144 Mathews Plan for American Biological Society [Oct, 



2. Doubt of the financial support of the plan. It is concluded 

 that it woiild be impossible to secure a sufficient number of members 

 to finance the plan without making the dues and subscriptions pro- 

 hibitive. 



3. Doubt of the possibility of fusion of the existing biological 

 societies. It is suggested that the present members of these societies 

 would resent any attempt to control their present Organization. 



4. Doubt of the desirability of fusing existing biological socie- 

 ties. It is feit that the present specialization is more desirable than 

 fusion. 



5. Doubt of the desirability of making membership open to " any 

 one interested in biology." It is assumed that special societies of 

 workers are more desirable and effective than general associations 

 with vague qualification for membership and club rates for the 

 reduction of subscriptions for Journals. 



6. Doubt of the desirability of plans that might mean "merely 

 a new society and a new Journal." 



7. Doubt of the desirability of a centralization of control for 

 Journals. It is considered that better results are obtained when a 

 Journal is controlled by workers most interested in the particular 

 subject it represents. 



8. Doubt of the desirability of a new abstract Journal. It is 

 thought that such a Journal would overlap and duplicate the work 

 of existing foreign abstract Journals. 



Suggestions. Aside from the doubts presented above, many 

 ofifer constructive criticisms and suggestions to obviate difHculties. 

 Some of these are listed below : 



A. Suggest a "Federation" similar to that already formed by 

 the Physiological, Biochemical and Pharmacological Societies to 

 control meetings, abstract Journals, etc., and at the same time leave 

 to each society its present autonomy and Journal control. 



B. Suggest the formation of a business Organization composed 

 of members of the various societies to finance an abstract Journal. 

 This would avoid the necessity of forming a general Organization. 



C. Suggestions that the division into sections of a general so- 

 ciety be based on allied interests rather than on existing societies. 

 This plan would " concentrate " Journals, both in content and num- 



