New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-26
ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE.

The annual meeting of the American Associa-
ton for the Advancement Of Science, which,
with those of a score OF affiliated societies."
will be held in Philadelphia this week, is likely
to prove one Of exceptional Importance. Al
though the addresses to be made and the papers
to be presented to the several sections Will
doubtless equal In value and interest those or
recent years, there is no reason to expect any
thing unusual In this respect. There Is how
ever, a growing conviction among many friends
of the American Association that while the Or
ganization is growing steadily in membership
it is losing prestige. Such belief has prevailed
for several years, and has been the source or In
creasng solicitude. Hence the private confer
| enees of the next few days may exert more
lasting and powerful influence on the progress
| OF science IN this country than any feature or
| the public proceedings.
Several changes of policy have been effected
within the last decade, with view to strength
ening the American Association, but thus far
without producing much apparent result The
/ vice-presidents, or heads of sections, now de-
| liver their formal addresses the year after they
occupy the chair, thus being under the neces-
| sty of attending at least one meeting after re-
tirement from office. The time for the annual
meeting has been shifted from August to De-
| cember. To every member who pays his dues
promptly is given years subscription to "Sci-
scientific bodies have been persuaded to con-
vene in the same city and ar the same season
| as the American Association, and they have
been invited to appoint representatives to serve
In the council of the older organiza tion This
last measure is much the wisest innovation that
has been adopted but 1t has not been In opera
ton long enough to yield its best results. Per-
| haps q more radical step, 10 which an arrange
| ment for simultaneous meetings is only pref
will ha mad
However much the friends of the American
/ Association may differ in the choice of a rem
edy, there is substantial agreement regarding
| the cause of Its declining influence Owing to
the specialization of sceIce, large number of
! new societies have beer formed in the interest
| of single branches of research and activity. AS
! tronomers chemists. botanists and many other
hard working and successful investigators are
thus placed in an awkward situation. Two or
CARNATIONS now have claim upon their time.
enthusiasm and loyalty instead Of one. For
! sentimental and other reasons they are reluc-
! tant to ignore the American Association, but
sometimes find greater stimulus If not greater
/ appreciation, in the newer fellowship. Now that
many of the special societies have begun to hold
meetings at the same time and place as the
American Association the embarrassment for
merly experienced is diminished but not en-
! tirely removed. More than one man and woman
WHO VIII MAKE Il pilgrimage 10 RDuaQeipnla this
week will feel that duplication of organizations
is needless Besides there are several scientific
bodies which have not yet been coaxed into CO.
/ operation. The American alathema zeal Society
! five national bodies of engineers and the med
ical associations of the country still hold aloof
In a letter 10 Science" two or three weeks
! ago. Professor Herman L. Fairchild, of the Uni
versity Of Rochester made two recommenda.
tons. one urgently and explicitly and the other
cautiously and tentatively. Realizing that men
who have excelled in scientific work are not
always possessed of administrative ability, he
advocated the selection OF members of the coun-
ell at the present juneture whose strength Law in
/ the latter direction He also suggested that the
council might deem ii wise to bring about
| further changes in the relations OF the American
Association with the affiliated societies. He
favored proceeding slowly, II at all. and would
merely develop more fully policy that has
! already been adopted, rather than q radically
new one. 1.-THE association" ne said "may
properly become the central organization or
national representative of the many special So
'cieties," and the meetings of the latter might
take the place Of those of the sections of the
! older body. He would retain the section organI-
cations. at least for a time for administrative
purposes but would dispense with the practice
| Of reading papers In the association proper
We cannot refrain from expressing the belief
that Professor Fairchild has given utterance TO
some particularly wholesome advice He NAV
be more outspoken than others, but we suspect
that many think as he does. The special socie,