798
T H E J O U R N A L O F I N D C S T R I A L A S D E-VGISEERIAVG C H E M I S T R Y
A PLEA FOR A CHEMISTS’ PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION’ B y ROLLIXG. MYERS
For several years the writer has been studying the conditions under which many of the technical chemists work in the laboratories of this country. More t h a n once he has planned to place his ideas before the American Chemical Society, but other more pressing matters intervened. &‘ow the time is ripe. I n the first place it is to be clearly understood that these observations are not second-hand nor the conclusions altogether a priori in character. For ne‘arly ten years the writer was connected with different companies: twice as chief chemist, several times as first and second assistants in iron, steel, cement and water laboratories. Besides this he made reports of several technical researches connected with the chemistry of the carbon incandescent lamp. For nearly a year he was assistant in the C . S. Referee Laboratory of Prof. John H . Long, h’orthwestern University of Chicago. While a t the present time and for the past five years he has been a teacher in Chemistry, he has had more than a passing interest in the welfare of the chemist in practical life, more specifically the technical chemist. I n view of the writer’s experience, he asseverates that his arguments deserve serious attention and the practical part of his thesis a trial. LACK OF PRACTICAL ORGANIZATION A X O N G CHEXlISTS
T o the most observing and thoughtful members of the profession, one thing clearly presents itself: the lack of practical organization among chemists. The American Chemical Society and the various alumni associations of the technical schools and universities are organizations, it is true, but their aims are scientific and social rather than practical. The Chemists’ Club of New York represents a movement towards practical organization, but its scope is not broad enough to satisfy some of the more fundamental and pressing wants, only vaguely expressed at times by the technical members of the profession. For several years this idea of practical organization has been a recurrent one in the mind of the writer. But for what ends? The first, to increase the financial return of chemists; the second, to raise chemistry to its rightful and just place among the professions. The first end is the more important and cogent. For this reason the writer will make it play a predominant part in the discussion to follow. WHAT IS A “CHEMIST?”
I n view of the ridiculously small wage chemists receive any attempt to remedy this condition is worth while. Moreover, the practical bearing which this element of social life has on the struggle For existence is of profound significance. Every chemist quickly realizes this. Before dealing with the wage problem and its solution, several questions closely related to i t must be discussed. One of these is connected with the common application of the word chemist. There is a manifest dilatoriness on the part of many of the profession, and naturally the public at large, in the use of this word. It is applied indiscriminately t o trained and untrained persons. I n certain parts of Pennsylvania, for example, a boy who has served for a fern days in an iron laboratory, frequently not even a high school graduate, is called a chemist. I n many other parts o j the country the same custom prevails. Frequently there is a confusion of chemist with druggist. There are people who even look a t the chemist as a follower of the “black art,” t o be respected b u t to be somewhat feared. In fact, the chemist may be anything or nothing, and he is frequently less respected than a plumber or a mechanic. It is, therefore, imperative to define the word chemist and restrict it to the class which i t defines. XVhat then is the definition of chemist? Chemist is applied to that class of persons who have spent four or more years a t an accredited technical school or university, in the didactic apd laboratory study of all the 1 Presented before the Louisiana Section of t h e American Chemical Society, May 2 1 , 1915.
Val. 7 ,
NO.9
regular branches of chemistry and who have received formal statements represented by a degree or degrees’, t h a t the prescribed courses of study have been satisfactorily completed. A chemist therefore is a trained man. He belongs t o a profession which in practical usefulness is unexcelled. B u t why do these persons spend four or more years preparing for a profession? First, for a life work; second, for the truly practical object of making a living. They are thoroughly serious in this matter. I t is not the result of a passing fancy nor always a pleasing thought. Neither is it for some temporary situation, until something else appear in another line of work which promises greater emolument. These persons train themselves for a purpose and pursue this purpose to the end. In addition, it canot be denied t h a t the standing of the chemist is equal to t h a t of the other professions. This is true since the requirements for admission, as well as the intellectual ability required t o complete a chemical course, are as high, often higher, than those demanded for courses in law, medicine, dentistry, or pharmacy. h’either can it be denied t h a t the chemist should have a financial return for his services proportionate to his training not only by reason of the cost of his training but on account of his professional standing as well. Since this question of emolument is cardinal to the whole discussion, i t is absolutely necessary to decide upon how much the chemist should receive. As a provisional arrangement the writer submits the following estimate of salaries. Assistant chemists who enter laboratories should receive not less than SIZOO.OO with a yearly increase of $zoo.oo to a limit of b1800.00 per annum. Chief chemists should receive not less than Szooo.oo and be limited to S5000.00 per annum. Reserving this question of salaries for later discussion and confining the attention to the arguments so far advanced, two principal conclusions and one subordinate conclusion have been arrived at. I-That the profession of chemistry should be limited to those who have spent a definite period of time in training themselves in a technical school or university for work in practical and research laboratories. 11-That chemists should receive just salaries proportionate to their standing and the high quality of their work. 111-That a just though tentative scale of salaries should be within the limits of SIZOO.OO t o $1 800.00 per annum for assistants and $zooo.oo to Sj000.00per annum for chief chemists. These conclusions place all subsequent discussion on firm and definite ground. I n addition, they suggest formulated ideals for the chemist t o strive for, though i t cannot be too greatly emphasized that their realization can come about only by organization. While t h a t conclusion relating to salaries has been given precedence and should be the principal end of any practical orgatiization, the other conclusion relating to the personnel of the chemical profession has an intimate bearing on the attainment of this end and should be always in mind. However, in order to form correct judgments, which have a determining influence on the choice of methods in the attainment of an end, these judgments must not only include the ideal aims, b u t a knowledge of the actual conditions under which the chemist works. TVhat then are the actual conditions which are common in practical laboratories? To be more specific and clear this question can better be resolved into two: ( I ) What is the actual rank and file of the workers in the practical laboratories of this country? ( 2 ) What are the actual salaries which these workers receive? Taking these questions in order, it requires but little observation and less practical experience to learn that a large number of these workers are not chemists. They can be divided roughly into two classes, quasi chemists and laboratory boys. The quasi chemists may be placed in three divisions: (a) persons who have academic degrees from universities, b u t who have not
Sept.. 191j
T H E J O L 7 R N . 4 L O F I N D 1 7 S T R I , 4 L AiVD E N G I i l r E E R I X G C H E M I S T R I . '
specially qualified themselves for chemical work ; ( b ) persons who have had from one t o three years chemical training in a n accredited technical school or university; (c) persons who have graduated from or who have taken chemical courses in the correspondence schools, and whose training is little better than none a t all. The laboratory boys include persons, frequently of immature age, who h a r e had no chemical training and whose knowledge is confined t o a few technical methods and some chemical principles vicariously obtained from textbooks and from the chemist himself. Many of this latter class have charge of laboratories, and this is a n unfortunate fact. Compared t o the personnel of the professions of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and law t h a t of the chemical profession is low indeed. Medicine is the only profession which furnishes an approximate parallel, b u t even here the untrained members are the exception and not the rule. AIany of the trade unions have a higher personnel than the chemical profession. PRESENT SALARIES O F CHEMISTS
The answer t o the second question, i. e . , the actual salaries received by the chemical workers, is given on the basis of the writer's personal experience and observation. It represents a mean of the salaries paid t o the subordinates and t o those in charge of laboratories. The writer is positive that his estimates are correct ones. The assistants in laboratories receive S6j t o $75 a month or $780 t o $900 per annum. Those in charge of laboratories receive $90 t o $200 a month or $1080 t o $2400 per annum. So far the writer has confined his discussions t o arguments which emphasize the need of a practical organization among chemists. These arguments have been strengthened by contrasting the ideals of the chemist with the actual conditions. met with in chemical laboratories. T h a t the actual conditions are far from ideal is evident in the painfully low personnel and the miserable wage. Before proceeding t o the final discussion in respect t o the adoption of ways and means for remedying these evils, i t is b u t groper t o make a critical study of the interrelationship of these conditions, as well as the causes which are directlv or indirectly instrumental in producing them. RELATIOX BETU'EES
PERSONNEL A N D WAGE
Onc can hardly question the close relation which exists between personnel and wage. I n fact, it may be contended t h a either one may become the function of the other. If there is a low personnel, there is a low wage. This harmonizes with the general observation that the employer really prefers a trained t o an untrained person and consequently may be persuaded to pay more. It is also true that a low wage may produce a low personnel, for a trained man objccts to working for nothing and naturally selects a laboratory, if he can find one, where the emolument is greater. But the mere fact that this relationship exists between these prevailing conditions is not satisfying, for there appear to be deeper and more fundamental causes of these effects a t work. One of these causes, which to the writer's mind is extremely potent, is the one-sided standard of wages determined for the chemist by business men. This is unfair and unjust: unfair in that the employer takes advantage of the inability of the chemist t o raise objections of material aid t o himself; and unjust, in that the chemist is not given a voice in the settling of a wage which has such vital meaning to his existence. The judgment of the business man is usually mercenary in character. ITith him the problem consists essentially in getting as large a financial return as possible for the money invested. What is more, in most cases, he solves the problem successfully. It is easy enough t o conclude that a certain employee is worth only so much. The reason that he is worth only so much is because the business man needs t o pay him only so much. Besides, it is a very satisfactory thing from the business man's side, for it means that his profits are just that much
i99
more. How much more satisfactory it would be, if the employee could be induced to work for nothing! RELATIOK OF BUSINESS M A N TO CHEMIST
To be more particular, the valuation a t which the business man rates the chemist is based on amounts paid t o chemical employees by other business men. But can the business man judge rightly in respect to a just wage for the chemist? H e certainly cannot, for he has no particular training in chemistry and b u t little understanding of the high quality of the work which the chemist must do to get the proper results. It is hardly possible, then, for the business man to arrive a t correct conclusions regarding the proper rating of the chemist's work.
W o u l d not the business m a n employ sirnilar argirments if the positioias were rmersed a n d the chemist decided the,fina?icial returii f o r hirsiizess men? And right in line with the statement that a chemist is worth only so much, this thing suggests itself: suppose that ten years from n o y , due t o a successful solution of the wage problem, the salaries of chemists had been increased materially, would not the business man say, as he does now, that the chemist is worth only so much? Is it not true after all, that the commercial valuation of the workers largely depends on the mental and physical pressure they can exert on their cmployers? The average worker cannot press his demands to any great extent and whatever increase he receives is largely governed by the caprice of those above him. Hence, the need of organization. The trade unions resulted undoubtedly from the entirely selfish and tyrannical attitude of the business representatives of capital towards labor. Before the advent of the unions, business men settled the wage scale to suit themselves. Frequently a highhanded policy was pursued. Conditions are different now in this respect, for the business man finds it to his best advantage to consult with the officials of the unions over any prospective changes in wages. It is true that the unions at times havc abused their power, but the same statement holds true for the employers of labor. From the writer's point of view, both are necessary in the social organization and both rightly have a voice in the settlement of a question which reacts so profoundly on society. But if untrained labor has a voice in determining a just wage for itself, who shall say that trained labor, in this case chemical labor, should not demand an equal place in the sun? Is the struggle foou existence a n y the less hard for the chemist a t a n equal or less salary, thait f o r the labover? Perhaps the business man has bccomc dcluded into thc idea that the chemist is not so necessary to the success of a company or corporation as comnioti labor. If the chemists and chemical workers of the U. S. Steel Corporation or the Swift Packing Company suddenly stopped xorking, could these organizations still operate? It would seem very doubtful. But assuming that they could adjust thcmselves t o the altered conditions, could they successfully compete with the rival cwmpanies employing chemists? In this age it would be impossible. And what would it mean from the financial side? It would mean the daily loss of thousands of dollars. \That would be the effect on common labor? A partial or complete laying off of those employed. If there is any doubt, let the officials of any company or corporation employing chemists try the experiment for a month without them. To say the least, these possibilities are well worth considering by the business men as well as the chemist The writer's aim is not t o antagonize business men, except perhaps in asseverating t h a t their attitude t o the wage of the chemist is wrong and unprogressive. It is true they often tacitly or expressly admit that the wages are low, by promising an i t i crease in salary shortly, either from greater efficiency or promotion. So too, the promise is often fulfilled; b u t the increase in salary is so small and diminishes so rapidly in its approach to the average wage set by business men, that the chemist realizes acutely after several years of hard work that he has barely made a living. I n fact, if he is at all cynical, he concludes that in some
800
T H E JOL’RYRL OF I N D L - S T R I A L A N D E N G I Y E E R I Y G C H E M I S T R Y
manner he has been tricked and deceived. Even in respect to promotion, the extrhcompensation received is hardly ever commensurate with the added responsibility for the accuracy of thousands of determinations or for the quality of some marketable product. hTeither should we a t any time lose sight of the fact that many chemists lack the executive capacity for head positions, as well as the particular ambition for them. But to contend, on account of this, that the efficiency of these workers is reduced and their value is lessened as well as their earning power, is decidedly wrong. T o say the least, it indicates a very selfish way of looking a t things. The chemist in a subordinate position who does his work carefully and conscientiously is deserving of so much financial return that, he, as well as his chief, can obtain enjoyment without unduly skimping himself; and a t the same time properly maintain his professional standing. LOW STANDARDS I N TECHNICAL LABORATORIES
\Vhile the one-sided policy of business men in fixing the wage of chemists has been given the greatest weight among causes producing low wages, there are two others, it is believed, which also favor the same effect. One of these is the ease of obtaining positions in technical laboratories, since in most cases nothing is required of the applicant save an ability to learn a few rapid technical methods. The time of apprenticeship is short and in a few weeks the former applicant becomes a laboratory automaton, capable of turning out the required results. Later perhaps this “would-be chemist” hears of a better position. He applies and frequently, by means of credentials from his chief, obtains the situation. If he takes charge of a laboratory he, also, eventually needs a n assistant. Sometimes a chemist is selected or, as before, some boy or untrained person is broken in. The general trend of this policy is to supplant chemists by untrained workers. The personnel of the profession suffers in consequence and this in turn has a detrimental effect on the wage as was previously pointed out. There is another aspect also from which this condition of affairs may be viewed. It is in respect to the law of supply and demand. The increased number of persons in the chemical field, due to the continual influx of untrained workers, may produce such a supply of applicants for chemical positions that the demand is equalled or exceeded. This condition would again tend to a reduced wage. The greater sutyerer is always the chemist, not only from the lessened return of his four or more years of hard training, but of the money he invests for his training as well. Perhaps the chemist himself can be blamed to a certain extent for these conditions. A t least he has been decidedly short-sighted in not maintaining the high standard of his subordinates, by insisting on trained assistants, even in the face of the aggressive attitude of his employer against any increase in expenditure. $till, the business man has set the precedent and can exert the greater pressure, so that the chemist is handicapped in most instances. The business man has also shown a short-sightedness in not realizing the superlative value of the chemist in any respect over the untrained man. RESPONSIBILITY O F TEACHERS O F CHEXISTRY
The other cause referred to is the skeptical state of mind common to many professors of chemistry in technical schools and universities respecting any increase in the average wage of chemists. Many of them sincerely deplore this condition of affairs, but beyond this they do not go. Whether they reach the conclusion that any amelioration is impossible, or that in any case the chemist will successfully adjust himself t o an unsatisfactory environment. does not relieve these men from a certain share of responsibility for the future welfare of their student graduates. The intellectual and ethical standard of the heads of the various chemical departments is admirable. Their lofty ideals and their inspiration in widening the sphere of chemical knowledge by investigation and research have the profound
Vol. 7 , NO. 9
effect of advancing science and of improving social life as well. I n view of the elevated standing of these men, they could have great moral influence in bringing about a change of attitude in business men, which would be decidedly favorable to an increase of emolument for the chemists. The student graduates and other chemists could be impressed also with the necessity of encouraging only those applicants for chemical positions, whose training justly entitled them to become members of the profession, PROPOSED PLAN FOR PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION
The power to effect changes of moment for the betterment of the individual is obtained only by the close association and the concerted agreement of the many in respect to formulated and definite policies of action. The objective manifestation of this principle is easily seen in the promotion and existence of protective associations for practical ends and of societies for social and speculative purposes. I n the discussion so far the writer has shown the imperative need of a protective association for chemists, by pointing out the small wage paid to these men, the low personnel, and what is more convincing the inability of a chemist alone to remove the causes which actively produce the unsatisfactory conditions. A protective association, then, is the only remedy which has a recognized potency over the evils discussed. According to the principle enunciated its functions must be directed by definite and formulated policies. In respect to wage, it must decide on a just emolument for chemists, to be regulated by the character of the work, the rank and experience of the worker, as well as by a proper regard for the rights of the employer and business man. The length of the working day and the extra fees for work over time, a t night and on holidays, should be settled also. In respect to personnel, a protective association should l i m i t its membership to chemists, though a special concession might be granted to quasi chemists with a t least three years chemical training in a technical school or university. To distinguish them from the graduate members they could be called “chemists by courtesy.” I n addition the applicants for positions in practical laboratories should be sharply limited to two classes: ( I ) chemists; ( 2 ) quasi chemists who have a t least three years of a bona fide chemical training and who must pass a compulsory examination over the principal branches of chemistry. By firmly maintaining the stand taken as to the wage and the personnel, a protective association could widen its policies eventually and take on other functions, the following of which may be suggested: ( a ) to keep an up-to-date register of the chemical laboratories and of the chemists in the United States; ( b ) to keep a daily register of all members seeking positions and to keep them promptly informed of any actual and prospective vacancies in chemical laboratories; ( 6 ) to aid the applicant for a position in every way possible; ( d ) to keep a careful watch on the supply of chemists and the demand for them in order to control, as efficiently as is possible, any excessive increase or decrease of applicants, by influencing the heads of chemical departments to encourage or discourage students in the study of chemistry when the occasion demanded this; ( e ) t o take aggressive action against all companies or corporations which are unfair and unjust to chemists; (f) to assume a critical attitude to all chemists who through personal ambition of a mercenary character or in any other way seek to lower the profession and defeat the policies of the association; (g) to assist financially when possible all members of the association who have been temporarily or permanently incapacitated through sickness, accident or age. The policies and functions outlined for a chemists’ protective association may be looked upon as parts in a working formula. The supposition t h a t its application will bring about a decided improvement in the financial returns, besides elevating chemistry to its just place among the other professions, is strengthened greatly by two classes of facts.
Sept., 1915
T H E J O 1 7 R S . 4 L O F ISDI.S1’RI.-IL A S D E S G I S E E R I - V G C H E M I S T R Y
I-From the st;indpoint of wage, we have seen the large increase in financial return by the many kinds of untrained labor after organization. 11-From the standpoint of personnel, we know that practicing physicians, dentists, pharmacists and lawyers are limited t o those who can pass satisfactory
