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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
Vol. 13, No. 5
ROCHESTER MEETING AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY What room was there for gloom or pessimism when such big guns were vigorously i n action? No, not pessimism, b u t a n optimistic spirit spread over t h a t meeting as t h e chemist saw himself revealed a n d acknowledged as a n integral p a r t of t h e country’s defense. T h e responsibility has been placed, i t is joyfully accepted and i t will be worthily met.
These are dull times, no doubt about t h a t . Perhaps there was never a time when our chemical industries were a t so low a stage of activity. It is t h e moment of dead low tide, and many a commercial bark is struggling t o keep in t h e narrow channels of t h e few markets which remain. Retrenchment is t h e word on all sides. I n many cases this policy has affected first of all Council Meeting t h e chemical staffs. Especially is this t r u e in organT h e cordiality with which t h e Rochester Section, izations where t h e seed of industrial research evidently fell on very shallow ground. Consequently many represented by t h e chairman of t h e Entertainment Committee a n d his assistants, received t h e members of chemists are to-day seeking employment. I n contrast with this gloomy picture was t h e t h e Council at t h e Rochester Club on Monday afterair of buoyancy a n d optimism which characterized noon, April 25, 1921, epitomized t h e character of t h e * t h e unusually large gathering of chemists a t Rochester reception accorded t h e members of t h e SOCIETY for t h e Spring Meeting of t h e AMERICANCHEMICAL throughout t h e week of t h e meeting. T h e hall of t h e SOCIETY.T h e mood fascinated us and as t h e week Club afforded pleasant surroundings for t h e business meeting, and in t h e dining rooms respite from serious progressed we tried t o analyze its meaning. Of course a contributing factor was t h e splendid work of t h e members of t h e Rochester Section who displayed remarkable ability i n executive management a n d who possessed t o a n unusual extent t h a t t r u e spirit of hospitality which is based upon t h e conviction t h a t there is more pleasure i n giving t h a n in receiving. T h e full explanation of t h a t buoyant spirit a t Rochester, as we see it, h a d deeper and more solid foundation t h a n t h e ephemeral joys of a few days of good entertainment. There was genuine satisfaction in the thought t h a t in t h e formulation of t h e general policies of t h e AMERICAN CHEMICALSOCIETY, with t r u e American independence of thought and firm initiative, there had been developed a n organization, contrary t o t h e traditions of other lands, in which men of t h e universities and of t h e industries could, t o t h e benefit of both, r u b elbows, a n d who therefore would all t h e more readily s t a n d shoulder t o shoulder in time of emergency; a n organization whose voice i n national matters would stand as t h e sentiment of American chemists. When t h e program of t h e meeting brought out i n close sequence views of pure scientists, of industrialists, of business men, and of statesmen, who could escape t h e up-lifting feeling t h a t t h e organization was fully playing its part? It was a big week for American chemistry in its rePRESIDENT S3lITH lation t o t h e national welfare, a week of recognition all too sparingly given in t h e years past. Senator deliberation was granted, while t h e members partook Wadsworth and Congressman Longworth spoke straight of a delightful dinner, t h e Rochester Section acting a n d t o t h e point, no pussyfooting, no buncombe. as hosts. Attendance a t t h e Council Meeting reached a total President Harding’s sympathetic attitude, conveyed through Mr. Longworth, assured support from t h e of 113. Business was transacted with dispatch, yet highest officer in t h e land, and while t h e meeting was important matters were given careful consideration. i n progress t h e author of t h e peace resolution, Senator Questions of internal policy regarding SOCIETYmatters opinKnox, demonstrated his active support b y personally were discussed and acted upon, and t h e SOCIETY’S appearing before t h e Senate Finance Committee and ion upon matters of national concern was recorded in urging a d interim legislation t o safeguard, for t h e formal resolutions. Likewise t h e governing body of t h e SOCIETYheard t h e reports of its committees, all nation’s sake, our coal-tar chemical industry.
