Aug., 1918
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 CHEMISTRY
Not only was man complete physically at one time, but he was perfect mentally. He knew all philosophy and all science. Mathematical exactness was instinctive with him. He knew and could interpret bird song. He knew where the flower bloom came from, and why. He understood the passions of the tiger. He saw all problems with clear and unmistakable vision. He was complete spiritually. He discussed with the Divine the themes of the divinity. He communed with the angels. He was so complete in his structure that he possessed the power to destroy his own perfection, and he exercised this power. He sinned. That is to say, he violated some law of harmony. What it was we do not know. Perhaps we never shall know. But we know that it was the exercise of a power by which the integrity of his triple structure was destroyed. There was some power by the exercise of which the integrity of the triple structure was destroyed. I think that touched his every phase and characteristic. It devitalized him physically. The majestic brow receded; the form became bent. Warts and vile protruberances grew upon the skin. The nerves lost control over the muscles, and these, uncontrolled, fell t o hideous expression. All of which and much more was apropos of t h e Garabed. On t h e day of the demonstration Mr. Finney of t h e Department of Justice was on hand t o corral t h e committee and t o insure a demonstration by t h e inventor, b u t he was not allowed t o witness t h e test. We venture t h e statement t h a t t h a t was t h e first time this alert branch of t h e Government ever failed t o “get a look in.” THE CLEVELAND MEETING
By unanimous vote of t h e Directors t h e Annual Meeting of t h e Society will be held in Cleveland, September I O t o 13, 1918. Many important matters await t h e action of t h e Council, while t h e lapse of a year since a general meeting was held insures a program of unusual interest. Cleveland’s central location and accessibility, and its reputation for unbounded hospitality, should bring together a great gathering of chemists whose deliberations will have notable bearing upon t h e welfare of t h e country and upon t h e advancement of chemistry in our midst. LIVING FROM HAND TO MOUTH 2 5 , 0 0 0 ounces of platinum in hand, I j , o o o ounces more under control, and Government needs for the year beginning March I, 1918, 60,000 ounces-these were t h e figures set forth in t h e testimony of Messrs. L. L. Summers and C. H. Conner of t h e War Industries Board, Platinum Section, before t h e Ways and Means Committee on July 17, 1918. This impending shortage of 20,000 ounces is admitted within earshot of t h e remarkable order which immediately released t o the jewelers twenty-five per cent of their commandeered unmanufactured platinum,. in order not t o disturb too greatly this individual item of the jewelry trade. No stronger testimony could be offered t o t h e foresight of those who have been advocating preparedness in this all-important matter. During t h e past month t h e question of our platinum resources has received much consideration. Recently Congress has enacted legislation placing platinum under t h e Explosives Act and requiring t h e Bureau of Mines t o
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issue licenses governing t h e sale, possession and use of platinum. The rules and regulations for the operation of this statute have not yet been issued. The Ways and Means Committee has held Hearings on t h e subject of taxation of jewelry. On July I O representatives of t h e jewelry trade appeared before t h e Committee ostensibly t o discuss taxation but, as events proved, chiefly t o defend their trade against charges which they considered had been unjustly lodged. Some of t h e statements made by the jewelers involved the AMERICANCHEMICALSOCIETY so incorrectly and unfairly t h a t we received permission t o correct these misstatements. This was done. A t tention was also called t o a section of the brief read by Mr. Rothschild, t h e representative of the jewelers, setting forth a letter written early this year by the Chairman of the War Industries Board, stating “it is necessary for the Government t o have command of every bit of platinum t h a t can possibly be had” and expressing t h e desire t h a t “no further usz of platinum should be made in t h e manufacture of jewelry.” I n response t o this letter the jewelers’ represrntatives had visited the War Industries Board, and had “recommended t h a t all the unmanufactured platinum held by jewelers be commandeered,” b u t t h e objection had been made by the War Industries Board t h a t it did not wish t o disturb t h e jewelry industry t o such a n extent. This revelation was so surprising t h a t we went on record as gladly willing t o make editorial apology t o the jewelers for past criticisms of their attitude toward the commandeering orders, in case t h e statements were confirmed b y the War Industries Board. A transcript of t h e statement was forwarded t o t h e Chairman of t h e War Industries Board for his confirmation. Later we wired asking a reply t o our letter, b u t up t o t h e present no answer has been received. Meanwhile representatives of t h a t Board testified before t h e Ways and Means Committee on July 17, and although t h e printed testimony is not yet available we learn from a correspondent present at t h e Hearings t h a t a denial was made of the commandeering recommendation of the jewelzrs. I n view of this denial t h e apology is withheld. A new t u r n was given t o t h e discussion by t h e interesting testimony of Mr. Louis J. Weinstein, Director of Advanced Courses in Dentistry, Columbia University, concerning t h e substitution of certain alloys for pure platinum in dentistry. By such substitution the practice of dentistry would in no wise be injured, while some 15,000 ounces of platinum annually would be conservzd for munitions manufacture. Mr. Weinstein’s testimony, and t h e patriotic spirit which prompted it, made an evident impression upon the Committee. The most surprising statement throughout the Hearings was t o t h e effect t h a t platinum is not necessary in t h e manufacture of explosives. This statement was ascribed b y some of the newspapers t o Mr. Summers (an electrical engineer) and b y others t o Mr. Conner (a banker). Telegrams were immediately sent t o each, asking if he had been correctly reported. Mr. Conner replied referring us t o t h e full testimony
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