom-
panies the letter. You do this, and presto you're
notable.
On the basis of an estimated population Of
1140OO0OO for the United States in 1926 1t is cal
culated that only person out of every 4240
is able to break into Who's Who. And breaking
In, the publisher emphasizes, is accomplished sole
ly by doing something worthwhile. 1t is further
emphasized that no pay money to get
his name into Who's Who, and that the mere
accumulation of wealth is not regarded
achievement of sufficient Importance to call for
bold face type on page 81: mot single sketch
In Who's Who in America has been paid for
and none be paid for.''
Under the heading Qualifications for Admission
to Who's Who In America" we find the following:
'SThe standards of admission divide the
eligbles into two classes % those who are
selected on account of special prominence in
credtable lines of effort making them the sub
Jects of extensive interest, inquiry discussion
In this country; and (2) those who arbitrarily
included account of official position-civll,
military. naval, religious or educational
1.-The first of these two classes comprises per-
sons who have accomplished some conspicuous
achievement something out Of the ordinary, SO
to something which distinguishes them
from the vast majority of their contemporaries.
This class Is confined to Americans, or those who
are so prominently identified with American
affairs as to be the subjects Of wide inquiry or
discussion in the United States. Thus few for
egn actors, singers, lecturers and others are In
cuded who, by frequent visits or In other
way, have become the subjects Of common Amer
lean interest.
1.-THE arbitrary class embraces without regard
to notability or prominence in any other respect
the following: All members of congress; members
of the cabinet; all United States judges; federal
department heads; all governors of states terri
tories and island possessions of the United States
all judges of state and territorial courts of highest
appellate jurisdiction all American ambassadors,
and all ambassadors and ministers accredited to
this country; all American consuIs at important
places in foreign countries; all living American
authors of books possessing more than ephemeral
value the attorneys general of the various states
all officers Of the army above rank of colonel and
of the navy above the rank of captain; heads of
all the larger universities and colleges; heads OF
the leading societies devoted to philanthropic.
education and scientific aims; members of the
National Academy of Sciences, the National
of rte nd Tt0ftQ oh
eccesastics of all the larger religious denonnina
lions OF the United States and others who are In
like manner chosen because of official relations
and Affiliations
Leafng at random through the pages Of Who's
Who Is an interesting and not at all Improbable
pastime. For here you trace the life histories
of men whose names have become household
words captains of industry scientists judges and
lawyers, reforners. churchmen, educators, doc
tors warriors politicians, actors and even movie