Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 August 1907 — PEOPLE OF THE DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PEOPLE OF THE DAY

An Alabama Senator. When the Sixtieth congress convenes Alabama will be represented in the upper house by an entirely new delegation. According to an arrangement made by Senators Morgan and Pettua long befoae they died, their place* will be fiUed respectively by John H. Bankhead and Joseph F. Johnston. Governor Johnston, who will don the toga so worthily worn by Senator Pettus, was governor of Alabama In 18961900. Unlike the man he will succeed, he Is rich and Is better known as banker and business man than as a poli-

tician. While his tendencies have been to some extent Populistic, he haa always been identified with the Democratic party. Governor Johnston is a native of North Carolina and a veteran of the civil war. After the war he studied law, but deserted Blackstone to enter trade. He began bis business life in Selma, Ala., the home of both Senators Morgan and Pettus. He was very fond of his distinguished townsman, and for this reason much surprise was occasioned when he entered the field against Senator Morgan in 1901. The latter had had twenty-four years of continuous service in the senate, and he had the hardest fight of his career before he defeated Johnston. Governor Johnston was chosen senator by the Alabama legislature for the short and long term and will therefore hold office until 1915. By Degrees. Governor Stuart of Pennsylvania and Governor Hughes of New York were honored with degrees of LL.D. by Lafayette college at the recent commencement. Incident to this and the celebration of the college’s seVetb ty-fifth anniversary, the institution was raising a fund of $500,000 to which Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller had eonditidtially subscribed. The entire amount had not been obtained on commencement day, and one of the trustees, turning to President Warfield with much concern, said to him in Governor Stuart’s presence: “How are you going to raise all this money?’’ “By degrees.” quietly broke in the Pennsylvania governor, who had already received his doctor’s degree. A Famous Scientist. Dr. Simon Flexner, who has discovered a serum that will cure meningitis, is at the head of the tute For Medical Research, New .York. Experiments made at Castalia, 0.. have demonstrated the efficiency of the serum. it Is said, and the details of the discovery will soou be announced through the proper medical channels. Dr. Flexner is a native of Louisville, Ky., and Is forty-four years old. His reputation as a pathologist and bacteriologist is worldwide, and the gor-

eminent has honored him with special commissions to Investigate various matters relating to the health of the country. Some time ago he made a study of the bubonic plane and the liability of Its introduc, >.i lu this country. Upon this subject he is out of tbe. foremost authorities ln th« world. When John D. Rockefeller endowed the Institute For Medical Research lit selected pr. Flexner as its head; The scientist at the time was professor oi pathology at the University of Penn sylvanja. His position now is one of great scope and possibility, being In charge, with discretion, of a princely fund for the prosecution of research along the line of his profession. It la probably tbe most Ideal chair of science ln the world.

JOSEPH F. JOHNSTON.

DR. SIMON FLEXNER.