Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-18

+ DETROIT, Mich, August ITO en-
courage the youth Of the country to mt
themselves for leadership and to In
crease the general interest Of older
people in the young men and women
more or less at sea about the business
OF life was the motive of Thomas A..
Edison in his recent test Of the general
intelligence of 40 young men from all
parts Of the country.
That is the view expressed yesterday
by Henry Ford in reply to inquiries as
to the effect of the Edison QUESTIONABLE
on the boys who answered 1t and on
the young people Of the United States
Now. as to these boys and Mr.. Edi-
sons examination and the reward OF
the best fitted, his idea was simply to
encourage the finding and developing OF
leaders, which Is the greatest need OF
this country today" Mr.. Ford said.
LAS to Mr.. EdiSon'S successor, who
knows anything about that? Mr.. Edi-
son would be the last man in the world
to expect any one to become merely his
successor.
THE young man who came out on
top In the examination will be able to
take up the work and responsibilities Of
his, own life. and If he catches some Of
the inspiration of Mr.. Edison's life 1t
will be a great thing for that young
fine stuff in him and gives great prom
Use. and Is not indulging in any foolish
dreams, but looking forward to hard
work.
Boys Job All Ahead.
This boys job is all ahead Of him.
Mr.. Edison and the boy and all the rest
~ IF ~ EAlAPftnY1
understand this. The great idea was
and still is In Mr.. Edison's mind
that what is wrong with the young peo-
pie In this country today, II anything
is, is merely that older people, and espe-
cially men who have risen to position
of large responsibility. don't take sum
cient interest in the young folks; don't
try to find out what stun is in these
youngsters and try to develop 1t.
ITO emphasize the need Of taking q
real interest in the boys and girls OF
the country and giving them q chance
to make something more Of themselves
than mere plodders was the great idea
| in Mr.. Edison's mind. And it is one OF
the best things any one ever Gid for
the young people. It has spurred every
boy and girl In the land to buckle into
work harder than they have before, for
they will never progress to leadership
without the hardest kind Of work."
Isn't school training, as given all
| over this country, suficient preparation
for the young people for the duties and
opportunities of life?"
mot by a long shot," Mr.. Ford re-
piled. Our life has become altogether
too complex to yield the necessary train
ing out Of books alone. The boys have
got to know a lot about everything these
days in order to know any single thing
we'll. And that is especially true Of the
industrial activities of the country
which have assumed such immense pro-
portions.
Covered Wide Range.
Can you imagine boy going through,
school with no interests except getting
his marks out Of his books and study
and being really prepared to do any
original and creative work in the world
I can't. Unless the lad has been prying
into lot of the materials and processes
! that enter into our complex life, exam
! lining everything and questioning every
thing. he is little better fitted after
school training than he was before to
| have an actual share in practical Amer
! lean life. And say again we want
! young men in training for leadership
| And that was Mr.. Edison's idea. He