Oaemical tngineering
WALTER J. MURPHY, Editor
News ublic Relations Objectives V V E ARE very happy to report that the symposium on Public Relations for the Local Sections" presented in Attntic City was a pronounced success. Carl F. Graham, hairman of the Council Committee on Local Section Acvities, selected the topics and speakers. Just about every hase of public relations at the national and local level was overed during the full day symposium. Frequently we are asked what are the principal objectives f the ACS News Service which serves as the public relations rganization of the chemical profession. Broadly speaking, s aims are to advance popular knowledge of chemical scince and industry and to increase the influence of the pro?ssiona1 chemist and chemical engineer as a vital directive iree in American life. More specifically, the principal objectives of the News ervice may be listed as follows: 1. To disseminate information on chemical science and tech[>logy, thereby increasing public understanding of chemistry's intribution to human welfare and progress. 2. To stimulate public recognition of the contributions of liemists and chemical engineers to better living. 3. To strengthen and improve the professional and economic atus of chemists and chemical engineers. 4. To provide information about the AMERICAN CIIKMICAL OCU2TY and its aims and policies, with a view to extending its lfluence—and therefore the influence of its individual members— ι all public matters of direct concern to chemists and chemical ngineers. 5. To promote the expansion of the chemical industry to meet ie nation's needs, raise the living standard, and provide more >bs. 6. To condition the public to accept new chemical products ith full confidence. 7. To educate bankers and investors in the possibilities in fèrent in sound and persistent chemical research. 8. To educate industrial management in the value of and !?cd for continuing chemical research. 9. To encourage public service activities on the part of ehemts and chemical engineers. 10. To acquaint American youth with the true nature and uportance of the chemical profession, in an effort to attract the tost competent type of young men and women to the profession. It was demonstrated very conclusively at the symposium η public relations that local sections play a vital role in irthering the 10 public relations objectives of the Society, /orking together, the News Service, the Executive Secreiry's office, and the local sections can achieve great success ι obtaining for the chemical profession greater and greater •cognition on the part of the American public. There is one other very important factor in the public dations program of a profession that is seldom mentioned y the individual member of the profession. Each of us in jr daily contact can create in the minds of the public a holesome respect for die chemical profession, provided, of nirse, our acts warrant respect. We have frequently comented on this page that deeds rather than words are im itant in public relations. A perfect example of what we ν referring to was the action of Robert Seinple, president
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oi Wyandotte Chemicals Corp., in making a personal appear ance on the symposium, despite the fact his plant suddenly became strike-bound less than 2 4 hours before he was scheduled to deliver his paper in Atlantic City. Mr. Semple might well have asked the chairman to read his paper. In stead, Mr. Semple and the public relations counselor for Wyandotte, James W. Irwin, flew in the company plane from Detroit to Atlantic City, arriving at 3:00 A.M. We as a profession will be judged by what w e do as well as by what we say. This is a thought we should keep before us at all times.
Resources f o r the Chemical Industry JL HE fourth symposium in the series. "Resources for the Chemical Industry." presented by the chemical marketing subdivision of the Division of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry at the national meeting of the AMERICAN CHEMI CAL SOCIETY in Atlantic City, covered the geographical area generally described as the Middle Atlantic states. We have never held to the premise that the phenomenal growth of the Southwest and the Far West necessarily would result in industrial decay in the older sections of the country. In the symposium on the New England states presented at the spring meeting of the Society in Buffalo this year, spokesmen for the New England states presented some very convincing facts and figures to show that this section has much to offer industrially and commercially to manufacturers of chemicals and allied products. Indeed, wc were greatly impressed with the many decided advantages of this area and particularly the availability of skilled labor and cheap and abundant power. A. B. Hersbergér, chairman of the symposium covering the resources available in the states of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, together with his associates on the panels, likewise presented strong evidence for tho continued industrial expansion of the states bordering on the Atlantic Coast. We were particularly intrigued with the statement by V. H. Bod en of Carbide and Carbon Chemicals that a new phase in the development of the American economy—a longrange trend toward greater international trade as the United States gradually depletes its natural resources—holds great promise for the Middle Atlantic states. As he sees the picture, the Middle Atlantic states will continue to be an important link between this country and Europe, Africa, and South America. As the world continues to shrink, he expects a long-run trend toward greater international trade. He not only sees an increase in exports but a sizable increase in imports as this country gradually depletes many of its natural resources. Obviously, as this depletion develops, w e shall turn more and more to foreign sources of supply for our needs. As a result of these long-term developments, a strong pull will be exerted on all industries to locate near the great ports and to be close to the great markets in this country and overseas. As an example of this beneficial long-range development, Mr. Boden cited the location of the new U. S. Steel plant at Morrisville. Pa.
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