674 EDITORIAL 
of recoupment, and is heartily sorry that there are those who felt that the 
failure to do so is culpable. If it is so, I can only plead that it is so in violation 
of no code with which I am familiar. 
In view of the fact that the invention was originally made by my honored 
father, Dr. Henry Shaler Williams, of Cornell University, it is most desirable 
that certain facts be stated for the benefit of those who may in the past have 
been under a misapprehension as to his relation to the patent. Almost 
immediately after being granted, the patent was transferred from him to me 
in good faith and in consideration of the assumption of debts incurred in its 
development. My father’s wish always has been that the process should be 
made freely available to science gratis, and I promised him it should be as 
soon as its financial situation could be cleared up. It has never yielded a cent 
of profit to Henry Shaler Williams, nor was it taken over or ever handled with 
the idea of exploiting science or making commerce of its needs. This cannot 
be stated too strongly. With the long-drawn-out controversy referred to my 
father has not only had nothing to do, but has repeatedly endeavored to induce 
me to abandon it. 
Therefore the blame in the matter, if blame there be, is entirely mine and 
I cheerfully shoulder it; but he should be given complete exoneration from any 
such charge. Those who have been disposed to think critically of Dr. Williams 
in connection with the patent have been doing a great and unwarranted injustice 
to a high-principled man, whose character and whose long and disinterested 
devotion to science should have made it unnecessary to break the silence he has 
long maintained, as I now do, without his knowledge, to right a wrong; and, 
as I sincerely hope, to remove completely any ground for misgiving on the part 
of any one of his many distinguished friends toward a loyal and worthy 
colleague. 
Rocer H. WILLIAMS 
