Apr., 1918
T H E J O U R N A L O F I N D C S T R I A L A hTD E N G I *VE E RI N G C H E M I S T R E’
t h a t nothing b u t equally kindly personal feelings have been engendered b y such association. We are not moved in this writing by any personal animus, b u t do wish t o emphasize t h e fact t h a t men’s emotions are changing with t h e gradual lengthening of t h e casualty lists, t h a t , with t h e news, certain t o come in t h r near future, of H u n atrocities practised upon American soldiers, feelings will be aroused which will brook no companionship nor association with those whose allegiance lies with t h a t country whose ruthless ambition has plunged t h e human race into a world war. Within t h e walls of t h e Club building there now frequently gather chemists enlisted in our army, or connected in a civilian capacity with t h e military branch of t h e Government. No restraint should be placed upon their intercourse b y t h e presence of alien enemies. I n t h e rooms of t h e Club many important committees meet. Should a watchful eye be needed in a n American club? I n t h e library works of reference need t o be consulted. Should this room be a common meeting ground for Americans and Germans? Should any of its laboratory space be rented t o an alien enemy while there are 4merican chemists unable t o secure quarters in its building because of t h e limited number of rooms available for laboratory purposes? I n forbidding t h e employment of German waiters in t h e dining room t h e Trustees have taken one highly desirable step, particularly in view of t h e recent incident, narrated t o us, of a n American chemist recognizing in t h e waiter of a Wilmington hotel dining-room his former German university professor of chemistry. I t is no time t o take chances: t h a t is one of our outstanding national failings, a n d again and again we pay t h e penalty. The Trustees should make t h e Club a n American institution throughout. To do this would require dropping from its membership list every alien enemy and sympathizer, and dismissing from its service any employee whose allegiance or heart-interest lies with those with whom we are a t war. Why should t h e vote of a n alien enemy be in any degree determinative of t h e policies of t h e Club or t h e personnel of its officers? Yet as members, even though absenting themselves, this power is conferred in proportion t o their number. If it be argued t h a t t h e elimination of alien enemies would not fully remedy t h e evil because of t h e possible presence of naturalized citizens who masquerade behind their naturalization papers, our only reply ishunt these down with every agency t h e country furnishes and with all celerity forbid them t h e doors of t h e Club. Finally, if i t be argued t h a t this drastic action would seriously impair t h e finances of t h e Club, we would reply t h a t t h e argument would admit of only one interpretation, namely, t h a t t h e Club had sold its birthright. On t h e other hand should this policy really prove a serious strain on t h e finances of t h e Club, and this fact become known, we are confident
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t h a t there would be a rush of new non-resident members from among loyal American chemists which would .tax t h e energies of the membership committee and more t h a n make good a n y deficiency in t h e Club’s finances. We are a t t h e parting of t h e ways. If the Chemists‘ Club is an American institution-make i t truly such.
WHAT’S IN A NAME ?
The answer t o this question in so far as i t applies t o acetylsalicylic acid (popularly known as aspirin} is t h e difference between eighty-eight cents, t h e price t h e druggist must pay for every one hundred tablets of Bayer aspirin, and forty cents, t h e cost of an equally pure American product. Katurally, this difference in cost is passed on t o the individual consumer. T h a t no scientific justification exists for this difference in cost is clearly shown in the contribution b y Dr. Paul Xicholas Leech, of t h e Chemical Laboratory of t h e American LIedical Association, page 288 of this issue. O n t h e other hand, t h e excess profit fully warrants t h e extensive a n d shrewdly-worded advertising campaign now in progress, a campaign which must eventually fail, because in t h e first place, it is contrary t o t h e prevailing spirit of modern advertising, t h e motive of which is constructive rather t h a n destructive. and, in t h e second place, i t appeals merely t o t h e temporary ignorance of t h e public a t large, and has no basis i r fact. We have been informed t h a t t h e Custodian of Alien Enemy Property has taken charge of t h e stock interests of alien enemies in t h e company conducting this propaganda. Surely t h e Custodian will not care, even in a trustee capacity, t o continue as a participant in a misleading campaign whose sole purpose is t h e perpetuation of a monopoly hitherto enjoyed under full patent protection.
CAMP FOLLOWERS
It was t o be expected t h a t along with t h e great development of t h e chemical industries which ha5 characterized this war period t h e “camp follower” would appear. T h e a r m y of industrial chemists has won victory upon victory. For t h e first time in our history t h e details of t h e campaigns have been widely heralded b y t h e daily press; much publicity has beer. given t o large earnings. Popular interest has attached t o the doings of t h e chemist. T o take advantage of such a state of mind is the normal activity of certain promoters who are ever alert t o fleece t h e unwary public whenever “a good thing” appears. There is nothing novel in this situation. The oil industry has known its meaning, so too t h e mining world has been particularly susceptible t o such influences. Stock companies have been organized with enormous authorized capital, prospectuses issued on fairy-like propositions and shares offered t o t h e public a t ridiculously low figures. T h e
