338
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
sion of t h e gravity of t h e situation and of t h c jewelers’ responsibility therein. “Let us not forget the urgency of the need for placing under United States control as large a portion of the world’s platinum supply as possible. Crafty, forehanded Germany has been doing her utmost, since the war began, to increase her supply of the now doubly-precious and much-needed metal. Since the conclusion of her damnably insincere ‘peace’ contract with poor Russia, she is in a fair way, through seduction or force, t o obtain access t o the world’s greatest source of the coveted material, and thus not only take care of her own very urgent need but also deprive the United States and her Allies of further importations. “Hence, while the commandeering order recently issued by the United States Secretary of War does not requisition platinum jewelry nor in the least affect the sale of any already made up, the time may not be far distant when an appeal will be made or a n order found necessary to: call in even the finished product for use in essential purposes in prosecuting the war. What we have to suggest, therefore, is perhaps as much colored with prophecy as patriotism.”
............
The story here narrated through excerpts from t h e jewelers’ publications constitutes no praiseworthy chapter in t h e history of our war making. It does furnish ample justification for t h e campaign inaugurated b y t h e chemists a t Kansas City. Plainly t h e handwriting is on t h e wall. Priority must be given t o munitions manufacture and scientific research.
PUBLICITY W O R K T O BE CONTINUED
The work of t h e Press and Publicity Committee of t h e AMERICANCHEMICALSOCIETY is t o be continued. This policy was determined b y t h e action of t h e Directors a t their Spring Meeting on April 13, 1918, whereby “it was voted t h a t an additional appropriation of $z,500, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be made t o t h e Publicity Committee and t h a t t h e Committee be continued.” This action has a twofold significance. I n t h e first place, it is clearly indicative of an increase in t h e membership of t h e Society sufficiently large t o dispel t h e possibility of a decreased income due to war conditions, for it was primarily upon this ground t h a t t h e recommendations of t h e Committee were tabled a t t h e December 1 9 1 7 meeting of t h e Directors. (This action wac discussed editorially in t h e January 1918 issue of THIS J O U R N A L . ) I n the second place, i t insures t h e continuance ‘on an even more efficient scale of one of t h e most important activities of the Society. I n justification of this a p praisal of the Committee’s work, there is reproduced a portion of t h e editorial above mentioned:
Vol.
IO,
No. 5
THE CHEMISTS’ CLUB
A t a meeting of t h e Trustees of T h e Chemists’ Club on April 5 , 1918, i t was voted t h a t t h e following communication and questionnaire should be sent t o each member of t h e Club: The Board of Trustees, in view of existing conditions a t home and abroad, respectfully bring t o the attention of all members o€ The Chemists’ Club, resident and non-resident, the importance of complying with the following requests: 1st. T h a t the German Language shall not be used in conversation in the Club. 2 nd T h a t all disloyal criticism of t h e United States Government, or its allies in the present war, must be avoided in the Club. 3rd. That any member of the Club, resident or non-resident, of whatever descent, and whether a n American citizen or not, whose sympathies favor the enemies of this country, or who cannot conscientiously comply with the foregoing requests or who cannot be sure of so conducting himself as t o avoid giving offense t o his fellow members by any display of hostility or disloyalty t o the United States or its allies, is requested t o resign. The Trustees also ask you t o fill out and return not later than M a y I, 1918, in the accompanying addressed envelope, the enclosed card asking for certain data, t o enable them accurately t o answer inquiries from time t o time made by the Government authorities. FLOYD J. METZGER, April 15, 1918 Acting Secretary THE CHEMISTS’ CLUB, NEW YORK
Name of Member.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Address (Business) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(Home). . . . . . . . . . . .
(Firm). . . . . . . . .
Birthplace (Self) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.Year. . . . . . . .
Birthplace (Father) . . . . . . . . . . . .Birthplace (Mother).. . Citizen of United States-Yes.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . ..No.. . . . . .
If Naturalized, . . . . . . . . . . . W h e n . . . . . . . . . . . .Where.. . . . . . . . . Citizen of.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
: .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sons in Service. . . . . . . . . . . , I n Army. . . . . . . . . . I n Navy.
~
“We live in a democracy, and under such conditions sure foundations can be laid only in broad educational work from the bottom upward. Our people through their newspapers should have opportunity t o learn more of chemistry treated in a popular way, and should be brought into a more sympathetic relationship with American chemists through the record of their achievements. Such work is preeminently the function of the AMERICAN CHEMICALSOCIETY, a n organization which has no propaganda t o promote other than the welfare of this country through increased appreciation of chemistry.” As a result of the action of t h e Directors, t h e Com-
mittee is now formulating plans for the continuance of the work.
Other Members of Family in Service.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
............ This matter, we learn, had been under careful c o n sideration at several previous meetings of t h e Trustees. The action taken officially establishes as a requisite of membership in t h e Club unswerving loyalty t o t h e cause of this country and its allies, and will eliminate all enemy sympathizers, t h e number of whom is small, but whose presence, no matter how small t h e number, is completely incompatible with t h a t spirit of home life which t h e term “club” implies.
,
