THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



ber companies, have joined. Active membership in- 

 cludes corporations, associations, partnerships or indi- 

 viduals who have active or inactive property or business 

 interests in Mexico. All others in sympathy with the 

 purposes of the association are eligible as associate mem- 

 bers. 



WORKS COMMITTEES AND THE LIKE. 



THAT there is a revolution on in the labor world none 

 will deny. That it is likely to be a peaceful one, 

 at least in America, is also more than probable. The 

 fact that except for strikes, warranted and otherwise, 

 labor is getting what it asks for without violence is largely 

 due to the broad views held by industrial leaders who 

 for the past few years have in every way possible given 

 to the workman comforts, privileges and care that a gen- 

 eration ago would have been deemed foolish and super- 

 fluous. In other words, the heads of companies besides 

 their loyalty to their business are showing a friendship, 

 a loyalty to labor that is as complete as it is sincere. 



The response of the workman to this attitude is what 

 will determine the future relations between employer and 

 employes. If the worker cares nothing for his work, his 

 company, his "boss" ; if he is ever ready in fault-finding, 

 in unfair demands ; is suspicious ; is indeed a slacker, the 

 relation will be no better than before, indeed, will be 

 worse. 



Loyalty to the workman calls for loyalty from the 

 workmen, and until it is shown there can be no real in- 

 dustrial progress. 



Appeal; (2) the establishment of the Patent Office as a 

 separate institution independent of the Department of the 

 Interior; (3) an increase in the personnel of the Patent 

 Office to enable it to render prompt and efficient service 

 and an increase in the salaries to approximate those paid 

 in outside patent work, so that qualified examiners may 

 be kept in the public service; (4) a change in the law 

 relating to damages in infringement suits to answer one 

 of the most common and strongest reproaches against the 

 patent system, namely, that a patent does not ordinarily 

 pay the inventor any money. 



Apparently the passage of this legislation would go a 

 long way toward eliminating the evils of our patent sys- 

 tem, tending to facilitate prompt determination of patent 

 rights and to avoid unnecessary litigation. Patentees of 

 rubber articles, processes, and machinery have frequently 

 resorted to the courts at great expense to protect their 

 rights and will doubtless be numbered among the staunch 

 supporters of the proposed legislation. 



A SOUND PLAN OF PATENT REFORM. 



IT has often been asserted that the failure of Congress 

 to provide adequate forces and facilities for granting 

 patents that really protect is due to the fact that the situa- 

 tion has not been particularly brought to its attention. If 

 that be true, something may perhaps be accomplished if 

 the inventors, manufacturers, and others who have suf- 

 fered under our present patent system will make known 

 to their representatives in both branches of Congress 

 that they approve the movement to remedy conditions 

 which is being conducted by the Patent Committee of 

 the National Research Council, and which has the en- 

 dorsement of the Patent Office Society. The committee 

 is composed of some of the leading inventors, scientists, 

 engineers and patent attorneys of the country and its 

 recommendations are entitled to full acceptance and 

 general support. 



The Patent Committee proposes the following pro- 

 gram of four features believed to be of fundamental im- 

 portance: (1) the establishment of a single Court of 

 Patent Appeals to take over the appellate jurisdiction 

 now lodged in the nine independent Circuit Courts of 



A MASSACHUSETTS MANDATORY. 



A BILL that will doubtless be passed by the Legisla- 

 ture of Massachusetts points the way toward 

 Americanization in a manner wholly wise and most com- 

 prehensive. It relates to the employment of persons un- 

 able to speak or write English in the factories and larger 

 mercantile houses. It provides that after January 1, 

 1921, such persons between the ages of 21 and 40, whose 

 education does not equal the fourth grade in the gram- 

 mar school shall not be permitted in any place where 

 more than 25 persons are employed. There is the further 

 provision that three hours a week of schooling for at 

 least 40 weeks in the year in approved schools, shall make 

 such persons eligibl". for employment. Other states 

 please copy. 



EXPANSION OF BUSINESS. 



TO STIMULATE investment of private capital in 

 foreign securities in order to cut down govern- 

 ment loans to allied countries as soon as possible the 

 United States Government is preparing to furnish m- 

 vestors with information concerning the stability of 

 foreign corporations and their stocks and bonds. The 

 movement is designed to give an impetus to our 

 foreign commerce as well as to help other countries 

 and as such is worthy of commendation. Information 

 concerning credit conditions in other countries will be 

 placed at the disposal of prospective purchasers of 

 foreign securities by the Department of Commerce at 

 Washington. Business men desirous of expanding 

 their business will do well to take advantage of this 

 opportunity. 



