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EDITORIALS
PLATINUM AT WHITE HEAT During the past month the subject of platinum has leaped t o the forefront in the thoughts of the American people. For the first time, and by one of those quick processes of general understanding which have characterized this war period, the nation has learned the important bearing of this element upon the part we are t o play in the war. The chief factor in arousing this interest and understanding has been t h e widespread publicity given by the press to the stirring address delivered in the House of Representatives on June 7 by Hon. Henry T. Rainey, Congressman from Illinois. I n this address he depicted clearly the important function of platinum in explosives manufacture, the inadequate measures taken for its conservation by those charged with this responsible duty, and t h e factors which had contributed to such inadequacy. Since the delivery of t h a t address many things have come t o light which would prove interesting reading; editorial discussion of these, however, will be postponed. Only one conviction is expressed here-the immediate p l a c e f o r the platinum i?z this country is i n the vaults of the Treasury Department. c
THE MODERN MIRACLE Scarcely two years have elapsed since many lines of our industrial life were threatened with utter demoralization because of the shortage of dyestuffs and medicinals resulting from the blockade of German ports by the British navy. Textile mills faced the imminent possibility of shutting down because of inability to secure dyestuffs for their fabrics. Tanners, lithographers, and wall pager men sought in vain for needed coloring matter, and pharmacists’ stocks of many much-used medicinals became depleted. On account of these shortages and the accompanying speculation in the remaining stocks, prices soared t o undreamed-of heights. Yet within this short period of two years, one of which has been devoted t o war preparations, a miracle has been wrought. Mills have not closed; all lines of industrial life requiring synthetic colors are operating under normal conditions ; the sick have been provided with ample medicinal supples ; prices have been largely reduced and are comparable with prices of all other commercial products; in addition, ships have borne from America to other parts of the world large quantities of dyestuffs. N o more fitting tribute could be paid t o the skill and energy of the American chemist t h a n has been done through the medium of two government announcements which have been issued during the past month, the one by the U . S. Tariff Commission and the other by the War Industries Board. In the statement sent out by the Tariff Commission the results of its census of synthetic dyestuffs and medicinals are given (page 5 8 2 , this issue). According t o these figures the importation of dyestuffs in t h e
fiscal year 1914 was 43,840,866 pounds, while in 1 9 1 7 the domestic production amounted t o 45,977,246 pounds. The tonnage has been made good and even exceeded. While it is true t h a t there is a difference “in the relative amounts of t h e various classes of dyes” in the two periods mentioned, it is interesting t o note, as the Commission’s statement points out, t h a t the lines which have failed of their full share of development have been exactly those to which were given only the ad valorem duty of 3 0 per cent, while in those classes which were given both the 30 per cent ad valorem and the 5 cents per pound special d u t y “the American manufacturers have shown remarkable progress.” The statements of manufacturers and consumers a t the hearings on the Hill bill are abundantly confirmed by t h e announcement of the Tariff Commission. By the enactment of tariff and anti-dumping legislation, capital was attracted t o the industry, and the chemist has made good. As t o medicinals, the War Industries Board, in a n authorized statement in the Oficial Bdletin of June 6 , 1918, says: “Actual or prospective shortages have come t o the notice of the Board in b u t few instances so far as medicine and medicinal chemicals are concerned. * *” Congress, capital, and chemists codperating have accomplished the modern miracle. _____
AN ARMY WITHOUT RESERVES General Foch has aroused the enthusiasm of the allied world by the masterly manner in which he has handled the reserves during the recent mammoth drives of the German army. These struggles have fitly been designated as “the battles of reserves.” The morale of all t h e nations joined in t h e contest against German aggression has been stimulated by the conviction t h a t a n endless flow of reserves is proceeding with all possible haste from American t o European shores. I n the matter of reserves for the armies in the field all goes well. The army of American chemists is now in rapid process of complete mobilization. At last the matter of efficient utilization of chemists has been grasped with a firm hand by those in authority. The orders issued by the Secretary of War on May 28, 1918 (page 580, this issue) show t h a t the may of previous orders has been changed t o must, and under these new orders the full strength of the chemistry forces will soon be reached. It appears that every possible contingency as to graduate chemists has been provided for. Congratulations t o Secretary Baker and t o those who have aided him in the preparation of these comprehensive orders! UTith the thus mobilized army of chemists all goes well. But what about the reserves for this army? We are preparing for a long war, how long no one knows, but certainly as long as is necessary to insure the triumph of the principles to which we have dedicated our all, Daily grows the expansion of the con-
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ception of the vast iorces we must put in the field, on the sea and in the air. Increases in personnel necessitate similar expansions in the program of chemical industries, and these in t u r n must be manned by chemists. It is full time therefore t h a t serious consideration should be given to the matter of reserves for this army of chemists. The source of reserves is in the universities and colleges, and we beg t o urge the most broad- minded and far-sighted consideration of this problem by three groups of men: university administrators, War Department officials, and leaders in the chemical indqistries. U KI \'E R S I T Y C 0 PIT D I T I 0 N S
The universities represent the training camps for the reserves of the chemistry army. These institutions function through their chemistry staffs, their physical equipment, and through the number of undergraduates who present themselves for the chemistry courses. A t the present moment the instructional staffs of most of the universities are in a completely demoralized condition. Many professors and associate professors are on leave of absence in Washington engaged in research on problems vital t o the winning of the war and the prevention of needless sacrifice of the lives of our men a t the front. N o more important work could engage their attention. Others are busy with similar problems in the private laboratories of the universities. The concentrated effort required in such undertakings does not admit of much energy being devoted t o effective teaching. On the other hand the university men of lower rank, the instructors and assistants, charged primarily with the instruction of the lower classes, are for the greatzr part subject t o the draft. I n certain unusual cases deferred classification has been given such men by Local Boards. These cases, however, are sporadic and form no part of a general policy. Continued low salaries in universities, made necessary by decreased budgets, the high salaries paid in the industries, and the increased cost of living have forced many men from the universities into the industries. The net result is a burning of the candle a t both ends, so far as the forces for training reserves are concerned. Bi-terminal combustion is considered a reckless policy in all other matters, why not in this? I n the ranks of the students, present year seniors have already left university campuses and are now either in uniform or in industrial plants. The matter of post-graduate students is evidently a thing of past history until a t least the ending of the war. Furthermore, the operation of the draft law (in whose principles we most emphatically believe) and the need of men in the chemical industries have combined t o take away from the universities many of the students in the junior classes. Meanwhile preliminary reports for next Fall indicate the largest enrollment of students intending t o make chemistry their life work ever known in our educational history. This is only natural in view of the greater recognition given to the importance of chemistry in war work and t o its
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value in every channel of industrial life. These are the men who constitute t h e chemistry reserves, They will soon be in the training camps of the universities. Will they find sufficient officers present t o give them adequate instruction for their development into efficient reserves? To add t o the complexities of the situation there is no question about the crippled finances of the universities and of their helplessness in preventing the present drain upon their corps of instructors. These are the conditions, as we see them, in this most critical year of our country's history. Certainly such conditions demand the most earnest consideration on the part of all who can in any way contribute t o their amelioration. From what sources may help reasonably be expected? ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE
First, assistance must come from the universities themselves. Such aid cannot be in the nature of increased appropriations, for university finances are already too hard hit. But they can in some instances shake themselves loose from traditions and modify internal organization and the character of courses t o meet as far as possible the pressing need of the times. An example of such increased efficiency is shown by the merger of the University and the Sheffield Scientific Sohool departments of chemistry a t Yale University, recently announced. It may be possible in some cases for institutions to combine forces. Many difficulties in such a plan present themselves, though these difficulties may not be as great as a t first thought they seem. A certain minimum laboratory space is considered necessary per student. Possibly this space may be more efficiently utilized, a t least in the lower classes, by repeated using of the same space by more than one student, in spite of the difficulty which a t once suggests itself as t o responsibility for equipment. The number of men who can be taught properly by an instructor is limited. This is a real difficulty, and sacrifice may be necessary here. Other courses must be taken besides chemistry and this may present physical difficulties. Hardships may be enforced upon individual students from living conditions under such combined institutions. This is a question of finance for which a remedy might be found. These are but types of the many perplexing academic problems to whose solution the best thought of our university men will be unstintedly given. AID P R O M T H E WAR D E P A R T M E N T
Second,no word of exhortation t o theWar Department is necessary in the matter of instructors for chemical reserves. The provision of such is only the logical following out of the principles now being applied in the creation of our armies. Reserves are of course essential. These are of no value unless adequately trained. For this training instructors are required. I n the training camps to-day are many soldiers who could render effective service on the fighting front, yet they are of greater service t o the army in the
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work of developing the raw recruit. How then can the War Department aid in the provision of instructors for chemistry students? I n one of a t least two ways: Either by granting class exemption to instructors in chemistry or b y detailing men already in the service t o instructional work in the university lecture rooms and laboratories. If exemption as a class should be given, then some distinguishing emblem should accrue t o such men, for the time is a t hand when peculiar glances are cast a t young men of draft age who are not attired in khaki. If on the other hand it is deemed best t h a t they should be enlisted and detailed back t o universities, then i t is fortunate t h a t under the present orders of the Secretary of War t h e work of detailment would be in the hands of the Chief of the Chemical Service Section, Lieutenant Colonel Bogert, whose long and distinguished career as a teacher in one of our greatest universities preeminently qualifies him for such a duty. Time is a n important factor in the matter, however, for every day t h a t lapses after the opening of the universities next Fall is just so much loss in the work these soldier instructors will be expected t o perform. Of course the time may come when it will be advisable to close university doors and stop many other lines of daily effort, in the hope of putting across the one great blow for victory. T h a t time does not seem to have arrived yet. Our enemies are apparently pursuing t h a t policy now, and judging from the results t o date it is proving disastrous for them. SUPPORT F R O M T H E CHEMICAL I N D U S T R I E S
Third, the future of the industries depends upon no factor more than upon the output of chemists from the universities. Wonderful progress has been made in these industries in the past, particularly during the three preceding years. Much more must be accomplished, if we are not t o rest content simply with doing as well as some other country has done. Within university walls next year will be young men who some day will have t o take up the reins now so ably held b y the present leaders. Already the industries have attracted to their staffs many valuable university teachers. We cannot eat our cake and have it too. Furthermore, the industries have already drained the universities of all available students possessing sufficient training t o go into works laboratories, We believe t h a t the heads of industrial laboratories will bear out the statement t h a t the standard of qualifications of student accessions t o industrial staffs has within the past two years been decidedly lowered. If this condition becomes worse rts deleterious effect will be markedly shown in t h e industries during the next decade. Foresight is called for. How can the industries aid? By giving generously of their well earned profits of recent years t o strengthen and build up the chemistry departments of the universities. I t is not a question of charity or philanthropy, b u t can well be regarded as a n investment. With the aid of funds from this source the pay of professors and instructors can be increased, thereby diminishing the necessity for leaving university ranks because of the increased cost of
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living. So, too, equipment of university laboratories can be fully maintained and improved. The account (page 581, this issue) of the anonymous gift t o t h e Massachusetts Institute of Technology for the purpose of further improvement in its equipment for chemistry and physics shows t h a t someone’s mind is moving in this channel. Finally, many of the ablest students are in need of financial assistance if they are to get the best training t h e universities offer. The creation of scholarships and fellowships will do much t o alleviate this situation, aside from the stimulation induced by prospective rewards of good work. An important step in this direction has just been taken by the du Pont Company in setting aside a portion of its earnings for this purpose (page 581, this issue). Many other ways of aiding through funds will suggest themselves if once our industrial leaders are convinced t h a t in this matter they have just as important an interest as in the purchase of raw material or in the efficiency of plant operations. The chem‘stry army must have its reserves. Good generalship will provide these. A FRENCH LOCAL SECTION Another tie joins France and America; another offspring of the American Chemical Society takes its place in the family of local sections. On page 5 7 3 of this issue is printed the application t o the Council for permission “to found in Paris a French section of the Society covering t h e entire territory of France.” As the usual Spring meeting of the Council was not held, this application for charter is now being voted upon by the Directors. It requires no gift of prophecy t o predict t h a t the vote will be of such enthusiastic unanimity as never before characterized a vote of the Directors. The first public announcement of the application, made by Secretary Parsons, on the request of President Nichols, a t the recent joint outing of the Philadelphia and Delaware Sections, was greeted with tremendous applause. The signatures on the application are those of distinguished French chemists intermingled with those of American chemists, known t o us all, who are now a t the front in the service of our Army, a joint brigading of French and American forces similar t o t h a t which has been affected recently between units of the respective armies under the leadership of t h a t great soldier, General Foch. The successful result of the military union has already made itself evident on the battlefields of France; with equal confidence we can look forward t o increased strength from the closer coijperation of scientific forces through the medium of the French Section. As we read the application for charter and note the words “the entire territory of France” we know t h a t these words will carry only one meaning t o French and American chemists alike, namely a restoration of the eastern boundary of France, changed from t h a t of August 1914only in t h a t i t shall include Alsace and Lorraine, and t o t h a t end the entire resources of this country, men and material, are now dedicated. All hail t o the French Section!
