Pebeuaet 26, 1915] 



SCIENCE 



319 



investigation, which is really more important than 

 the other, because principles can not he applied 

 before they are understood. 



Research in pure science, with which the commit- 

 tee is mainly concerned, may in turn be divided into 

 two categories : first, the discovery of original ideas 

 and new phenomena; and, secondly, the systematic 

 elaboration of ideas already suggested. Investiga- 

 tion of the latter type demands, to be sure, a high 

 quality of intellect and thoroughly competent train, 

 ing, or it may become worse than useless; but, given 

 these things, its success is mainly dependent on effi- 

 cient organization and adequate financial support. 

 On the other handj research of the former type 

 (namely, that leading to the discovery of new 

 ideas) demands not only intellect and training, but 

 also initiative or genius; it can come only from 

 an individual, and from an individual possessing 

 intuition and insight far beyond those of the aver- 

 age man. Because of the extraordinary importance 

 of new ideas, especial emphasis must, therefore, be 

 laid upon finding and supporting brilliant indi- 

 viduals. 



It is not within the province of your committee 

 to discuss the question as to whether these would 

 best be fostered by universities or by research in- 

 stitutions. Each may be of invaluable service in 

 its own way, and it is highly probable that some 

 men would work better in one atmosphere and 

 others in the other. We believe, therefore, that 

 it would be a mistake for either universities or 

 unaeademic establishments to obtain a monopoly 

 of research. 



The main point with which we are concerned is 

 the question of finding the underrated, unusual 

 man and seeing that he is appreciated and given 

 opportunity in the place best fitted to develop his 

 powers. It is probable that at present the univer- 

 sity is the best hunting-ground for this purpose, 

 because the investigators in our important re- 

 search institutions are already well fostered. In 

 •our great American institutions of learning, much 

 valuable research is even now being accomplished 

 both by teachers and by students. Among these 

 men there are certainly many who are especially 

 worthy of additional opportunities — for, in most 

 «ases, additional opportunities are needed by the 

 men who are to perform original work of a high 

 ■order. The demands made upon the American 

 teacher are often not too great for those whose 

 main business it is to teach, but, both in hours of 

 class work and of administrative routine, they are 

 very often altogether excessive for him who ought 

 to give his main energy to research. 



We feel, therefore, that in order to encourage the 

 original minds in America, there should be more 

 research professorships and research assistantships 

 of high grade, which would raise their holders 

 above the worry and inefiieiency caused by finan- 

 cial need. Your committee recognizes that in most, 

 if not all, American institutions of learning the 

 salaries of professors are too low to support ade- 

 quately those who have families, and believes that 

 the salaries should be large enough to enable the 

 original man of high rank leading the normal life 

 to give his whole time to research and not to be 

 forced into pot-boiling distractions. We all know 

 of specific cases of men of unusual ability who 

 have reluctantly abandoned research in pure sci- 

 ence because of legitimate financial necessity. 



Moreover, the research professor should not only 

 be given time and adequate salary, but should like- 

 wise be provided with such skilled, private assist- 

 ants as he may need to bring his work to its full 

 fruition, and should be allowed to choose from 

 among the graduate students applying for guid- 

 ance those whose ability promises to offer real 

 service to science. 



The finding of the really promising man (who 

 must possess not only originality, but also sound 

 judgment and intellectual honesty) is not easy, be- 

 cause it often involves the gift of prophecy on the 

 part of the searcher. Nevertheless, it seems to us 

 that all those in each of our larger institutions of 

 learning who are really interested in research of 

 the highest kind, either individually or grouped to- 

 gether as a voluntary committee, should keep their 

 eyes open for persons possessing in high degree the 

 happy combination of qualities desired, and should 

 urge upon presidents and governing boards the im- 

 portance of supporting these persons so as to make 

 it possible for them to yield their best fruit in dis- 

 covery. To some extent, of course, this is already 

 done, but concerted action and greater emphasis 

 are desirable. 



We suggest also that those understanding the 

 importance of investigation should emphasize this 

 importance on every reasonable occasion, and en- 

 deavor to increase the appreciation of the people 

 of America, even the cultivated section of which is 

 often ignorant of the nature and value of scien- 

 tific research. This can probably be accomplished 

 most successfully by pointing out how much has 

 resulted for the good of humanity from specific re- 

 searches in the past, bearing in mind the profound 

 statement of Francis Bacon: "There is much 

 ground for hoping that there are still laid up in the 

 womb of nature many secrets of excellent use, hav- 



