1930–31 Volume 55 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

Phi Leaders in the Business andManufacturing World(EDITORIAL NOTE: This is a companionarticle to those in a series which has beenrun during the past few months on "PhiLeaders in the Professional World.")BUSINESS and manufacturing! Twinapostles of an industrialized age! Wecould no more go back to the quiettempo of five hundred years ago thanwe could turn back those five hundredcalendar pages themselves. Our acceleratedlife is with us and there isa constant cry for more acceleration—speed—power—growth ! The roarthat is Broadway and Forty-secondStreet or Randolph and State Streets,the crash and roll and thunder that isa Minneapolis flour mill or a Garysteel mill or a Detroit automobile factoryis today's theme song. Tomorrow? Probably an even louder andmightier reverberation. Yesterday,buggies and bicycles; today, automobilesand airplanes. "Step on the gas"is giving way to "give 'er more altitude."Nor is this a miracle. All this hasbeen wrought by the invention of alittle device here, the perfection of alittle process there, all of which havebrought greater production, easierbuying and selling, swifter communication,better transportation. Men withbrains do these things; and our Cartwrightsand McCormicks and Wattshave changed the course of human lifeas much as our Cromwells and Napoleonsand Jeffersons.These industrial giants, these kingsof business are found in all sections ofthe country. Our own fair share ofthem are Phis. It is they who are our[267]By RUSSELL H. FITZGIBBONHanover, '24business and manufacturing pacemakers,pioneers, and torchbearers.We should be proud of them.Probably the most essential occupationin the world is agriculture. In its"raw" form that was all right in thedays of small population but now thepreparation of food is almost as im-WILLIAM H. DAN FORTHH^ashington (St. Louis), '92portant as its growth. Out in St.Louis is the largest concern of its kindin the world, the Ralston Purina Mills,engaged in a feed milling business,manufacture of prepared cereal foods,flours, etc. Its founder and presentpresident is William H. Danforth,Washington (St. Louis),'92. BrotherDanforth is not only one of the outstandingmanufacturers of thecountry; he is also internationallyknown for his interest in education andleadership training for young people.Shortly after his graduation from