2 IO
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y
I
Vol.
12,
No. 3
EDITORIALS DYES
IN THE SENATE
One of the characteristics of the word “dye” is a begetfulness of unlimited oral expression. I n the Senate the word naturally fell upon congenial soil. It was scarcely a matter of surprise, therefore, t h a t on‘the single day, February 2sth, set aside for the consideration of the Longwbrth Bill, prior t o t h e reopening of the Peace Treaty discussion, no decisive vote should have been reached. It had been hoped t h a t in view of the unanimous report of the sub-committee, followed by a similar unanimous support by the Finance Committee, the Senate might proceed t o a quick passage of the bill. This hope was in vain. The clear indication of the strength of those favoring the bill was given a t the very outset when an effort t o refuse t o take up the bill commanded only 11 votes. The discussion was opened by a masterly presentation of the subject by Senator Watson, of Indiana, chairman of the sub-committee. I n spite of the technicalities of the subject Senator Watson showed how attentively he had listened t o all of the testimony presented a t the hearing. His plea for the speedy passage of the bill was straightforward and convincing. The many questions asked him by fellow Senators indicated the keen interest in the subject, though considerable doubt was created as t o whether t h e questions by Senator Kenyon, of Iowa, were prompted by desire for knowledge or for the purpose of delay. The treatment of the bill in the Senate was thoroughly non-partisan and i t was particularly interesting t o note the complete intermingling of Republican and Democratic Senators in the neighborhood of Senator Watson when he spoke. One of the most perfect contributions of the day was the brief but eloquent speech of Senator Knox, of Pennsylvania, whose support of the measure as a n important contribution t o national security was unqualified. Senator King, of Utah, surprised all by presenting the novel argument t h a t it was unpatriotic of American manufacturers t o ask for protection against the German dye interests and thereby cripple Germany in its effort t o again get upon its feet. More than an hour of the limited time available was lost through the efforts of Senator Poindexter, of Washington, t o utilize the situation so as t o force from the Finance Committee a report t o the Senate of the bill protecting magnesite, which bill had been voted on favorably by the Committee but not ordered reported t o the Senate. At t h e conclusion of Senator Watson’s speech adjournment was taken and according t o the program previously announced by the leader of the Senate the Peace Treaty will now be continually before the Senate until i t is disposed of. The Longworth bill, therefore, must wait. However, you never can tell. The unexpected may happen a t any moment.
ST.LOUIS NEXT At Buffalo there was the spirit of relaxation from t h e tension of war activities, a t Philadelphia the proclamation of the chemical independence of America. What shall i t be a t St. Louis? The Spring Meeting of the SoCIETY, beginning April 1 2 , 1 9 2 0 , must have its distinctive mark. Plainly we should gather in a spirit of effective deliberation as t o how we can best meet the increased responsibility which has been placed upon us by the American people. T h a t such responsibility exists is evidenced by t h e sympathetic attitude of our representatives in Congress toward all legislation affecting t h e development of matters chemical. It is no time t o fold our hands in blissful contemplation of the felicitous consideration shown by our national legislative body, nor dare we content ourselves with group satisfaction over the increased popular appreciation of and regard for the work of the chemist. Pride goes before the fall! On the contrary, i t is just t h a t time when chemists should meet together for common counsel and for cool-headed decision as t o how best to justify the confidence and good-will which has been so ungrudgingly manifested. There must be no slackening of the pace, but rather a resolve t o drive all the harder, driving, however, with t h a t combination of caution and courage which will insure ultimate success. It is fortunate t h a t this meeting is t o be held in St. Louis, t h a t great city of the Middle West. The trend of war activities has naturally led t o a n abnormal stimulation of industrial chemistry in the states along the Atlantic seaboard, b u t such a one-sided development is unhealthy, i t must be general in character and nation-wide in extent. Gatherings of the SoCIETY have always proved a n effective stimulus. St. Louis, because of its strong position chemically, central location and ready accessibility, should draw a multitude of chemists. The New York Section h a s a n active transportation committee already arranging for special cars t o carry its members under most congenial conditions. Doubtless similar steps are being taken in other centers. The committees appointed b y the St. Louis Section, and t h e presence of the University of Missouri Section as joint host, assure Congratulathe successful handling of t h e meeting. tions in advance on t h e policy of holding all meetings a t headquarters, the Statler Hotel! LOST GROUND TO BE RECOVERED
To day, March I , is t h e date designated by t h e President for the return of the railroads t o their owners. This a c t of restoration has been greeted by the nation with a profound feeling of satisfaction and relief. While fully recognizing the exigencies which made federal control necessary, nevertheless t h e brief experiment in government ownership has quite convinced our people t h a t no more of i t is wanted. One of the chief factors in the dissatisfaction
Mar.,
1920
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 CHEMISTRY
with federal control has been the constantly recurring announcements of deficient income, and this means the taxpayer must make up the difference, running up t o some $ ~ ~ O , O O O , O O O . T h a t loss is perfectly apparent; there has, however, been another loss which unfortunately cannot be reckoned in dollars and cents with exactitude, but which we believe would also run into the millions if i t could be so reckoned. This loss began when the Railroad Administration, among its very first acts, closed the research laboratories in which thorough chemical surveys of natural resources were being intelligently and enthusiastically carried on by various railway companies. This act was necessarily followed by the complete disintegration of the personnel of the laboratories and, i t is t o be feared, the loss of many records of valuable work already partially completed. To augment the destructive process the exhibition of natural resources by the railroads a t the National Exposition of Chemical Industries was vetoed. To those who had watched from year t o year the increasing value of these exhibits, this act seemed unaccountable, especially as Congress a t the very time was drafting a bill appropriating millions of dollars for the development of sources of supply of certain minerals, and when i t was universally recognized t h a t the great war into which we had determined t o throw every ounce of our energy was t o be a n undertaking which would call heavily on all the resources of the nation. Just a t the time when the need was being recognized the Railroad Administration cut off the most logical means of filling it. Appeals for a reversal of this most unfortunate policy were in vain, though i t is understood t h a t many in the Railroad Administration did not agree with the Director General in this matter; i t was a day of autocratic power, however, and their voices could not be heard. Ample provision was made for lodging complaints as t o the character of the service in the dining cars, but on the subject of chemical development of natural resources-nothing doing. Well, the regime is ended and far-sighted business men are again in control. At t h e very outset they will have many vexing problems t o solve, but there need b e no delay in the rehabilitation of the chemical work, for the finances involved are trifling in amount. Where shall the reinauguration begin? Naturally i n the South, where the movement, prior t o the war, had made its most effective advance. T h a t section of our country which so often had accepted uncomplainingly the opprobrious epithet of unprogressiveness, outstripped the rest of the country in taking the chemist t o itself as t h e surest means for transforming its undeveloped wealth into useful products. For this progressiveness two factors were chiefly responsiblfirst, the clear vision of the officers of the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railroad, which was the pioneer in this work and in making a resourceful chemist its chief industrial agent; second, the effective advocacy of this method of development by Mr. Richard H. Edmonds, the hard-hitting editor of The Manufacturers Record, whose vigorous editorials on the sub..
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ject carried conviction among the thoughtful m m of the South. Call back your scattered chemists, Mr. Railroad President, reopen the laboratories, and provide even better facilities for carrying forward this great work which will yield rich returns in comparison with the small outlay of capital required. Take up again, Mr. Edmonds, in this behalf your pen of power. You put this matter across once before, you can do it again. Let the South again lead the way! A LIFE OF SERVICE Service--yes, and in that loftiest meaning of the word as i t is used in Holy Writ-the service of mankind, so runs the record of Edgar Fahs Smith, whose resignation of both the Provostship and the Blanchard Professorship in the University of Pennsylvania has just been announced. The announcement was startling in t h a t it was unexpected; i t was distressing because the act removes from our educational circles one who has always stood for sound scholarship and high ideals. His own intensive industry and happy disposition have constantly furnished a living example of the joy of work. Yet who would say him nay if he feels t h a t t h e time has arrived when a change of work will enable him t o continue better t h a t outgiving oh himself which has characterized his life? To those who because of present injustices in the recompense of teachers are disposed t o seek other lines of work there is a wealth of example in his fortyfour years of service. To those who would commiserate the university executive because of the many perplexing and irritating problems so often presented, there is happy refutation in his statement, “ M y relations with everybody in the University for all these years have been of the most delightful nature.” There is many a “Penn” alumnus who will reecho t h a t thought when he recalls some escapade which threatened separation from Alma Mater. Paradoxical as i t may seem, he sought first the Provost for counsel, with certainty of common-sense justice and sympathetic fair-dealing. T h a t sympathy was not confined t o the campus but was extended in our younger days t o all of us who had chosen the calling of chemistry. The great ovation accorded Dr. Smith when he arose t o address t h e AMERICANCHEMICALSOCIETYa year ago a t Buffalo was a manifestation of the high regard in which he was held by his fellow chemists. None present could fail t o note his deep emotion during President Nichols’ introduction. He could not but feel the streams of love and loyalty pouring in on him from his audience in sympathetic response t o the speaker’s words. Fortunately the present resignations are not indicative of any cessation of his fine activities, for he writes us in response t o a request for details: “I am conscious t h a t I have yet the power of doing a great deal of work. My health is in excellent condition. I amzworking hard a t the present moment, and have
