FOUR GREATEST MEN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19239, 1 August 1924, Page 4

FOUR GREATEST MEN.

AS SELECTED BY AN AMERICAN. Four Americans are the outstanding men of the twentieth century, in tho opinion of President M. L. Burton, of the University of Michigan (states the Ann Arbor correspondent of tho Now York Times). His selections arc Theodore Roosevelt. Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Orville Wright. The moil have leadership for the following reasons:—Theodore Roosevelt for his comprehension of the social problems of his time; Henry Ford for industrial development, loading to a now social order; Thomas Edison for his inventive genius: Orville Wright for his creative work in heavier than air flying. Dr Burton regretted ho was not able to place a literary man in tbo list. In this Dr Burton too issue with Bishop Brant, Chancellor of Hobart College, whose choico of the four greatest men of the twentieth century were:—Woodrow Wilson, Cardinal Merrier, Lenin, and Gandhi. “Such a choico is certain to call forth criticism,” Dr Burton said, in explanation of his choice. “The public arc looking to their war heroes, and perhaps would put some of them among the four greatest men of the twentieth century. I have watched several war leaders in private life and am not yet ready to proclaim them the greatest. Tho war is not: far enough in history to decide. My choice of men, it is apparent, is based on their valuable con- ’ tributions to society. I have made rny choice from the angle of constructive civilisation, while Chancellor Brent named leaders of men only. Dr Burton explained that ho almost included Wilson in the group, and that Lloyd George was a close runnerup to Wilson, both for conducting great nalions through the World War