Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-08-11
BROWNSVILLE
men ANSWER
EDISON TEST
Rail Agent, Auto Sales
man, Telephone Man
And Secretary, Try
Hand at Quiz

Thomas A. Edison perhaps would
be a bit flattered II he knew that
four representative Brownsville men
unanimously named him one of the
greatest men living. when a few Of
the Edison questions were pro-
pounded them Friday morning.
Edison was the only man unani-
mously selected by the four. John
ID. Rockefeller was selected twice,
as was Henry Ford. President Her
bert Hoover, Charles A. Lindbergh
and John N. Garner were each
nominated once.
The first question vas What
new invention or discovery do you
believe would be the greatest ben
eft to mankind? Why?"
NJ. l.. Love, Southern Pacific gem
eral agent in Brownsville, believed
that a cure for cancer would be OF
the greatest benefit. He pointed to
the suffering that such a cure
would end as his reason for the Sc
lection.
Ed Mockbee. manager Of the
Brownsville exchange of the Rio
Grande Telephone company, was OF
the opinion that perpetual motion
would benefit mankind most. II
would lessen the cost of manufac-
turing and would allow the world
to take its nose from the grind
stone. he said.
Edwin Box. saw salesman for the
Stevenson Motor company, saw a
universal religion and political par
ty as the answer TO this question.
These would eliminate the strife
that now exists. He believed that
this would result in the end Of war
fare.
<. c. Toothman, secretary to r.
B. Creager, said no one discovery
or invention could be called the
greatest, as their application would
differ. He believed. however, that
eradication of diseases through pre-
tentative medicines would be as
great as any other achievement.
The second question: IF you were
to inherit 81. 600. 900 within the next
year. what would you do with it?"
All but Toothman asserted that
they would give a portion OF the
fortune to charity, or TO similar
purposes. Toothman said he would
make an effort to increase his for
tune. Mocktee declared that he
would give all of the money to
charity. Box would aid young men
with their educations with a por-
ton of the money.
The third question: IF you were
mailing a copper sheeting on an ex-
posed surface, what kind of nails
would you use, and why?"
All of the men question agreed on
copper nails, but all excepting
Mockbee could give no reason.
Mockbee explained the cation Of
copper against other metals would
result in c%orroSion. This. he said,
was due to an electrical action
similar to that which eats plates out
of batteries.
The fourth question: "Outside
the field If religion. what three men
now living do you think particular
ly deserve your respect and admira-
tion?"
Love selected Edison. Rockefeller
and Ford. Mockbee named Edison.
Lindbergh and John Garner. Box
could name only two: Edison and
Ford. He declined TO name Lind
bergh, saying that he gained his
fame through one achievement,
which while daring. did not
sarily mark him as a great man.
Toothman selected Edison. Rookie
teller and Hoover.
Edison was selected because OF his
inventions. Rockefeller for his fl
nancial genius and gifts to charity,
Ford for his organizing ability and
development of mass production,
Lindbergh for his work in aviation,
Garner for his political achieve
ments after rising from relative OBJ
scurity. and Hoover for his ability
as ar engineer and executive quail
ties.
The last question was: 1.-TWO
towns on opposite sides of a river
one mile wide are cut off from COM
munication with each other by any
electrical means due to a calamity.
How would you attempt to establish
communication between the two
cities without the use of electricity?
CThs towns cannot be crossed by
human beings.
All four settled on semaphore
signals Of various types. Most OF
them mentiond "wig-wag." One
mentioned a heliograph. This
method of communication utilizes
flashes of light. Reflected sun
light is often used in this method.