NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESEARCH—GRAF 415 
and natural resources. The dearth of trained scientists is doubly 
serious, since the shortage touches teachers as well as research workers. 
Of these, the teacher shortage may be the most serious, for until the 
universities and technical colleges are staffed effectively we can never 
hope to make up the present deficit in scientists. When we consider 
the planned increase in science in other countries, it is obvious that the 
elimination of our present deficit in research personnel is only a first 
step toward our goal. 
Leading scientists are agreed that our country must embark on an 
enlarged program for scientific research and development. They fur- 
ther agree that to accomplish this object and insure the security of the 
Nation and the welfare of its citizens, federally sponsored science is 
necessary. ‘There is disagreement as to details touching the disciplines 
involved, the types of institutions which should participate, and the 
nature of the administration required. It seems certain that legisla- 
tion dealing at least with some of the needs of research will be enacted. 
The greatest source of danger to a plan for subsidized research 
is that the country as a whole does not truly appreciate the importance 
of this subject. With doubtful or wavering public support, a period 
of rigid economy might well cripple or completely stop such a pro- 
gram. This is a real danger, for science has always been the first 
casualty in periods of retrenchment. The continuity of such a pro- 
gram can be assured only when the people of this country know that 
it is certain to win over a long period—even more, when they realize 
that without a strong, efliciently administered program of research, 
we, as a nation, shall be competing at a great disadvantage in a new 
world. We shall be competing at a disadvantage not only as to na- 
tional security and national welfare, but also in maintaining the world 
leadership we won in the period ending with the close of the war. 
Public support must be based on public appreciation of these facts, 
and only when this occurs will a program for increasing scientific 
investigation receive active and continuing support. The public 
should be treated with frankness; it should be informed that research 
is a gamble both as to the specific results obtained and the time in- 
volved. ‘This is especially true in the case of basic research, the type 
most urgently in need of stimulation. 
Is the world preparing to turn to competition in science, and what 
has happened to place science in the forefront of international affairs ? 
Science and invention together had made an impressive record in the 
40 years antedating the war. ‘These developments touched the daily 
lives of millions. An enumeration of a few of the major industries 
will illustrate the great social implications of expanding science. In 
1900 there were few telephones. The major growth of this huge utility 
falls within the 40 years under consideration. Within this same 
