The Washington herald., 1921-03-31
PRAISES HERALD EDITORIAL.

To the Editor, The Washington Herald:
On behal: of the Washington
Chapter of the American Associa-
tion of Engineers and of the or
ganization in general, we desire to
express our appreciation of the edi-
torial in The Washington Herald Of
Monday, March 81, entitled ''Scien-
tific Administrators"
You have put into concise form
the ideals of the members of this
association, which, through its vari-
Gus clubs and chapters Uncluding
in all $4,000 technically trained
men), has been endeavoring to
arouse in the public consciousness
the need of utilizing the services of
scientific administrators for the
higher, as well as the lower. admin
istrative positions.
1t is a loss. not merely to the pro-
fession. but more than this, to the
public service. to permit the con-
tinuance of a policy which subordi-
mates the judgment of these highly
trained and experienced men to that
Of political appointees, placed in po-
sitions of great responsibility and
who confessedly must learn from
their assistants, not merely the de-
tails of the work which they arc
supervising. but more than this, the
broad bearing, the policies and the
results which may flow from fol-
lowing one course or another.
A newly appointed bureau chief.
coming from private life, has little
or no conception as to the farreach-
ing results which may flow from
action on his part in connection
with the widely spread affairs of
the national government. Without
the advice of his trained assistants
he may be practically helpless and,
even with their advice. for many
years he is unaRHc to judge for him
self as to whaywill be the effect
either of following this advice, or
of modifying it to suit the immedi-
ate exigency. 1t is as though he
were seated in front of a desk with
innumerable push buttons radiating
to all parts of the country. He does
not know whether by pushing one
of these. he will summon a messen-
ger, a stenographer, ring fire
alarm or precipitate an explosion.
In this connection, also, 1t may
be wise to emphasize the fact that
the reason that technically trained
men have not been placed in respon-
sible charge of the scientific bu-
reaus of the government is due
largely to the indifference of the
engineers and of the scientists
themselves. They have never made
well sustained efforts to have such
men placed in responsible posi-
tions. They have tried to adopt
what they have considered a digni-
fed attitude, fearing to compromise
their position by being involved in
politics, forgetting mat after all,
politics is applied patriotism"
1t is one of the efforts of this
association to try to arouse the
comprehension of this vitality i'm
portant matter in the minds of en-
'ginecrs and scientists throughout
the country, so that not only they.
but the public in general will bene-
At by bringing to bear such proper
pressure as may secure the appoint
ment to positions of administrators
of scientific work. Of the best tech.
nically trained men available.
Your contention that there is no
dearth of able administrators who
are technically trained" should be
seconded by every scientific and
technical association and be urged
on each and every occasion.
Very truly yours.
F. H. NEWELL,
Past President. A. A. e.
H. D.: APPEEBY.
President, Washington Chapter. 5
A. T. KOEHLER,
Il District Secretarv
March IS, 1921.
DEFENDS PUBLIC CRITICISM.