September 5, 1919] 



SCIENCE 



221 



chemical research in its general policy of ad- 

 vancing knowledge through research. The 

 newest of all is the fund recently placed at the 

 disposal of the National Eesearch Council for 

 stimulating chemical research. There is need 

 for many more foundations if we are to keep 

 pace with the rapid strides of civilization, or 

 better still, to determine the direction they 

 will take. 



The importance of research is being more 

 and more recognized and understood by the 

 public. One of the most encouraging evi- 

 dences of this is shown in the preamble and 

 resolution adopted recently by the American 

 Federation of Labor at Atlantic City, indi- 

 cating, as these do, a clear appreciation by 

 that great association of how much we all 

 depend on what science will disclose to amel- 

 iorate the conditions of the future. It is well 

 worth while to read these in full here. They 

 are as follows: 



Whereas, scientific research and the technical 

 application of results of research form a funda- 

 mental basis upon which the development of our 

 industries, manufacturing, agriculture, mining 

 and others must rest; and 



Whereas, the productivity of industry is greatly 

 increased by the technical application of the re- 

 sults of scientific research in physics, chemistry, 

 biology and geology, in engineering and agricul- 

 ture, 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 indus- 

 try resulting from scientific research 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 in- 

 crease since there is a limit beyond which the aver- 

 age standard of living of the whole population 

 can not progress by the usual methods of read- 

 justment, which limit can only be raised by re- 

 search and the utilization of the results of re- 

 search in industry; and 



Whereas, there are numerous important and 

 pressing problems of administration and regula- 

 tion now faced by federal, state and local gov- 



ernments, the wise solution of which depends 

 upon scientific and technical research; and 



Whereas, the war has brought home to all the 

 nations engaged in the overwhelming impor- 

 tance of science and technology to national wel- 

 fare, whether in war or in peace, and not only is 

 private initiative attempting to organize far- 

 reaching research in thtse fields on a national 

 scale, but in several countries governmental par- 

 ticipation and supijort of such undertaiiing are 

 already active; therefore be it 



Sesolved, 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 government, 

 and that the activities of the government itself in 

 such research should be adequately and gener- 

 ously supported in order that the work may be 

 greatly strengthened and extended; and the sec- 

 retary 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 

 Representatives. 



1 hope and believe that this matter coming 

 as it does from a new direction will be most 

 seriously considered by the proper authorities 

 — not that it has not already been well under- 

 stood in "Washington, but that renewed in- 

 terest may be taken and even more liberal ap- 

 propriations granted. The federation resolu- 

 tion urges that " a broad program of scientific 

 and technical research is of major importance 

 to the national welfare." Good! Now that 

 everybody is agreed, how was it possible that 

 for so long a time this belief was held by so 

 few, and these composed almost entirely of 

 men of science? The question, therefore, is 

 squarely before the country, and the urgency 

 of it thoroughly appreciated by those who have 

 the most to gain by it; namely, the workers 

 on whose eificiency so much depends. ISTow 

 this opens the way to a scientific solution of 

 vital questions about which there has been 

 such fundamental differences of opinion, based 

 largely on what may be called the point of 

 view. People have divided themselves into 

 classes — a very dangerous course — and many 

 — a very great many — have actually believed 

 that there must of necessity be a deeply rooted 



