670 THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL A N D EXGINEERING C H E i I S T R Y Vol. 13, No. 8

EDITORIAIS

A Time for Gathering The period September 6 to 17, 1921, looms large in its

potentialities for chemistry in America. Chemists of Eng- land, Canada and the United States will then gather to make fast the ties that naturally bind them, to discuss matters of scientific importance, to determine policies which should prove of lasting benefit in future development and to speak in united voices to our several peoples about those subjects on which we have a right and a responsibility to speak. Then follows the National Exposition of Chemical Industries.

For this great gathering many forces are working to insure its being an historic occasion. The railroads are cooperating to diminish the cost of travel. The Trunk Line Association and the South Eastern Passenger Association are offering reduced rates under the certificate plan (for important de- tails concerning this feature see page 734 of this issue). It is hoped that other railway associations will soon take similar action. Chemists from the Pacific Coast will have the benefit of the regular summer tourist rates.

Not only are the hotels in New York City anxious to accommodate a8 many as possible, but Columbia Uni- versity, in order to make sure that all will be provided for, will open its dormitories a t the very low charge of $1.50 per day or $10.00 for the entire period. This arrangement is particularly fortunate in view of the fact that practically d l of the meetings will be held in the lecture rooms of the University. A glimpse at the preliminary program, almost completed, shows an unusual assemblage of individual papers and symposiums of far-reaching importance. Secre- tary Hoover will be warmly welcomed, for his is a vitalizing touch wherever it falls.

For the first time the Chemical Exposition will display its exhibits on one great floor, with a larger number of exhibitors than in any previous year. At last the management will be in position to provide for lectures, addresses, and industrial movie films, a hall adequate in size and which, while in the same building as the exhibits, will be sufficiently removed to enable a thoughtful and attentive hearing of the subjects presented.

But there is a graver reason which calls upon every chemist, no matter what the sacrifice, to make himself a personal part of this meeting. The feeling that a crisis is upon us cannot be set aside. To- day chemists of standing throughout the country are out of positions and this year’s graduates from our universities find but few openings available to them. Of course we must expect to take our share of the generally low conditions in all lines of industry, but to the nation which is chemically farsighted such times should be marked by most strenuous research efforts in preparation for the swing of the economic pendulum back to the upward curve of industrial activity. No, there are deeper and more insidious reasons for this lack of employment of chemists. Two of these stand out pre- eminent. First, the chemical industry is being exploited by capital to-day in some quarters in a way which indicates no conception of the value of the scientific and technical men in such an industry, but rather suggests the tricks of a horse trader who rations his stock on carefully administered* doses of arsenic preparatory to a quick sale. On this point we expect to write much more specifically in a subsequent issue. Secondly, the legislative issue trembles in the balance. Strange indeed is it that an industry which served this country

So much from the optimistic standpoint.

Let us look the situation squarely in the face.

so well during the critical days when millions of American young men were being hastily transported to the front to stay the assault of the German armies upon our very civili- zation, should nom be blackguarded by those who sought to hold us back from that great conflict-and yet find fol- lowers sufficient to defeat legislation whose sole purpose is to preserve the industry as a permanent asset to the nation. And such a following! The Democrats casting aside the admonition of former President Wilson in two annual mes- sages, and plainly for party politics, join forces now with the American Protective Tariff League, while the latter is evi- dently led by the ready chameleon Mr. Metz and in a sub- terranean way by the agents of the Radische Company. Every political trick known is being tried by those who lead the opposition, even while flaunting a flag of fair but hypo- critical intentions. So brazen has become the attack that possibly their methods may yet prove a boomerang. It is time that the voice of American chemists should be heard in all of this turmoil. No action of the Committee on National Policies can take the place of the united voice of our members in national gathering assembled. It is time for action. Come on!

Have You Done Your Share? “The elements of national defense are now the sum total

of all the economic resources of the country plus all the man power: In time of imminent danger, the mobilization of a thousand chemists might be infinitely more important than the mobilization of a million troops.” This definite con- viction is expressed by Frank I. Cobb, the vigorous editorial writer of the New York World, in an article on the “Economic Aspects of Disarmament’’ in the August number of the Atlantic Monthly.

Scarcely had the ink dried upon that printed page when the House of Representatives turned down the recommendation of its Ways and Means Committee and defeated the coal- tar chemical limited embargo feature of the Fordney tariff bill by a vote of 208 to 193.

The outcome of that vote was a great surprise, for it was felt that after the careful study given by the Committee to thi’s intricate and technical subject its recommendation would be accepted. But it was not, and thereby the chemi- cal industry of America has been seriously jeopardized. While realizing that the particular link in the chemical industry adversely affected by this vote is not relatively the most important as to tonnage and value of output, never- theless it is in this industry that proportionately the greatest number of chemists are utilized and it is for this branch of the industry that a large part of the young chemists in our universities are now in training. The industry calls for supplies of chemicals from all other lines and unquestion- ably it represents that part of our industry most intimately bound up with national defense. Strike down the coal-tar chemical industry and there will be a fatal slump all along the line in matters chemical. The mobilization of Mr. Cohh’s “a thousand chemists’’ may become a difficult mat- ter in such a contingency.

It is worth while, therefore, that the unfavorable vote in the House be analyzed, in order to see if the situation may not yet be saved.

The vote was upon an amendment by Congressman Frear of Wisconsin to strike from the bill the embargo section. This Congressman’s fight against the embargo mas just as

Aug., 1921 THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERIhlG CHEMISTRY

vigorous as was his support, before our entry into the war, of the McLemore resolution which would have prevented American citizens from sailing on ships bearing munitions, and a9 was his opposition to the declaration of war against Germany and the passage of the draft bill after we had en- tered the war. He was well qualified for leadership. To his support he drew 112 Democrats, all except four from Louisiana, and 95 Republicans.

The vote of the Democrats was evidently for some reason of party politics. The votes of the 95 Republicans consti- tute the interesting problem. On what grounds did they bolt the recommendations of their Committee? Did they understand fully the significance and the importance of this industry to our country? For this last question we chemists are responsible. Did we do our part in making this clear t o our Congressmen? Did we do anything in the districts concerned to arouse and enlighten public opinion on this vital matter? If not, then it is still up to us to do quickly everything in our power to make good the shortcorpings of the past. Vacations are pleasant and work in the laboratory is delightful, but unless public opinion is quickly aroused these pleasant and delightful affairs may. be of little interest to those of US who were once chemists.

Here is the list by states of the 95 Republican Congress- menwho voted for the Frear amendment. Is your Con- gressman on this list? CALIFORNIA MINNESOTA

Barbour And e r s o n Nolan Clague

Davis Fuller MISSOURI Gor man Hukriede King Lawrence McKenzie Roach Mirhaelson MONTANA Sproiil McCormick

NEBRASKA Benham Andrews Elliott Evans Hickey Kinkaid Kraus McLaughlin

KLLINOIS .

BNDIANA

Reavis IOWA

Boies Doivell Haugen Hull KOPP Rawseyer Sweet

Anthony Hoch Little Strong White

KENTUCKY Ogden Robsion

KANSAS

MAINE White

MARY~,AND Blakeney

MASSACRUSSTTS Underhill

MICHIGAN Crarnton Woodruff

0 K I. A H o M A

Gensman Herrick

OREGON Sinnott

PENNSYLVANIA Burke Connell Connolly Coughlin Gernerd Kline Shreve Rose Strong

RHODE ISLAND NEVADA Burdick Kennedy

Arentz N E W HAMPSHIR~

Burroughs SOUTH DAKOTA Wason Williamson

NEW YORK Ansorge Chandler Fish Kline Rossdale Ryan

NORTH DAKOTA Burtness Sinclair Young

Cable Fitzgerald Foster Gahn Knight Moore Morgan Norton Ricketts Spenks

OHIO

TENNESSEE Brown Reece Scott

WASHINQTON Summers

Rosenbloom WEST VIRGINIA

WISCONSIN Beck Browne Cooper Frear Kleczka Lampert Nelson, A. P. Nelson, J. M. Stafford

’Voigt

The matter may still have to go to the Conference Com- mittee and his support may be needed, and perhaps this vote indicates that your senators also do not appreciate the gravity of the situation.

Have you done your share, fellow chemist? Better vigorous action now than vain regrets later.

671

Restoration in Poland The restoration of the University of Louvain has made a

deep appeal to the whole world and particularly to Ameri- cans. It is good to know that from the ashes of that vener- able institution so ruthlessly destroyed there is to arise another and even greater institution. Yet we must remember that Belgium is not alone in its sorrow and suffering.

Poland must be restored as a vigorous nation. The struggle for restoration is intense, for it was ravaged first by the Russians and then by the Germans.

Since receipt of the following letter it has been learned that a committee is being organized which, in cooperation with the Polish Consulate, will endeavor to raise funds to relieve this distressing situation. Keep your hearts and purses open.

May I not tell you something of the plight of the men of science in Poland. Here in the United States we can hardly realize how difficult their life is and under what wretched condi- tions they are trying to do productive work. Since the very beginning of the war they have been without the very necessary scientific books and technical periodicals from abroad.

The universities have been pillaged and stripped by both the Germans and Russians-sometimes even the buildings have been destroyed, as in the case of the chemical laboratory of the University of Posen. I enclose a photograph (showing this de- struction) that was sent to me together with a letter of petition

from the faculty begging me to help them to rebuild and equip a new laboratory.

From Lemberg, my husband, who is professor of geophysics, writes continually of the lack of means a t the disposal of the faculty of the University. May I not translate from one of his recent letters?

“Oh how I long to have a laboratory, a good library, the insfruments necessary for observations, and the means to publish!

I need chemical equipment to make analyses of air and rain-water, actinometers, pyrheliometers to measure solar radia- tion, an electric oven, a pendulum, sufficient a t least to make field observations. I must have glassware and chemical reagents, platinum, a balance, a microscope.

“Just think all this equipment would not cost more than eight thousand dollars. Yet I will have to struggle all the rest of my life and expend all my efforts that perhaps my successor may have the necessary means of working and producing. It is discouraging. But when I think of the financial situation of the government I can see no issue. It is hardly possible for you to realize how difficult the situation is here.

“Poland is expected to be productive but no one stops to think of the fact that to produce i t is necessary to have the means of production.

“It is perhaps natural that America should be tired of Europe, and does not wish to learn of the miseries that exist here, but, still . . . . . ”

Is there no way for us to finish that sentence? Can we not extend a friendly helping hand to these men who want so badly to do and who could do if they had the means?

Sincerely, (Signed) JANE ARSTO~SKA.