Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-21
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here. AS far as I can gather, the OBJ
stacles to their achievement have not
been notably greater than those which
confront any young medical student;
but in the other three factors both
brothers score very high.
As for Henry Ford, why argue?
Case Is Cited for Debate.
John D. Rockefeller, ST., is neat
case for debate; but I stand firm on
the proposition that the measuring rods
put him in this class. Item: His aim,
first in gaining control of the oil bust
ness, and much later in benef1ting
society through his billion dollar
gifts to the Rockefeller Foundation, the
General Education Board the Laura
Spelman Rockefeller Memorial and the
Rockefeller Institute for Medical Re-
search. Item; His staggering personal
success in the first aim. Item: The
social value of his benefactions Why
isn't he an AAAA man? Simply be-
cause his obstacles fall far below those
Of Keller, Edison, Wright and Acheson,
while the long-range human value of
his good acts cannot be equated with
those of the AAAA people.
You may cite a further short list of
men and women who may well fall into
this very high group, when all the facts
about their obstacles come to light. l
omit them solely through lack OF full
information on that score. Three strik-
ing specimens are Herbert Hoover,
Owen d. Young and James T. Shotwell.
Herbert Hoover is the most puzzling
case of all. He is positively AAA or AA.
But which? l confess myself stunped.
and mainly because of lack of precise
information as to the obstacles which
he encountered when organizing his
war relief work. That work still stands
forth as the most brilliant chapter In
| his career, and the latter must be rated
according to the part which his own
personal will, aim, persistence, energy
and intelligence played in It. The OPP
| portunity came to him by pure luck:
hence, we cannot credit him for any,
thing IN our first factor. AS for the
smoothing of obstacles, to what extent
was that really accomplished by the
potent arm of old Uncle Sam? Here
my ignorance thwarts me- Being in
doubt, I cannot write three AS oppo-
site the Presidents name. Perhaps
somebody else can.
His Path Beset With Thorns,
Owen D. Young is somewhat less OF a
mystery. His aim, from boyhood on
ward, was pretty clear and straight
But between the day Of leaving school
ana the hour OF glory, was his path be-
set with thorns2 Apparently not. But
the evidence is inadequate So we must
leave him here with q small question
AGAINST his name.
James T.. Shotwell's achievements If
| historical research are, in all probable
1ty, being overshadowed by his con-
structive craftsmanship in world poll
tics. Ever since Locarno the human
significance of his aims and accom-
! plishmentS has been growing. AS soor
as the Committee of the Measuring Roc
can ascertain how high have been the
hurdles he has been forced to take, he
can be rated in our Human Handicap
Fully a score of other distinguished
Americans present similar perplexitie:
to us. If they belong here some adj
mirers will bring forward the facts K
prove it. This will doubtless occur very
soon In the case of Lindbergh. THAI
! he is at least an AA man nobody car
doubt. He aimed to fly oceans, and f1y
one he did-well, too. The obstacles
of course, were immense, but most OF
them were beyond human surrounding
except by luck. What Capt. Frank
Hawks said Of Coste's flight recently
applies equally to Lindbergh's: "a great
display Of nerve but foolish thing to
do proving nothing except nerve
and luck
Over against this judgment, however
some of Lindbergh's friends make the
| point that the youths achievements
| after the flight have been of q still
higher order, and we must refrain from
rating him here until the evidence or
that assertion is all in.
Many other candidates may be urged
for AAA rank. Let me explain why
I Vnta against a few Of them
Surely, Al Smith belongs in this
wing of the cathedral" declares an
| admirer.
surely, he doesn't" say I.
Qualities Which Smith Lacked.
A careful study of his career brings
out Enthusiastically that Smith had nc
clear, driving aim early in life; hence
no realization of any such aim. Not