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THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
Vol. 14,No. 2
EDITORIALS Our Unemployment Problem
the President of our Society was chairman, were disregarded. Submarines and aircraft were treated gently as compared with chemical warfare, it being admitted that neither of these devices could be controlled at this time by agreement, and that their development is more easily followed than chemical warfare, which can be perfected without publicity. On the 7th of January the Committee on Limitation of Armament passed the following resolutions:
No profession or class is free from the ill effects of such extensive unemployment as has occurred in the last year, but fate seems to have dealt in a particularly unkind fashion with the chemist. It has been something of a shock, after all of our efforts to have indust,ry understand and appreciate what the chemist has done, to find him given so little consideration and in many cases among the very first to be disThe use in war of asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases and missed with the approach of business curtailment. all analogous liquids, materials or devices, having been justly The situation presents one of our principal tasks for the condemned by the general opinion of the civilized world and a future. We cannot create new places for our unemployed prohibition of such use having been declared in treaties to which of the civilized powers are parties: chemists directly by such plans as have been proposed for a majority Now to the end that this prohibition shall be universally the reduction of unemployment. The business before us accepted as a part of international law binding alike the conis to convince the average business man that he can far science and practice of nations, the signatory powers declare better afford to dispense with nearly any other department their assent to such prohibition, agree to be bound thereby between themselves and invite all other civilized nations to than to close his research and control laboratories. adhere thereto. It is obvious that the chemists themselves must aid in These resolutions brought out some illuminating discussuch a campaign. Indeed, they must do the work. THIS sions in which Mr. Sarraut and Mr, Balfour spoke at length. JOURNAL will endeavor to assist them in every possible way. We shall henceforth devote space each month, under the While these gentlemen supported tho resolutions, their reheading “The Earning Power of Research,” to the recital marks seemed to make it clear that they could see nothing of instances where genuine scientific research conducted harmful in the effort to discourage chemical warfare by in educational institution or plant has proved of real com- agreement, but that, after all, the time has not come when mercial value, and more than justified the expense involved. research with defense as the main objective can be disconWe realize that much that will be offered will contain nothing tinued. The proposals made by the resolutions simply new for many of our readers. We know, however, that a reaffirm admitted principles of international law and a mere specialist in one field frequently knows little of what his confirmation of the law without adding any sanctions to it neighbor is doing; so we urge readers to send us in detail cannot relieve the nations from taking precautions against examples from their own experience and reading which will those who are prepared to break the law and who might enable our fellow chemists to recommend scientific research easily dominate the world by their indifference to law. Mr. Balfour pointed out the fact which has been emphaand laboratory control to their executives, on the basis of sized as well by the Committee of the League of Nations at past performance and future promise. THIS JOURNAL, on its part, will endeavor to supply information on topics Geneva, that it is perfectly impossible to prevent a nation bent upon this method of warfare from making its preparaof current chemical interest, for the same purpose. We chemists need someone to pray for us as did a pastor tions in time of peace, no matter what the rules of war may for a revivalist. He said, “Brother Jones, before you be- be. No nation, therefore, can forego the duty of examining gins this discourse, there are some powerful bad negroes how such attacks can be effectively met. in this here congregation, and I want to pray for you,” which It seems to us that in undertaking to set a laudable example he did in this fashion: “0 Lord, give Brother Jones the eye to the rest of the world in matters of so-called humane warof the eagle, that he may see sin from afar. Glue his ear fare, we are in no way relieved of the necessity of continuto the gospel telephone, and connect him with the central ing scientific research to the end that we may at least obtain skies. Illuminate his brow with a brightness that will for ourselves that advanced knowledge which is undoubtedly make the fires of hell look like a tallow candle. Nail his our greatest defense. The research chemist, unlike the milihands to the gospel plough, and bow his head in some lone- tarist, is not impelled by a desire to test his discoveries in some valley where prayer is much wanted to be said, and the field. He has ot her ways of determining their efficiency, anoint him all over with the kerosene oil of Thy salvation and many of them will findfcommercial application. and set him afire.” It seems unfortunate that we are to be denied the assistance of nontoxic materials such as harmless lachrymators and smokes which may save life when employed for The War on Chemical Warfare defense. If applied literally, the resolutions may debar Neither the chemist nor the chemical manufaaturer in- high explosives which give rise to large amounts of carbon troduced chemical warfare to our Government. Our country monoxide. The effects of this gas may easily lead to charges called upon the scientists to provide new means of defense of gas warfare by an enemy anxious for such an excuse for and adequate means of offense to cope with the enemy. retaliation in order to employ super-gas developed in secret. However the resolutions may be interpreted by those The chemists one and all responded. The result is a matter of history. Notwithstanding the facts presented and sup- holding different views on chemical warfare, we urge chemported by ample data to prove the humaneness, efficiency, ists to seize every opportunity to make the general public and comparatively low cost of being prepared to defend realize the position of research in the whole problem and the ourselves by chemical methods approved and adopted by necessity for its continuance upon an adequate scale. To us, the endeavor to abolish chemical warfare throughout other nations, a popular sentimental feeling against chemical warfare has been aroused in our country by factors which the world by the resolutions of the present conference rewe do not yet fully understand. The carefully considered minds us of the experience of King Canute in commanding recommendations of the committee of experts, of which the tides not to rise.
