Aug., 1919
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING C H E M I S T R Y
which el-idently made a deep impression. The complete records of his office were placed a t the disposal so freely offered t h a t a of t h e Committee-indeed thoughtful observer could not escape t h e conclusion t h a t Mr. Garvan was very much tickled over the opportunity t o insert in the public records those facts which i t was only necessary for American citizens t o know in order to establish their faith in the accomplishments of the Alien Property Custodian’s office and to make them aware of the imminent peril which threatened American industry from the German industrial machine. And so hlr. Garvan smiled throughout the week until, through certain questions asked by Mr. Moore, he became convinced t h a t t h e prompter behind Mr. Moore’s inquisition was Mr. Herman A. Metz. This he charged direct and Mr. hIoore admitted it. The smile disappeared and in its place appeared t h e determined look of the man who had relentlessly pursued the importers of German dyes, wrapped in their cloaks of seeming Americanism. But wait a minute-we must go back a little. At t h e first hearings there had been submitted a petition t o the President of the United States, signed by five hundred and sixty-six of the largest consumers of dyes, urging the enactment of a license system, It had been impressive, this action of men who desired to be freed from foreign domination in t h e matter of supplies so necessary t o their business. But during these second hearings hfr. Moore introduced from time t o time petitions from some of the signers of the petition t o the President, reversing completely their former position and urging t h a t the license plan be rejected. Someone was evidently a t work, but who was conducting this campaign? Just before Mr. Garvan took the stand a t the session in which the admission was made concerning Mr. Metz’s part in the proceedings, word reached the Committee room t h a t representatives of Kuttroff, Pickhardt & Co. were circulating the petitions. These were the importers who for so many years had been connected with the American branch of the Badische Anilin und Soda Fabrik and whose business had been completely taken over by the Custodian--“‘All except the sign over the door,” as Mr. Garvan stated it. Direct confirmation of these reports was quickly obtained with the aid of the long distance phone. Then Mr. Garvan’seyesflashed. (Now ourstory is hooked up again.) The prosecutor of the country’s most notorious criminals was back in his element. The Committee was his jury, he had found the missing evidence which he knew would convict, and straight home he drove his points, always on the aggressive, never yielding an inch, with passion in his voice and conviction in his heart, he crumpled completely t h a t seeming reversion on the part of consuming interests until it looked pitiable and silly. The danger which had threatened was swept aside. Unfortunately we could not stay in Washington for the session with the importers of Swiss dyes. The printer was demanding copy for the August issue. But from the press account of the proceedings their efforts were of no avail. Claims in general terms t h a t no German dyes or intermediates had come into Switzer-
7 I9
land during t h e war could not offset official statistics showing large importations from Germany. Mere is the record of the importers as we gather itunfortunately the official text of the hearings is not yet available: Mr. MacKinney, according t o the Daily News R e c o r d , “contradicted himself several times as t o what he favored and what he opposed in the Longworth bill.” Mr. Sykes, according to the same newspaper, opposed the license plan and thought t h e rates of t h e Longworth bill were too high. Mr. Atteaux, in his letter submitted during the first hearings, contended t h a t present rates were ample and the rates of the Longworth bill a purely “artificial basis.” Mr. Metz, a t t h e first hearing, advocated before the Committee a license plan, and prompted Mr. Moore’s line of inquiry a t the second hearing. Kuttroff , Pickhardt & Co. were busy a t home sending out their employees with counter-petitions, All of which suggests a question. At a time when all Americans have but one thought, the fostering and safeguarding of a complete America?%dye industry-Why is an importer? Finally, there was Mr. Frusher. He appeared a t both hearings. At the first he insisted t h a t a license plan was absolutely essential; a t the second he thought a license plan would be practically a crime. Well, we guess the two statements neutralized each other, a t least t h a t seemed to be the general impression. What will be t h e result of i t all? The next few days will tell. Our guess is t h a t the Committee will report a bill, containing both substantial tariff rates and a license plan, which will become a iaw before many weeks pass by. Assuredly, we hope so.
CORNELL’S GOOD FORTUNE “I will provide you with a chemical laboratory, fully adequate
to the needs of the University, and one that will in all respects and size be the best there is in America,” said President Schurman at the Cniversity dinner last evening, repeating the words of an anonymous donor who is to erect on the campus the largest and best laboratory in the country. * * * * The statement uttered by the president was greeted with cheer after cheer, by alumni and undergraduates alike, for they fully realized the needs for an adequate chemical laboratory,C a r d l Sun.
Those cheers will find a sympathetic echo among all American chemists, no matter where located or what institution is claimed for Alma Mater. When the press chronicled the destruction of Morse Hall by fire some two and a half years ago i t was felt t h a t t h e cause of chemistry had received a serious set-back. The term “a Cornel1 chemist” had. become a distinctive title, bearing with i t the certainty of thorough training, solid foundation, vigor of mind and an ability t o do things with confidence and accuracy. This of course was not due so much to the housing of Cornell’s chemical department as t o the inspiring leadership of its teaching stafT. It was a severe blow, therefore, when the activities of t h a t staff had t o be restricted by temporary and scattered quarters. Courageously, however, was the work resumed, in spite of the limitations as to space and equipment. Severe indeed must have been the
THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY temptation t o yield t o t h e generous offer of loyal alumni t o replace t h e destroyed building by one t h a t would at least make matters better, even though not all t h a t was fitting for such an institution; b u t Professor Dennis’ faith was great and he resisted all such temptations, confident t h a t some day some man of means would appreciate the situation and respond in a manner which would insure for all time Cornell’s place in chemical education. T h a t day has arrived. We understand t h a t funds from an anonymous donor u p t o $I, 500,ooo will be immediately available for t h e construction and outfitting of the new laboratory. I n 1916, addressing the AMERICANCHEMICAL SOCIETY, and discussing the signs of t h e times, we said : We cannot, however, feel that the national thought has as yet grasped in its entirety the all-pervading influence of chernistry, so long as Cornell University, with its strong chemistry staff, must delay the replacement of its burned laboratory through lack of funds; * *.* * The replacement of t h a t laboratory is now assured. Following t h e spirit of t h e quotation, t h e interpretation of this splendid donation must be a reflection of t h e wider grasp by the national thought of t h e importance of chemistry in our body politic. Let us hope t h a t when t h e day of dedication of this great laboratory arrives t h e anonymity of t h e donor will have disappeared, so t h a t his name map be honored by all who realize how great a contribution he has made t o t h e nation’s weal.
FIGHTING FAR BEHIND THE TRENCHES
When the full history of our many-sided war activities is compiled no chapter will stand out more brilliantly t h a n t h a t which records the organization, t h e development and t h e courageous prosecution of t h e work of t h e Alien Property Custodian. It is an especial pleasure t o record t h a t conviction here, because less t h a n a year ago a t the opening of t h e Fourth National Exposition of Chemical Industries we criticized t h e American directors of one of t h e seized enemy properties, and therefore t h e Custodian who appointed those directors. Our criticism was directed against a policy of advertising a certain medicinal in a manner which we felt was misleading t o t h e public and unjust t o American manufacturers who had entered t h e same field. The criticism we still feel was just, but in the light of t h e subseqtient revelations of the conduct of t h e Custodian’s office, as recorded in t h e official report of Hon. A. Mitchell Palmer and in the public addresses of his successor, Mr. Francis P. Garvan, we sincerely regret the criticism, because it seems now so petty in the light of t h e great work which was then in progress. Judge Palmer’s investigations in the execution of t h e Trading-with-the-Enemy Act, an act originally intended as a means for preserving enemy properties in this country, soon led him t o see how great a menace t o this country these properties would constitute if they should revert t o their original owners a t the
Vol.
II,
N,o. 8
end of t h e war. To him recognition of a danger means only one thing-quick and decisive action. T h e fighting blood of t h e Pennsylvania Quaker was aroused; not all of our Alvin Yorks live in t h e Tennessee mountains. Amendments t o the Trading-with-theEnemy Act were secured from Congress which gave t h e full right of sale of all enemy property t o American citizens, including the power t o reissue stocks inaccessible because sequestered in enemy countries, and declared enemy patents property subject t o t h e same right of seizure as other enemy-owned property. Armed with this practically new law, t h e Custodian and his associates began a battle for America, the details of which constitute one of the most fascinating stories of t h e war period. The ablest financiers from every section promptly and patriotically answered t h e call upon their services. Within a n incredibly brief period enemy property valued at more t h a n $700,000,000 was taken over and this vast economic force turned t o t h e direct aid of our supply of war materials. The story of t h e evolution of the Chemical Foundation, Inc., and its realization through t h e sale by executive order of enemy-owned patents has already been told in THIS J O U R N A L . The Foundation stands to-day as one of t h e most unique and beneficent institutions of modern times. I t was perhaps only natural t h a t in this investigative period through which we are now passing the office of t h e Custodian should be held up for Congressional scrutiny. Before a Senate committee Judge Palmer gladly welcomed such an inquiry, insisting only t h a t it should be a public investigation. Turning fiercely upon his accusers, t h e former custodian is now presenting such overwhelming evidence t h a t the proceedings promise t o result, not only in exoneration, b u t in a lasting tribute t o t h e faithfulness with which the spirit of t h e Congressional Act is being carried out. I n t h e House another attack came, led by Representative J. Hampton Moore of Philadelphia, a member of t h e Ways and Means Committee, during t h e hearings on the dyestuff bill. I n this case i t was directed against t h e present incumbent, Mr. Garvan. His fighting blood was also up. Readily answering every question, furnishing light upon every point, repelling every insinuation of unfair practice, he left no doubt in t h e minds of his hearers t h a t , instead of being subject t o criticism, here was a branch of governmental activity in which every American could t a k e pride, because of its efficiency, its scrupulous integrity, and its thoroughly non-partisan character. As illustrative of this last point, it was charged t h a t appointments of directors of t h e seized concerns had been made along partisan lines. It developed, however, fromarecentcanvass of t h e directors as t o political affiliation t h a t a large majority of these directors appointed by the Custodian, a Democrat, were of t h e Republican faith. All honor t o those loyal, courageous Americans who have taken part in t h e work of t h e Custodian’s office. Through their untiring efforts a national menace has been converted into a n enduring national asset.
