476 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLIV. No. 1136 



the American Chemical Society, which now 

 consists of 8,136 members, a net growth of 

 more than one thousand during the year 

 just ended. This splendid growth is not 

 only a tribute to the energetic activities of 

 our efficient secretary, but is an evidence 

 of increased activity in chemistry and of a 

 quickened realization of the need of the 

 strongest possible national organization. 

 The strength of this organization, however, 

 is not measured so much by numbers as by 

 the loyal and unselfish response of its mem- 

 bers to every call made in its name. To 

 this I can abundantly testify. 



In considering the expanding relations 

 of chemistry in America let me group these 

 under four heads — the relations to univer- 

 sity administrations, to the national gov- 

 ernment, to our daily needs and to national 

 thought. 



RELATION'S TO UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATIONS 



"Without doubt university executives 

 have gained during the past year a clearer 

 conception of the fundamental value of 

 chemistry to the nation. Aside from our 

 own exhortations, this conception has been 

 easy of obtainment through the increased 

 publicity given by the daily press and by 

 periodicals to matters chemical, through the 

 difficulty of purchase of certain needed 

 supplies, through the feverish activity to 

 meet these unexpected demands, and 

 through the call for young chemists from 

 university laboratories. Has the concep- 

 tion, however, been translated by the 

 makers of university budgets into deeds 

 which will insure an adequate response by 

 the universities to the increased demand 

 which is to be made upon them for chem- 

 ists possessed of the best possible training? 

 I have neither purpose nor desire to criti- 

 cize, nor even to attempt answer, but I do 

 not hesitate to suggest that in these ab- 

 normal times the demands upon chemistry 



departments are unusually great and should 

 be generously met if we are to view the 

 future with equanimity. The bounds of the 

 service of chemistry to the nation are pre- 

 scribed by the character and extent of the 

 training given in our universities. Phys- 

 ical equipment must be increased and bet- 

 tered, and staffs must be maintained ade- 

 quate in number to allow full opportunity 

 for research along with teaching duties. 



The stimulus of these remarkable times 

 upon the minds of the students is plainly 

 evident, but here lies a danger. The ex- 

 pansion of existing industrial plants and 

 the creation of new lines of endeavor in 

 chemical industry call for many young men 

 to serve in control work, and the call is 

 often very alluring. It would be a great 

 misfortune if the filling of these new posi- 

 tions should be at the expense of the gradu- 

 ate students of the future. We can not 

 afford an abridgment of the number of 

 young men thoroughly trained in our uni- 

 versities in the methods of research. Grad- 

 uate fellowships in largely increased num- 

 ber should be provided, for without such 

 aid the door of opportunity will be closed 

 to many whose full mental potentialities 

 will be needed in the future. 



The danger of losses from university 

 ranks, however, is not confined to graduate 

 students: already there are strong indica- 

 tions of a considerable raid by the indus- 

 tries upon the staffs of universities, and the 

 question of professorial emolument is there- 

 fore not one for leisurely future considera- 

 tion, but belongs to the immediate present. 



To sum up the university budget for 

 chemistry needs prompt and decided ex- 

 pansion. 



In the matter of cooperation between uni- 

 versities and industries definite progress 

 has been made. Four important matters 

 typify this progress. 



The New York Section has conducted 



