EDITORAL COMMENT 



The a. F. L. Favors Research 



The American Federation of Labor adopted the following resolution 

 at its Atlantic City convention : 



Whereas scientific research and the technical application of results of research 

 form a fundamental basis upon which the development of our industries — manu- 

 facturing, agriculture, mining, and others — must rest ; and 



Whereas the productivity of industry is greatly increased by the technical 

 application of the results of scientific research in physics, chemistry, biology, and 

 geology, in engineering and agriculture, and in the related sciences ; and the 

 health and well-being, not only of the workers, but of the whole population as 

 well, are dependent upon advances in medicine and sanitation; so that the value 

 of scientific advancement to the welfare of the nation is many times greater than 

 the cost of the necessary research ; and 



Whereas the increased productivity of industry resulting from scientific re- 

 search is a most potent factor in the ever-increasing struggle of the workers to 

 raise their standards of living, and the importance of this factor must steadily 

 increase, since there is a limit beyond which the average standard of living of 

 the whole population cannot progress by the usual methods of readjustment, 

 which limit can only be raised by research and the utilization of the results of 

 research in industry ; and 



Whereas there are numerous important and pressing problems of administra- 

 tion and regulation now faced by Federal, State, and local governments, the wise 

 solution of which depends upon scientific and technical research ; and 



Whereas the war has brought home to all the nations engaged in it the over- 

 whelming importance of science and technology to national welfare, whether in 

 war or in peace, and not only is private initiative attempting to organize far- 

 reaching research in these fields on a national scale, but in several countries gov- 

 ernmental participation and support of such undertakings are already active: 

 therefore be it 



Resolved by the American Federation of Labor in convention assembled, That 

 a broad program of scientific and technical research is of major importance to 

 the national welfare and should be fostered in every way by the Federal Govern- 

 ment, and that the activities of the Government itself in such research should be 

 adequately and generously supported in order that the work may be greatly 

 strengthened and extended : and the Secretary of the Federation is instructed to 

 transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the 

 President pro tempore of the Senate, and to the Speaker of the House of Repre- 

 sentatives. 



Labor and Scientific Research 



"This is convincing evidence of clear thinking," was the comment of 

 Col. Henry S. Graves, Chief of the Forest Service, when asked his 



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