Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-22

happy al.A somewhat whimsical vein
suggestive Of his mood on the occa-
sion Of his speech, to his virginia
neighbors at Madison, Va, about six
weeks ago.
EuIOgy to Genius.
4Rivers of sweat saved from the backs
! OF men and the infinite drudgery re-
lieved from the hands of women are
the major accomplishments of men OF
genius like Thomas A. Edison, was the
solemn declaration made by Mr.. Hoover
in the course Of his remarks.
While Mr.. Hoover showed by this
the tremendous economic effects Of Mr..
Edison'S discovery by saying that
darkness is the forbidden limitation
upon righteous human activities" and
pointing out that today the govern
n1entS of the world levy upon upward
Of sixty billions of wealth founded upon
electricity" Mr.. Hoover threw not a
ray but beam of light upon his own
real character and real humanness.
Somewhat jovially. the President
spoke Of how Mr.. Edison had enabled
the world to read type in a telephone
booth and while lying in bed at night
and to postpone spectacles for a few
years longer. 1t was a happy and hui
morous speech at the end of an in
tereSting and strenuous day that began
early in the morning and lasted until
his train pulled out of Dearborn at
midnight.
When Mr.. Edison invented the cleo
trio lamp" said Mr. Hoover "he may
perhaps have thought lust to produce
plain light and more OF 1t at less COST
surmise that his widest ambition was
to relieve the human race from the
curse OF always cleaning oil lamps,
scrubbing up candle drips and ever
lastingly carrying one or the other
about. He may have thought to add
safety to Chicago against a second &C
cident from the oil lamp"
Many Uses of Light.
Mr.. Hoover smilingly suggested that
the invention OF the electric light has
driven to the outdoors the COLLINS that
lived in dark corners and under the
bed; evil deeds which inhabit the dark
have been driven back into the farthest
retreats of the night; electricity has
introduced the element Of surprise in
dealing with burglars; it enables the
doctor to peer INTO the fecesses of our,
insides; it substitutes for hot-water
bottles in aches and pains; it enables
our cities and towns to clothe them
selves In gayety by night, no matter how
Electricity has decreased toll and
has become the friend of man and
child" the President declared,
With such facetiouS illusions to the
effect of Mr.. EdiSon's invention, which
naturally delighted his auditors, Mr..
Hoover took occasion to praise the
work now carried on In the field of
pure and applied science, and to point
out that the day of the genius of the
orc hui hot
research is big undertaking in itself
and that Henry Ford, in giving the
Edison Institute Of Technology, is max
ing generous contribution.
THE Nation today" said Mr.. Hoover,
needs more support to research. 1t
needs more laboratories" and that is no
new hobby with Herbert Hoover. When
he was Secretary of Commerce he was
instrumental in having big Industrial
lists and manufacturers of the country
create an endowment fund to carry on
research In pure science.
THE race is still on" the President
stated. If we would have our Nation
improve in the standards of living and
at the same time accommodate itself to
increasing population, we must main
tain on an even more liberal scale than
ever before our great laboratories of
pure and applied science"
Our Debt to Edison.
Mr.. Hoover added with much feeling
that MIR. Edison has given a long life
to such service. Every American owes
a debt to him." said the President. 1T
is not alone a debt for the honor he
has brought to his country. Mr.. Edi-
son, by his genius and efforts rose from
modest beginnings to membership
among the leaders of men. His life
gives renewed confidence that our in
situations hold open the door of oppor-
tunlty to all those who would enter"
The President was introduced by
Owen .. Young, chairman Of the board
Of the General Electric Co, who
achieved international fame as the
originator Of the Young plan at the