The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1940-04-18


in Washington. He is not a politi-
clan. He is business man who
believes in running public affairs in
businesslike manner. He didn't
seek out the job. 1t sought him out
and was offered to him strictly be-
cause of his qualification.
1t happened this way: In the fall
of 1886, when Roosevelt persuaded
Charles Edison, son of the famed
inventor, to take the post of assist
ant secretary, the first man to con-
graduate him, in his office in East
Orange, was Lewis Compton.
Thanks, Luke" said Edison,
''but have no business taking this
job. don't know the bow of ship
from the STERN
"You don't need to-" said Comp
ton. In the navy there are plenty
of men who do. All you need is a
good assistant. Count me in
do you mean it?" said Edison.
Sure was the reply.
"What are you doing Monday"
said Edison. "Come down to Wash
ington with me and we'll fix things
up"
Won Edison's Admiration.
The two men had become &C
quainted only the year before, when
Compton was state director of re-
lief in New Jersey. Edison, presi-
dent of Thomas A.. Edison Indus
tries, Inc, was also starting lab
oratory experiment in federal hous-
ing in New Jersey, and needed some
white-collar relief workers.
Compton assigned relief workers
to the housing project in way that
evoked Edison's admiration. In
stead of handing him lot of butch
ers and bakers, he allowed Edison
free range to select skilled men,
regardless of politics, with the re-
suit that the New Jersey FILA had
the most efficient record in the
country.
This was the beginning of mu-
tual admiration between the two
men.
A clear-Sighted perseverance lies
behind Compton's work today in re-
organizing the navy department.
He and Edison, both with the back
ground of business men, insist that
the shore establishments of the
navy, which employ 100000 civilian
workmen - riveters, steam-ftters,
electricians, designers = cannot be
well directed by an officer trained
only in commanding ship.
In other words, you can't build
submarines by throwing steam
filter into the brig if he doesn't
salute and say "Aye, aye, sir!" The
navy's shore establishments consti-
tute one of the largest industrial
enterprises in the country, and
Compton and Edison hold that they
should be directed by men trained
in industrial management.
These and other administrative
reforms of Edison and Compton are
regarded as heresy by the brass
hats, but they have the support of
President Roosevelt and they are
being put through.
MERRY-GO-ROUND
Experts say that airplane types
change so rapidly that a new plane
is out of date in almost six months.
Therefore British and French pur-
chases are enabling the United
States to develop both types and
factories, giving the army and navy
the cream of the crop.
When the Germans got an offer of
Red Cross aid from Norman Davis,
they said, ''No, thanks"
Dave Dubinsky will take his pow
erful International Ladies Garment
Workers union into the A. F. of L.
in May.
Roosevelt Encyclicals.
Unlike some other members of the
family, John Roosevelt manages to
keep his name out of the headlines.
Nevertheless, the youngest Roose-
welt boy has some definite ideas OF
his own and does not hesitate to
express them-even to his father.
Some time ago, the President was
preparing fireside chat, and asked
John to comment on it.
"It sounds like an encyclical of
the pope" replied John, land ]