Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-29

plOyed knowledge as an instrument for
rendering the population subservient to the
state. ours Is itself only the expression Of
popular intelligence.
1.-THE American system introduced a new
order of things In the progress of the
world; for, on the one hand. it committed
the advancement of science to the hands
Of the people: and, on the other. made the
knowledge of the people available for the
development of government.
I'm the United States there is and can
be land it Is something to be thankful for),
no such thing as official science. Patient
investigation. verified experimentation, cor
rect generalization and lucid statement,
these are the steps, and the only steps, by
which scientific recognition can be attained
ut is unnecessary for me to name the vari
GUS departments of the government which
employ scientific experts and conduct
scientific work under their direction. An
competent to do justice to that subject, and
1t may rightly be reserved for him. But
two points are worthy of serious attention
by the members of this association.
"One of these is. that it is because the
initiative in science is with the people that
our governmental work has become of a
really scientific character. 1t has been
owing to the demand of the scientific men
Of the country that our governmental work
should rise to their apprehension of it's
needs. that We have at Washington a group
of scientific experts of the highest charac
ter doing the work of the government in
reaucrats held in their places by political
influence.
Men Of Highest Standing.
you will meet in Washington, in the en-
ploy Of the government, men of the highest
standing in their respective branches Of
science. recognized and honored by their
colleagues throughout the country and
throughout the world; not accepted as au-
her aAB ~,
have become officials because they were
first authorities.
''The other thought I wish to leave with
you Is the elevating effect upon the entire
by the presence OF acknowledged experts
In its scientific branches 1t has come to
be generally accepted that no man should
hold public office unless he is specially
qualified by his knowledge to discharge its
duties with intelligence. We may easily
insist too much upon mere academic stand
ards; but specific qualification may well be
made the test of fitness in every depart
ment Of the public service
1T Is much to be regretted that tradi-
tional ideas still linger among the people
long after the popular impression is out Of
date Among the advantages Of frequent
visits to Washington Is the opportunity to
observe the progress that has been made
and is still making toward higher standards
In the public service. Few careful observers
fail to note the ability. the fidelity and even
service is performed. And this is but
natural result of specific adaptation to the
duties to be discharged.
ut is difficult to conceive a higher type
Of patriotism than that Of the public ser
want who combines in his daily labors
passionate love Of his pursuit with the
thought that he Is using his knowledge in
the service Of his country. A few days
Sojourn among your co-workers in Wash
ington will reveal the existence Of many
patriots of this type. 1t is but single
phase of that nobler life which interest in
the advancement of science always inspires.
ence Of this great scientific body scattered
throughout the nation. that these opportu-
mites are rendered secure. because they
are believed in by the people. l welcome
you. members Of the association, to the ma
tion's capital. whose intellectual life is so
largely indebted to the fact Of your exist
ence.
Prof. Walcott's Welcome.
Prof. Charles D. Walcott. director of the
United States geological survey welcomed
the delegates on behalf Of the Washington
Academy of Sciences and other scientific So
cieties. In part he said:
1.-The Washington Academy of Sciences
and the scientific societies Of Washington
welcome the American Association for the
Advancement of Science and it's affiliated
societies. The association. as the popular
scientific representative Of our eighty-f1ve
millions of people. is doubly welcome at the
nations capital. where the government is
doing great work for scientific admins
tration and research.
I'VE have heard expressed the fear that
the influence Of scientific men In govern
ment employ would be detrimental to the
development Of pure research. not only in
connection with government work. but in
the universities and other organizations
where more or less research work Is carried
on
IT think this fear groundless. A large
part Of government work consists In the
application of scientific principles and meth
DDS to the needs of the body polite and of
the people generally-in appropriating the
results Of research for the benefit ,of man.
kind rather than in developing the ideals
Of scientific theorists who would investigate
only for science sake. regardless of what
may be of service to humanity. "a. IS
II would not convey the impression that
original research Of the highest type is
wholly neglected In government labOra-
tories; on the contrary. great amount OF
time and energy is expended In pure scten-
tific research by well-trained, able men, AS
the result Of a decade Of administration, 1
have found that cooperation with universe
ties and research organizations has been
most helpful to the government work In my
charge, and men from all sections of the
country declare that great benefit has ac-
crued to the institutions which have CO.
operated with the government.
Have Independent Fields
when private and quasi-public institu-
tions on the one hand and the government
scientific organizations on the other have,
for the most part. independent fields. Re-
search Is a necessity in the training of men.
1t Is generally recognized that the universi-
ty must sustain original research In order
to give Its staff the opportunity to instruct
the student in methods of research and thus
prepare the more gifted men for future
work Of a high order. either in the univer-
sity laboratory or elsewhere. The better
qualified the teachers and the better their
| equipment for research the higher the rank
Of the university.
THE government scientific organization
| on the other hand should make practical ap-
| plication of all scientific data available to
| the advancement and welfare of the nation
| Independently Of influence or prejudice
| New problems appear at every advance
| however, and II the university has not the
| data or opportunity for solving them, the
| government organization must conduct Its
| own research. as far may be necessary
and thus the two classes OF organization
meet on common ground. They are interde-