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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 ENGINEERING C H E M I S T R Y
assigned. It was indeed surprising when t h e Alien Property Custodian read into t h e record a t t h e hearing t h e following cablegram:
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permanent policy which no sudden shift of official thought can damage, or, b y chance. sweep away. The columns of t h e daily press furnish a true index “14 NOVEMBER of t h e extent of this campaign of popular education. ANILTNFABRIK, LUDWIOSHAFEN. For two months we scanned closely the columns We fully expect modification Government regulaof the French papers for articles on subjects contions which will permit us t o confirm our order. This will enable you to maintain your position that all goods nected with chemistry, and rarely was the search to this country outside reparation goods should come rewarded. Then in memory we could see t h e mass to us. PURPURIN~ (KUTTROFF-PICKHARET)” of newspaper clippings pouring into t h e office of t h e A. C. S. News Service from every state in t h e Of course, no change of policy was in contempla- Union. The contrast forced t h e convincing thought tion b y t h e War Trade Board. T h e intent of t h e t h a t America is slowly b u t surely on t h e road t o cable was all too plain, and on November 25, 1919, certainty and t o permanency in these matters; slowly, we received a cable from Frankfort, Germany, indica- because of t h e necessarily slow processes of public ting t h a t it would be impossible t o extend further t h e education, b u t surely, because of its solid foundation. agreement made a t Versailles on October 4 , 1919. This campaign of popular education through t h e This cable was a t once turned over t o the State De- press, constantly increasing in extent, has resulted partment, whose officials refused t o acknowledge i t chiefly from the work of t h e SOCIETY’S News Service as a cancellation and immediately entered emphatic under t h e technical direction of t h a t experienced protest with full reasons therefor. Sequel: On newspaperman, Mr. John Walker Harrington, who was December 15, 1919,we received t h e following cable- selected just a year ago t o carry on this important gram: public responsibility which inherently belongs t o a n “FRANKFURT MAIN,Dec. 15. organization so truly national as t h e AMERICAN “CHARLES HBRTY, CHEMICAL SOCIETY. “35 East 41st Street, N. Y. “Have pleasure informing you that I have succeeded I n the next issue we hope t o present some of t h e prolongation option as given you fourth October. important results of this work which made so deep a n For all details are ready negotiate with your repreimpression upon t h e Directors t h a t they approved sentative Stephenson Paris. VON WEINBERG.” an increased budget for this purpose during t h e T h e burrowers had been a t work, they had worked year 1920. I n advance of this showing, however, in vain, and t h e evidences of their burrowing are a part two developments of t h e past year are especially of official records. Doubtless these subterranean opera- to be noted. First: Publicity work i n connection with t h e tions will be continued, b u t our prediction IS t h a t consumers of dyestuffs, when all t h e facts are known t o general meetings has frequently suffered because of them, will t u r n their heads in disgust from all such lack of continuity between t h e general work carried earth-movers, whether they be dust-kickers, mud- on throughout t h e year by t h e SOCIETYand t h a t done by t h e local committee a t t h e time of t h e general flingers or burrowers. meetings. T h e Philadelphia Section overcame this difficulty a t t h e last general meeting by securing, a t its own expense, t h e services of Mr. Harrington, and A HOUSE BUILT UPON A ROCK placing the entire matter of publicity in his hands, For many months we have been endeavoring t o he acting, of course, in cooperation with the publicity reach a definite legislative policy regarding two ques- committee of t h e Section. The result was astonishing. tions which are intimately bound up with t h e future T h e space given t o t h a t meeting by t h e press throughwelfare and security of t h e nation-the integral out t h e country was incomparably greater t h a n had been character of t h e Chemical Warfare Service in t h e given t o former meetings. T h e Directors have now apreorganization of t h e Army, and t h e protection of its propriated funds t o secure t h e services of Mr. Harringlogical reserve, t h e dye industry. The fight for t o n for each of t h e general meetings in 1920. This national safety along these lines has been a long one; will leave upon t h e local sections only t h e expenses but during its progress t h e masses of our people have of room rent, stenographic assistance, and material been undergoing a steady education through t h e supplies. columns of a thoroughly sympathetic press. Second: A most interesting feature has been t h e Right here is the chief difference we have noted cooperation of Mr. Harrington with local sections in between conditions in America and in other countries. advising as t o methods and details of securing t h e I n t h e latter, for example France, i t has been easy t o interest of t h e local press in t h e activities of t h e secure governmental codperation and t h e enactment local sections. A special group of clippings shows of favorable legislation-so easy indeed t h a t it leads how successful this has been in those sections where t o t h e apprehension t h a t such conditions may prove cooperation was attempted. The work was carried a house built upon the sand. With us it has been a on largely by correspondence and it is believed t h a t prolonged struggle, b u t out of t h a t very struggle its enlargement will prove one of t h e features of t h e has come t h e strength of popular understanding and new year. Whenever his aid is desired i t may be \ sympathetic support, t h e bed-rock foundation of a counted on.
