The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-05-28
BY HOMER P. RAINEY

ID AAO-NAA<AA hlNA.AL
President Of Franklin College, Franklin.
Thomas Edison has proposed 70
90 most unusual and yet mag
nl1cent thing. Very few OF the
great leaders in human history have
had the opportunity Of choosing
their successors. Also very few have
had the generosity and the be-
neVolent purpose toward society to
assume the responsibility Of train
ing their successors in their ideals
and qualities Of life.
Edison IS TO be congratulated upon
his vision and worthy purpose. He,
better than any one else, Is capable
Of choosing the man to carry on his
work. Yet he. doubtless is unwtl-
ling TO state the qualities Of char
scter and mind which this man
should have. This might seem TO
be a self-evalUation.
I think it is very fortunate that
The indianapolis Times is conduct
ing an open forum on the qualiflca-
tons Of the boy who will be chosen
70 represent Indiana in this most
unusual competition, and I am
happy TO have a small part in this
discussion.
Edison Is Model
The qualities necessary for success
and achievement are so well known
ard generally recognized that II is
difficult to discuss them without
being trite. Yet Edison's life and his
work are such splendid eXempliflca-
tons Of these qualities, and he
possess them III such a rare degree
hat it is well to bring them again
SO the attention Of our high school
and college youth.
In the first place the student
should have genius. BY genius, I
mean creative talent. Edison is O.
genius of a very particular sort.
There can be no doubt that ne
possesses very peculiar endOWmentS
for his work. His successor also
should possess them III marked
degree.
Psychologists and educators have
fairly reliable technique now for
. selecting particular abilities and
aptitudes. This technique is
through the use Of general intelli-
gence tests and aptitude tests for
special abilities A student should
be found, and I believe can be
found, who possesses the required
aptitude for electromechanics.
In the second place, the student
~t-o-,1-7 hove % ,-o-c5O-7a+a 1o7ro+70r1
for the search for truth. He must
possess the scientific spirit. He
must have the mind and attitude Of
the true scientist. Some Of these
Qualities are. A love for truth; an
= unprejudiced mind; patience in re-
search: eXactness in details; keen
mess in powers Of observation; i'm
partiality in his judgments; and
above all else, he must be a tlreless
worker.
Character Important
In addition to these mental en-
dowments mentioned above. the
student must have certain quail
tiles of character. A character
which is successful IN modern life
Is one in which all the great social
virtues are splendidly integrated.
Some Of these are truthfulness. hon
esty. integrity. reliability. unselnsh
ideals Of service and a great vision
and purpose in life.
It is at this point that Edison will
need great wisdom and insight in
human personality, because these
Qualities are most difficult to dis
Germ. Furthermore, there Is great
e likelihood If students failing at
some one Of these points than at all
. others. A fact which makes this
problem all the more difficult is
that a fatal weakness in any one
Of these virtues may not be re-
vealed until the individual is faced
with some Of the great stress periods
and situations Of life.
For example. any one Of a thou
sand boys who might be chosen.
might completely sell himself and his
genius for his own financial adj
vsnCement if an industrial corpora
ticn were 70 offer him great f1nan-
cial returns for his services. Such a
temptation was presented to Lind
bergh. but he had strength Of char
acter and purpose to resist its al
lurementS.
Ny final suggestion is that be
iieve it will be mistake to select
only one boy for this work. There
are two reasons for this belief.
which seem to me very strong ones.
Boys Future Uncertain
The first one is that 7 have very
grave doubts as to the probability
OF getting a boy on first choice who
! will meet all the qualifications It
would be an extremely fortunate
s circumstance if any group Of psy-
8 biologists and educators or indi-
Aviduals could select one immature
sbov who would. when mature. nlea-