EDITORIAL COM mi: XT 597 



crease in the prices of all commodities that results from the constant 

 growth of the share of labor in directing and reaping the rewards of 

 production. 



It is obvious, then, that technical workers, unless they are to suffer 

 from an ever-increasing pauperism, must acquire the elementary intel- 

 ligence to defend themselves. In a world whose population is meas- 

 ured by billions, it is clearly idle to imagine that there remains such a 

 thing as individual protection. Organization, mass movement, is the 

 only feasible means of defense. 



If you follow the old trade union or craft principle of organization, 

 splitting up the professions, you immediately create a huge waste of 

 energy in duplication of effort and organization. Xation-wide propa- 

 ganda is a difficult and costly undertaking. What is needed is a Na- 

 tional Federation of Technical Workers, which will include every 

 scientific worker of sufficient attainment to be ranked as a technician 

 in his line. 



There are certain dangers in attempting to create a union of for- 

 esters. If it is done through the Society of American Foresters, there 

 is the danger of a split in that organization. As a class, professional 

 men are conservative, and many of them would prefer respectable 

 starvation to breaking bread with the American Federation of Labor. 

 ]\Ioreover, the establishment of a union of foresters may withdraw 

 from the Federation of Federal Employees a considerable number of 

 Government foresters who are able to wield a potent influence in that 

 organization. 



Whatever principle of organization is adopted, it ought to proceed 

 on the basic truth that the interests of all workers are identical, namely, 

 to secure a just share in the process of production-management, to 

 have a voice in regulating the conditions of employment, and to obtain 

 a fair share of the product. Why not let the Society of American 

 Foresters be one of the pioneers in this work? Why not draw up a 

 program for technical workers, irrespective of their profession, creed, 

 or condition of servitude, and lay it before every scientific association 

 of America? If the time was ever ripe for such a move, that time is 

 now^ 



In the meantime let every Government forester roll up his sleeves 

 and get into the Federation of Federal Employees. That organization 

 oft'ers an immediate opportunity for work that is vital to the full suc- 

 cess of the Federal forest policy. There is need in the Federation for 

 more professional men. Recognizing that need. Government scientists, 

 several hundred strong, ranging from chemists and physicists to pa- 



