Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-06
Edison Not an Oracle
Of Wisdom After All

To the Editor Of The Star:
Your editorial on Ford and Edison,
the "oracles. amused me greatly.
Although criticism of these American
demi-gods is seemingly equivalent 10
lese majeste, may be permitted to state
my doubts as to the infalliolIlty OF tnis
famous but curious pair?
Several years ago 1 had long talk
with Edison upon his economic views.
For the first time in his life ne was
then turning his mind to mvestigatlon
of the dismal science" He told me
that Ford had asked him-as chief
scholar of the Ford Edison -Ftrestone
triumvirate-to read up specifically on
the currency question and find the right
answer to it. Naturally 1t was assumed
by Ford it wouldn't take the one ana
only Tom more than half day to solve
this riddle-a riddle which incidentally
has stumped the intensest thinkers OF
all times. OF course. Edison solved It
in less than half day. He solved 1t In
about half minute. Answer, Ware
house money"
He at once gave his great discovery
to the press, namely the proposal to
have the Government issue legal tender
certificates based upon crops held in
warehouses to be built at strategical
points. This tremendous idea had to be
awarded columns of publicity since 1t
emanated from Edison himself the
single authority in the world upon every
branch of the sciences and the arts.
Edison didn't go much into details with
regard to his warehouse money" In
fact, he dropped the whole subject like
hot cake And there was reason.
The group of money reformers, of
whom / am one, published Ior several
years in New York a magazine called
Money. In this organ, which advo-
Gated sane, practical irrefutable kind
of currency. land money" almost
every possible argument fer and against
money and other reforms was skillfully
and authoritatively, presented. left
Edison personally. From the very dav
of my confab with him he was silent
as Tthe grave upon this dangerous
theme. He must. have found-and
found with conclusion of the brain
that he was the merest tyro in the ethi-
cal field of thought.
But what lack Of magnanimity he
showed by failing to indorSe the doc
trines of those who did understand the
battling currency question when he saw
that he couldn't begin to master it
himself! His course was precisely that
OF a man who wouldn't for an instant
admit that any one else could beat him
In constructive thought, and would
rather save his face than give the
slightest encouragement to. the revela-
ton of those who might conceivably
have in their hands the recipe for
human salvation! This is, indeed, a
serious indictment of Mr.. Edison but
can vouch for its absolute truth and
will further state that his ignoring of
the shattering truths in the magazine
that made him drop his own desire to
! be an economic savior utterly disquali-
fleS him as mentor of the American
people. His act was both coWardly and
unmanly.
Now let us examine his latest pro-
nunclamento. He declares without
; qualification that success is 90 per cent
mental effort This Is about what we
might expect the rawest, crudest mil
!ionaire in the country to say! 1t would
be the pathological eruction of some
gilded fool, anxious to make his money
buy him slight appearance of men
tally. One would hGdly expect such
an absurdly false platitude to fall from
the lips Of man like Edison. From
my knowledge of him this looks like the
rankest hypocrisy. For Mr.. Edison,
certainly, is not devoid of intelligence.
Why, then, does he and his Dearborn
pal take US all for simpletons? Don't
these two ever weary Of pretense-the
pretense of knowing everything about
everything? Don't they ever banker to
tell what they really do know, however,
and what they have been well and
thoroughly taught by modern monetary
scientists about the hidden blighting
powers of the prevailing fiscal regime?
How much longer will the American
public go for their salvation to milIion-
aires instead of to prophetsP Neither
money nor machines can redeem the
world. But brains can.
FRANKLIN HOPKINS.