Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-11-25

d0S dilSCA dCslSldlttS pIopoSilicA. we
are all more or less progressive, / told
him. but the opposition has been just
one lap behind.
The bright light of publicity is COM
ing to shine more and more upon the
inner workings of all private business
which has anything Of the public-ser-
vice character. Only about years ago
at conference on water-power poll
cy, l heard the representative of the
banking houses interested in the hy-
droeleetric business tell the Secretary
of the Interior with considerable
warmth Of spirit that one thing the
men who make possible the develop
ment of our country by their contri-
button Of capital would not stand for
was any legal requirement of inspec-
ton of their accounts by the govern
ment A corporation has its rights,
they continued. just the same as pri-
waite man in business. Last year in
the same room, when the utilization of
a large power site owned by the gov
eminent was being discussed, l heard
those asking for the permit dismiss
the question of Federal inspection of
their books with the remark. That
need not be discussed: our books Will
of course be always open TO any au-
thoriZed representative of the Govern
ment' The ultimatums pronounced by
the ambassado doris from Wall Street
State Street, and West Adams Street
are shortlived in the present atrnos-
phere of popular interest in these bus
mess questions
We need TO see ourselves and our
do in, he yio Man IF
vision are what the world needs, but
vision alone will not suffice. II was
not q Darius Green, but Professor
Langley ard the Wright Brothers who
! taught mer TO fly
II is simply aXiomatic that the world
has reached the stage where Science
has entered everyday life to a degree
that even our fathers never dreamed.
Physical forces and natural resources
are harne ssed to the use OF man, and
the miracIe-workers who can control
these Titans are essential members ot
, the body polite.
The compelling argument for engi-
rcers TO step forward as citizens is
the evident fact that politics has not
kept pace with science. Take the po-
litical conditions of this or any other
country. Of this or any other day. The
arc characterized by uncertainty, con-
fusion. and hazards that the bust
ness man would at once cut out Of
his own business and should eliminate
from the nations business. On the
kings highway of ancient times slaves
worked without respite to make
smooth the path for royal use, and to-
I day.the American railroad invests mill
lions 10 straighten curves or reduce
grades. but on our political right of :
way distractions and Obstacles which
make all progress expensive, if not I'M
certain, are allowed 10 remain simply
( because these socalled institutions are
Our heritage from our fathers and cur
! fathers fathers.
The scientist who simply seeks
truth for truths sake viii surely lose
! the larger part of life. for truth that
serves man. science that benefits hu-
mainly. is the only kind whose quest
IS worth making a life work for a
man with red blood.
/ The most philosophic OF American
/ geologists Professor Chamberlin,
after studying eXhaustively climatic
| conditions in the long geologic past
and after weighing carefulN the pos
/ sibilities of disaster to our earth from
| collision with some star, has shown
that we have good reason to measure
| The future habita biIity of the earth al
| millions or tens of millions if not
! indeed, hundreds Of millions of years
/ Sharing Professor ChamberIins in
/ spring belief in the probability of
racial longevity, do we not gain real
! incentive to scientific research into the
great utilization Of the forces Of ma :
ture, an added argument for the ap-
Pile alton of the truths of science to
/ civis progress, and larger faith that
the Golden Age is in the future-tha,
the highest development Of our coun-
try and Of the world is TO be witnessed
by those who are to follow us? Are
not our ideals practical and is no,
such a vision a call to larger service?