EDITORIALS - Industrial & Engineering Chemistry (ACS Publications)

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I N D USTR IAL rrsa IN GCN WRIM G CH EM ISTRY EDITORIALS

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INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY

will not be treated as lawbreakers if they use their “A” coupons to get in a summer vacation, provided such rest or “hot” spots are remote from train and bus connections, the ladies are promised a little more rayon coverage for their lower extremities, there are inklings that John Q. Public may get a synthetic tire or two next year, and there are implied promises of less frigid climatic conditions in our homes come Jack Frost and his wintry blasts from the North. Grown accustomed over the past year or so t o government agency directives, requests, commands and countercommands, orders and disorders, the American public is inclined to forget that Washington does not make gasoline, rubber, fuel oil, or rayonindustry does. If the civilian population is about t o enjoy in a small measure a few necessities and luxuries now denied them, either for good and sufficient reasons, or because of autocratic and bureaucratic bungling, it is because industry, big and small alike, has risen to the occasion and is producing enough to fill both military and civilian needs. It is industry, not Washington, that in the final analysis is largely responsible, and rightfully so, for the appearance of what might be called the beginning of a “guns and butter” era. There should be and is sufficient glory for allWashington, industry, and labor-in the job that is being done t o supply our heroic men and women of the Armed Forces and our hllies with the tools of modern warfare and in such tremendous quantities as to strike terror in the hearts of our enemies. Unfortunately, it has become necessary to place the spotlight of public opinion on the “slide-rule” boystheorists and left-wingers who are determined to employ the most critical period in American history to revamp the basic structure and political philosophy of this country. As chemists and chemical engineers we are fully acquainted with the limitations of the slide rule. But Washington is not entirely populated by “sliderule” boys. The results we are getting in the field and in industrial output are proof of this. Literally there are thousands of sincere and thoroughly capable individuals working most efficiently in the service of their country, men and women who were in government service prior to the war, executives from private industry, scientists, college professors, and lawyers. Many departments and agencies are functioning as smoothly as anyone can reasonably expect under the terrific stresses and strains of all-out war and it is unnecessary to go beyond one group, the Chemicals Division of WPB, with which our industry is most familiar, to find such a n example. The members of this division and others like it are working without fanfare, are not interested in personal publicity, nor are they using their positions in the government service to initiate long-term economic and political programs, good, bad, or indif-

Vol. 35, No. 8

ferent in nature. They are concentrating on one jobthat of winning the war. Let us leave the Santa Claus idea where it belongswith the children-on December 25. Tolerance, understanding, and teamwork on the other hand are virtues to be practiced, not alone on Christmas Day but every other day of the year also. To our enemies and our Allies alike we are giving the distinct impression of being a “house divided”. Indeed, this is the one thread of hope that sustains our enemies. All Washington is not incompetent, uncooperative, and selfish, neither are industry and labor. But perusal of almost any given day’s news reports would seem to so indicate. There are reasonable men in all walks of life. Unfortunately, they are not the ones who are getting the lion’s share of publicity. Certainly the time has arrived when a few olive branches should be mutiially extended by and to the representatives of government, industry, and labor. Name-calling is much less effective than a sincere pat on the back, Overdue, too, is an internal house cleaning by government, industry, and labor alike of those few in the ranks in these respective fields who are zealots to an extent that precludes comparatively smooth cooperation and intelligent appreciation of the many factors involved in winning a war of many fronts and the establishment of a just and lasting peace, not alone among the nations of the world but between capital, management, and labor in this country. America will never go forward until we compose our supposed differences in the American way, free of foreign ideologies and philosophies. Within this range there is ample opportunity to achieve a glorious future for all.

Occupational Deferments

THE

attention of chemists, chemical engineers, and the employers of chemists and chemical engineers is called to the statement by the Secretary of the SOCIETY appearing in the July 25 issue of Chemical and Engineering News entitled “Occupational Deferment of Chemists and Chemical Engineers-Amended Data and Recommendations” (pages 1206-1209). The Selective Service System and the National Roster of Scientific and Specialized Personnel are companion units in the War Manpower Commission and the two are cooperating most effectively. The National Roster has appointed an advisory committee with W. T. Read as Executive Officer and as principal group specialist on the staff of the Roster’s professional allocation section. A workable and highly efficient procedure has been established. This is clearly explained in the statement appearing in the July 25 issue of Chemical and Engineering News and every chemist, chemical engineer in the draft, and all employers should read this statement.