626
T H E JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
T'ol. 12, No. 7
EDITORIALS ROPE MAKING Tearing t o pieces a bit of hemp rope may indicate summer idling, b u t i t has induced two thoughtsfirst, t h e individual bast fibers stand out preeminently as strong, hardy vegetable cells; second, the act of intertwining t h e individual fibers produces a rope of a strength multifold t h a t of the sum of t h e individual fibers. What has this t o do with chemistry? Quite a bit, in t h e light of coming events. During t h e summer and early fall of 1 9 2 1 four strong chemical organizations will hold their annual meetings in America, namely, t h e Society of Chemical Industry (British), t h e Convention of Canadian Chemists, t h e American Chemical Society, and t h e Seventh National Exposition of Chemical Industries. These are all lusty bast fibers, each strong in itself as such strength goes, and there they lie individually o n t h e table of 1921. Let's get a t t h e business of rope making, and thereby fashion for t h e Anglo-Saxon world a binding power which will hold fast for our respective countries those new chemical industries which have developed because of t h e war and whose importance t o the national welfare cannot be overestimated. Why not bring these meetings together, and thereby enable all t o partake of t h e benefits of such a gathering of Anglo-Saxon chemists? I t is recognized, of course, t h a t exposition week is an unfortunate time for scientific gatherings, for t h e distractions of t h e Exposition militate against a successful scientific program, but the whole problem could be solved if the American Chemical Society would hold its annual meeting a week or two later t h a n usual, and the British organization could postpone its visit t o this country until September, 1921. Our Canadian friends would certainly enjoy New York more in September t h a n during t h e heated spells of July. On t h e basis of a two weeks' program it would be possible for all t o share in t h e meetings of t h e chemical societies, and t o attend t h e Exposition. At t h e same time, t h e opportunities for informal conferences and mutual acquaintance during exposition week would make possible a meeting t o immediately follow the Exposition which would bring t o more definite conclusion many policies which would be originated and informally discussed during t h e early days of t h e joint gathering. Aside from t h e visits t o t h e Exposition, t h a t week would offer exceptional opportunity t o our British and Canadian guests t o visit in small groups many of the industrial plants in t h e vicinity of New York City. The journey t o Canada a t the closing of such an eventful gathering would attract many. Thus would strength be increased multifold by this intertwining of chemical forces. I t is remarkable how similar are the problems affecting chemistry in our three countries. There is t h e same fundamental need of public understanding of what our efforts mean; there is the same consequent difficulty in securing favorable legislative action; salaries are inadequate in all alike; progress during t h e last four years has been appreciably t h e same.
Much still remains t o be done. 1 9 2 1 offers a great opportunity. As a coordinating agency in this matter, we would suggest t h a t the officers of t h e Chemical Exposition take this subject up a t once with t h e officers of t h e several organizations concerned with a view t o making such adjustments as will assure this joint gathering. Thus would be assembled a large group of chemists, inspired with t h e common purpose of making t h e Anglo-Saxon race supreme in t h e field of chemistry, t o take p a r t i n deliberations which should prove historic for our science CANADIAN HOSPITALITY At t h e recent joint annual meeting of t h e Canadian Section of the Society of Chemical Industry and t h e Canadian Institute of Chemistry, i t was our good fortune t o be t h e guest of Canadian chemists. Those last few words tell a story of most delightful hospitality, of charming entertainment, and of unaffected good fellowship. The meeting furnished opportunity for seeing Canadian chemists in vigorous action, progressive, wide-awake, developing policies suited t o conditions of their country, and imbued through and through with a spirit of patriotic devotion. We can never forget t h e experience. We understand' now t h e glorious record of Canadian soldiers throughout t h e war. And t h e long boundary line from t h e Atlantic t o t h e Pacific has and needs no military'guard of either nation.
ONE-SIDED GREASING The National Prohibition Act is a two-wheeled cart, and not a monocycle. It provides against t h e use of alcohol as a beverage and a t the same time in specific terms declares t h a t t h e use of alcohol in research and in t h e industries is t o be encouraged and facilitated. The Volstead Act exists for enforcing t h e provisions. of t h e Prohibition Act and for carrying out t h e intent of Congress. One wheel of this cart, t h e prohibition side, has been abundantly greased and is running smoothly and efficiently in spite of the obstacles deliberately thrown in t h e roadway, while t h e other wheel has received b u t scant attention. It is screaking badly and friction is developing. I n such situations this friction usually finds its expression in loud-mouthed complaints, b u t fortunately t h a t does not hold true in t h e present case. There is always a spirit of cooperation hovering around, if we only t r y t o find it. It has been found in 2he case of alcohol for research and t h e industries. On June 1 7 , 1 9 2 0 , there gathered in t h e office of t h e Commissioner of Internal Revenue in Washington, Lt. Col. Amos A. Fries of t h e Chemical Warfare Service, Mr. George W. Patterson, designated by Secretary Daniels t o represent t h e Navy Department, representatives of t h e American Chemical Society, t h e Manufacturing Chemists' Association, t h e American Dyes Institute, t h e American Pharmaceutical Association, t h e American Drug Manufacturers' Association, t h e Nationab Association of Retail Druggists, t h e National Whole-
