Aug., 1921
THE JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERIhlG CHEMISTRY
vigorous as was his support, before our entry into the war, of the McLemore resolution which would have prevented American citizens from sailing on ships bearing munitions, and a9 was his opposition to the declaration of war against Germany and the passage of the draft bill after we had entered the war. He was well qualified for leadership. T o his support he drew 112 Democrats, all except four from Louisiana, and 95 Republicans. The vote of the Democrats was evidently for some reason of party politics. The votes of the 95 Republicans constitute the interesting problem. On what grounds did they bolt the recommendations of their Committee? Did they understand fully the significance and the importance of this industry to our country? For this last question we chemists are responsible. Did we do our part in making this clear t o our Congressmen? Did we do anything in the districts concerned to arouse and enlighten public opinion on this vital matter? If not, then it is still u p to us to do quickly everything in our power to make good the shortcorpings of the past. Vacations are pleasant and work in the laboratory is delightful, but unless public opinion is quickly aroused these pleasant and delightful affairs may. be of little interest to those of US who were once chemists. Here is the list by states of the 95 Republican Congressmenwho voted for the Frear amendment. Is your Congressman on this list? CALIFORNIA Barbour Nolan
KLLINOIS
.
Fuller Gor man King McKenzie Mirhaelson Sproiil
BNDIANA
Benham Elliott Hickey Kraus
IOWA Boies Doivell Haugen Hull KOPP Rawseyer Sweet KANSAS Anthony Hoch Little Strong White KENTUCKY Ogden Robsion MAINE White MARY~,AND Blakeney MASSACRUSSTTS Underhill MICHIGAN Crarnton Woodruff
MINNESOTA Anderson Clague Davis MISSOURI Hukriede Lawrence Roach MONTANA McCormick
NEBRASKA Andrews Evans Kinkaid McLaughlin Reavis NEVADA Arentz N E W HAMPSHIR~ Burroughs Wason NEWYORK Ansorge Chandler Fish Kline Rossdale Ryan NORTHDAKOTA Burtness Sinclair Young OHIO Cable Fitzgerald Foster Gahn Knight Moore Morgan Norton Ricketts Spenks
671
Restoration in Poland The restoration of the University of Louvain has made a deep appeal to the whole world and particularly to Americans. It is good to know that from the ashes of that venerable institution so ruthlessly destroyed there is to arise another and even greater institution. Yet we must remember that Belgium is not alone in its sorrow and suffering. Poland must be restored as a vigorous nation. The struggle for restoration is intense, for it was ravaged first by the Russians and then by the Germans. Since receipt of the following letter it has been learned that a committee is being organized which, in cooperation with the Polish Consulate, will endeavor to raise funds to relieve this distressing situation. Keep your hearts and purses open. May I not tell you something of the plight of the men of science in Poland. Here in the United States we can hardly realize how difficult their life is and under what wretched conditions they are trying to do productive work. Since the very beginning of the war they have been without the very necessary scientific books and technical periodicals from abroad. The universities have been pillaged and stripped by both the Germans and Russians-sometimes even the buildings have been destroyed, as in the case of the chemical laboratory of the University of Posen. I enclose a photograph (showing this destruction) that was sent to me together with a letter of petition
0K.I A H oM A Gensman Herrick OREGON Sinnott PENNSYLVANIA Burke Connell Connolly Coughlin Gernerd Kline Shreve Rose Strong RHODEISLAND Burdick Kennedy
SOUTH DAKOTA Williamson
TENNESSEE Brown Reece Scott WASHINQTON Summers WEST VIRGINIA Rosenbloom WISCONSIN Beck Browne Cooper Frear Kleczka Lampert Nelson, A. P. Nelson, J. M. Stafford ’Voigt
The matter may still have t o go to the Conference Committee and his support may be needed, and perhaps this vote indicates that your senators also do not appreciate the gravity of the situation. Have you done your share, fellow chemist? Better vigorous action now than vain regrets later.
from the faculty begging me to help them to rebuild and equip
a new laboratory.
From Lemberg, my husband, who is professor of geophysics, writes continually of the lack of means a t the disposal of the faculty of the University. May I not translate from one of his recent letters? “Oh how I long to have a laboratory, a good library, the insfruments necessary for observations, and the means to publish! I need chemical equipment to make analyses of air and rain-water, actinometers, pyrheliometers to measure solar radiation, an electric oven, a pendulum, sufficient a t least to make field observations. I must have glassware and chemical reagents, platinum, a balance, a microscope. “Just think all this equipment would not cost more than eight thousand dollars. Yet I will have to struggle all the rest of my life and expend all my efforts that perhaps my successor may have the necessary means of working and producing. It is discouraging. But when I think of the financial situation of the government I can see no issue. It is hardly possible for you to realize how difficult the situation is here. “Poland is expected to be productive but no one stops to think of the fact that to produce it is necessary to have the means of production. “It is perhaps natural that America should be tired of Europe, and does not wish to learn of the miseries that exist here, but, still . . . . . ” Is there no way for us to finish that sentence? Can we not extend a friendly helping hand to these men who want so badly to do and who could do if they had the means? Sincerely, (Signed) JANE A R S T O ~ S K A .
