The Bismarck tribune., 1929-02-11
Hello, Fisherman Greatest IN.
ventor Says, Greeting
President
QUERY Is DAMN RIDICULOUS
North Dakota Flower May Be
Used by Wizard in Finding
Substitute for Rubber

CUIt MycIO, EJ8., req. ll.-H)-
Thomas A. Edison. observing his 82nt
birthday at his winter home here. re-
ceived congratulations this mornin(
from President-elect Herbert Hoover
and Mrs. Hoover who came here b!
boat from the pre-inaugural home q
Belle Isle, Miami Beach. for the coca.
sion.
The Hoover party landed at tn,
dock 1t Mr.. Edison's estate, seminol,
Lodge. ct 1885 o'clock and walked uy
the 400 foot runway to the shore
where they were guests By Mr.. Edi'
son. They proceeded to . fountair
near Mr.. Edison's new office, {
birthday present from his wife. where
the president-elect chatted for . shor,
time with Mr.. Edison, Henry Ford
and Harvey 8. Firestone before goine
into the Edison home to prepare Iol
q motor ride through Fort Myers.
Mr.. Ford and Mr.. Firestone. who
for several years have made It Z prac.
tice to visit Mr.. Edison on his birth.
day. had preceded the President-elect
and Mrs. Hoover here.
Hello. fisherman!" Mr.. Edison ex.
claimed with . smile %. Mr.. Hoover
advanced to shake hands with him
The other members Of the party from
the "6aunterer" congratulated the in
ventor on his having attained his
Sand birthday.
Waves Photographers Back
Mrs. Hoover waved photographers
back as they advanced more closely
to the party.
That's quite close enough" she
said. and asked them not to crowd In
on the president and his host.
Previously, Mr.. Edison had had hi,
annual birthday interview with news
papermen and had posed for photog.
raphers.
The interview was held in the new
office building, tho little structure
that formerly housed the aged in
ventor's laboratory. Mr.. Edison was
seated at desk In the center Of the
room. Surrounding him, on the wall
shelves. were hundreds Of bottles and
chemical equipment which he has
used In hts experiments on rubber
production. ~.
A bright yellow silken pennant
hung on the wall bearing in green
the name Edison"
The inventor spent 20 minutes writ
ing In pencil his answers to the ques-
tions previously prepared and sub
mitted by newspapermen. All but
two Of the questions were answered In
writing.
Too Damn Ridiculous'
One question brought an explana-
ton Of astonishment from the in
ventor. It referred to development Of
medicinal lights for general use.
II won't answer that" he declared.
Its too damn ridiculous. !"
In q verbal answer to the other
question which sought his opinion Of
progress during the next so years
through mans genius. Mr.. Edison de-
clared:
ITS impossible to tell anything
about 1t. We don't know . mtilionth
Of one per cent about anything. Sound
Is the only feature that has been
revealing to the men who have
studied It,"
Mr.. Edison appeared deaf to ques-
tons submitted to him In his office.
Write them out" he urged, took
of his glasses and placed them in his
pocket.
He rose quickly from his chair
when he was asked to 60 to the lawn
for photographs and posed Tor some
time.
Mr.. Edison's only verbal comment
OF the morning concerning his exper-
iments with rubber was made Is he
talked into . microphone for talking
pictures.
Golden Rod Useful
I'VE have been experimenting for
some time down here with rubber
CONTINUED On page nine)