A BLUEPRINT FOR POSITIVE ACTION
CHEMICAL ANDI ENGINEERING
NEWS DECEMBER 9 , W57 Oirector
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Associate Editors: „ , G e o r g e B. K r a n t z , R u t h C o r n e t t e ' Assistant Editors: K a t h r y n C a m p b e l l , Helen H . Blunt» B e t t y V . Kieffer, A r t h u r P o u l o s , R o b e r t J. Riley, Robert J . Kelley, J a m e s $ H . K r l é g e r , H a n n s i - . S p e r r *s Editorial Assistants·. R u t h L. C o n n o r , B a r b a r a R. C h r i s t i e , L e a h K. H e n d r i k s e n Staff Artist: Melvin D . Buckner BRANCH EDITORIAL OFFICES C H I C A G O 3, I L L . Room 926 36 S o u t h W a b a s h A v e . v< * P h o n e S t a t e 2-5148 . ; ,s T e l e t y p e C G 725 Associate Editors; ""< ^ H o w a r d J . Sanders, Chester Placck Assistant Editor: L a u r e n c e J.^ W h i t e v -- H O U S T O N 2, T E X . ": V \ ^ . 718 M e l r o s e B l d g . - « . . , . . ^ P h o n e F a i r f a x 3-7107T e l e t y p e H O 72 B r u c e F.^Greek ^ Associate Editor; Earl" V . A n d e r s o n * 1 * * Assistant Editor: N E W Y O R K 16, Ν . Υ , λ > ~ vT 2 Park Ave. Ύ "> *^ ^ ^ v« ' *.**-- , Phone O r e g o n 9-1646 T e l e t y p e N Y 1-4726 Associate Editors: " ' ' ^ „ ! / ' " "~ .%*% W i l l i a m Q. H u l l , Harry Stenerson, D i v i d M . K i e f e r , D. G r a y W e a v e r , W a l t e r S . Fedor, M o r t o n Sal kind \ - > \t>>~ , Assistant Editor: L o u i s A . A g n e l t o t k\ < S A N F R A N C I S C O 4, C A L I r V V ' C > , ^ x 703 M e c h a n i c s ' I n s t i t u t e B l d g . *\ s 57 P o s t S t . ~ ' * P h o n e Exbrook 2-2835 . " T e l e t y p e S F 549 Associate Editor; Richard G . Newhall Assistant Editor: D a v i d E. G u s h e e E A S T O N , PA. * \ / 2 0 t h a n d N o r t h a m p t o n S t s . ^ ** P h o n e E a s t o n 9111 T e l e t y p e E S T N Pa 4 8 Associate Editor: C h a r l o t t e C . Sayre * Editorial Assistants: Joyce A . R i c h a r d s , E l i z a b e t h ' R. "Rufe, J u n e A . Barron EUROPEAN OFFICE Bush H o u s e , A l d w y c h , L o n d o n P h o n e T e m p l e B a r 3605 C a b l e J I EC Η E M Associate Editor; Albert S . Hester * ? -f· Advisory Board: *" * H a z e l B i s h o p , M a u r i c e F . Crass, J r . , R. L. Ericsson, C . C . F u r n a s , L l o y d A . H a l l , T h e o d o r e S . Hocfgins, J . R. Hoover, 4 . W a r r e n K i n s m a n , R. W . M c N a m e e , L l o y d H . R e y e r s o n , E. G . R o c h o w , G l e n n T . S e a borg, C a r l S e t t e r s t r o m , F r a n k - J . Soday, Thomas H. Vaughn ~" •\ -fAdvertising Management \ REINHOLD PUBLISHING CORP. 430 P a r k A v e . , N e w Y o r k 2 2 , Ν . Υ . (For Branch O f f i c e s see p c g e ' J S Ç ) , The American Chemical Society assumes no rcsponsi* biltty for the statements and "opmtons'advanced'by coa'trib'utors to its publications. Views expressed in the editorials are those of the editors and do not necessarily «pre»cnt the official position of the American Chemical Society.
Ae-por* of Oommittee on Scientists and Engineers Points Out Jteed f o r Cooperation at Both National and Local Levels HE PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS, with Howard L. Bevis (president emeritus of Ohio State University) as cliairman, put it right on the line in warning Mr. Eisenhower that tliere would be little question of Soviet scientific superiority five or 10 years hence unless the U. S. quickly broadens and strengthens its efforts The committee candidly pointed out that Soviet crash programs in science are designed to gain economic, political, and social supremacy, and that Moscow leads, at least in some directions, in a scientific revolution that is reshaping the world. One of the key statements in this history-making report is that the American people have not grasped the full implication of recent developments—namely, that the world has entered a new phase of progress. Probably this part of the report was written before appearance of the sputniks. Since their arrival the newspapers, radio, and television have carried millions of words on the progress of scientific research in the U.S.S.R. The sputniks have accomplished in a matter of weeks what all the scientific societies were unable to do in a decade or more—alert the public to our technological position. The U. S. and the rest of the Free World must recognize what all this means in terms of survival. Soviet leaders are playing a dangerous game but one that may pay them handsomely. They realize that scientific and technological progress projected into revolutionary military weapons may well give them unlimited power. If this progress is sufficient, they may never need to run any risk of a major world conflict. With diabolical cleverness they sense the chance to gain world political domination through science. Once this is done, past history would indicate that possibly they would not hesitate to liquidate their own scientists. The scientists, despite their many material advantages, must challenge, at least secretly, a state of affairs where no man is really free. The chief value of the Bevis report is in its broad scope and plan of action. It blueprints a course and spells out all the major areas wliere a positive approach must be taken, overcoming an apparent weakness of all previous suggestions. Editorially w e have repeatedly urged a comprehensive program in which all interested groups could participate, and the elimination of duplication of effort. However, for unified action, more than one society must be concerned. The Soviet Union can gain its end by totalitarian compulsion. In the Free World positive and effective results must be achieved by democratic processes. The committee urges all groups to participate in its plan. This means every thinking person must take part where he can do the most good. Organizations such as the ACS, at both national and local levels, must b e concerned with both short- and long-range aspects. A few minor changes and a few innocuous innovations will not b e permanent panaceas. Sacrifices will have to be made, and indeed, w e will have to be a lot tougher and more realistic in our thinking and actions than in the past, if we are to preserve basic freedoms. The Bevis report is a call to immediate action, but it also makes it clear that such action must be intelligently planned and brilliantly executed to prevent Soviet prostitution of science. We cannot believe that the majority of Russian scientists are in iiccord with the political ambitions of the Kremlin. We feel sure they believe, in the long run, that science must be free and that the man of science has a much higher calling than that of participating in a prograin designed to enslave millions of people.
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