The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-12-04
HEART DISEASE IS
FATAL TO ONE Time
FARM BOARD LEADER.
Was Director of War industries
Board During World War;
Wilson Adviser
KNOWN AS HARD FIGHTER
shrewdness. Despite Lack Of
Education, Won Him High
Business Place

Chicago, Dec. 4.-(P)-Death from
a heart attack has ended the career
Of Alexander Legge, 67-year-old presi-
dent Of the International Harvester
company and former chairman of the
federal farm board. who was known
to his friends as 1.-The iron man."
Mr.. Legge, called 1.-The iron man.
because of his seemingly tireless ef-
forts, died suddenly Sunday at his
home in suburban Hinsdale. where he
had been working in his garden.
During the war he was director Of
the war industries board. He was
the second important figure In the
nations wartime affairs to die with
in two weeks. The other was his close
friend. Edward N. Hurley. head Of the
wartime shipping board.
At about 10 q. m. Sunday he COM
planned Of feeling Ill and servants
summoned physician. He died with
In an hour.
No immediate relatives are living.
Mrs. Legge. In whose honor he had
erected q woman's memorial at Hins-
dale, died about 10 years ago.
Came From Farm
Legge, q farm boy. went to the city
and made good. He became q sue
cess largely because he was q red
haired fighter, . shrewd trader and
knew farmers.
Legge always dealt with farmers.
He started as q collector and rose
successfully until in 1922 he became
president Of the International Harves-
ter company.
But he took time out to serve the
tillers of the soil in another way.
President Hoover drafted him a
chairman Of the farm board-one Of
the governments greatest economic
experiments. It required Of him the
full powers Of his expert mind and
some Of the reserve in his six.foot-
three. 200-pound body.
For 20 months he bore the brunt Of
criticism, always fighting back, never
yielding to his critics. When he re-
signed to 60 back to his harvester
company. he was called ''hard-head-
ed, hard-boiled and astute."
Once before he was in his country's
service. In World War days he served
as director Of industrial mobilization.
dollar-a-year man. He was thrust
into international prominence when
he became chairman Of the war in
dustries board, in charge Of all NUM-
lions shipments. both to american
and allied forces abroad.
At Versailles. Legge was President
Wilson's economic expert.
The next youngest Of four children.
he was born on farm in Dane coun-
ty. Wisconsin. January Is, 1866. The
only systematic education he had was
three months in 4 grade school at the
county seat.
School Was 'Infrequent'
He once said his school was ''in-
frequent" His education came BY
hard knocks and experience. In 1881
he went to Nebraska and for ten years
worked from farm to farm. He came
to know farmers intimately.
Then he went to Omaha. He went
ahead rapidly with the Mccormick
company. In 1899 he was brought in
to Chicago as manager Of the collec-
ton department. In 1902, when the
international Harvester Company
was formed by merger Of the Nc
Cormick and the Deering and other
interests, the farm boy became assist
ant manager OF domestic sales.
From then on his rise took him
through the offices Of assistant gen.
eral manager, general manager. vice
president and. on June 2. 1922. presi-
dent, succeeding Harold r. McCor-
mick at reputed annual salary Of
100000.
Offers A Suggestion
When congress passed the Agricul-
tural Marketing Act In 1929. setting up
Continued on Page Four