The National Union of Scientific Workers. 49 
towards German bureaucracy in science. At the same time there 
is obviously involved in its adoption, the acceptance of a measure 
of discipline. I myself regard the “economic interests” plank in 
the programme of the National Union as a very fair test of individual 
motive. 
1 am, Sir, 
Yours, etc., 
St. John’s College, FRANKLIN KIDD. 
Cambridge. 
29th March, 1918. 
To the Editor of the New Phytologist. 
Dear Sir, 
The editorial statements on the above subject in the last 
number of the New Phytologist appear to arise from a serious 
misunderstanding of the objects of the Union. At the two 
preliminary meetings in London at which it was decided to form 
an organisation, the supporters of the resolution defining the aims 
of the Union as “ the promotion by corporate action of the economic 
interests of its members ” held that the word “ economic ” was to 
be interpreted in the widest possible sense. There was considerable 
discussion on the question whether the phrasing actually adopted 
was the best to indicate the views of the meeting ; but the general 
attitude on the more important question of the desirability of 
including aims that could not be regarded as economic in the 
narrow sense that you seem to have adopted, can be judged from 
the fact that of the eight persons elected to the executive committee 
not one favours the application of the word “ economic ” in this 
sense. 
I fail to understand the motive for some of the remarks in your 
note. You agree that a national organisation of scientific workers, 
on a democratic basis, and combining economic objects with the 
promotion of the interests of science and of scientific work, would 
be a desirable thing ; yet when a body of precisely this character is 
formed you ignore several essential statements of the organisers 
and describe as an emphasising remark that “ economic questions 
must always be the primary concern of the association,” whereas 
with its proper context it gives the reverse of emphasis. 
Certain aims not definitely economic are specifically set forth 
in the circular: “To unify and support energetically all schemes 
for improving scientific education: to conduct educational propa- 
