Evening star., 1921-07-17

impossibility to get DIR. Stratton to
talk about himself, but he is liberal
in his praise of those who work with
him. When the question Of his work
was brought up he parried each on
Slaught with the skill of master
fencer. and it was only through the
courtesy of Mr.. Boutelle: of the in
formation section that the writer was
enabled to secure any data concern
ing the director.
DR.. Stratton's full name Is samuel
Wesley Stratton. He was born in
Litchfield. Ill, July IS. 1851. The
first position of Importance held by
him was instructor of mathematics
and physics in Illinois. in 1SS6-S9; in
the latter year he was made assistant
professor of physics. and at the lat.
ter period was made professor OF
physics and electrical engineering.
holding this position until 1892. when
he was appointed assistant professor
of physics at Chicago. serving in that
capacity until 1895, in which year ne
until 1898. when he WAC made pro-
fessor. This post he held until 1901,
when he organized and was made di-
rector of the bureau OF standards. He
is a member of the following scien-
tific and engineer societies: Ma
tiona! Academy of SCIENCES. American
Association for the Advancement of
Science. American Physical Society
American Institute of Electrical Engi-
ncers. American Philosophical Society.
National Research Council, American
Society of Mechanical Engineers and
The scientific honor and awards con-
ferred upon DIR. Stratton are as fol-
lows: Elliott Cresson medal. Franklin
Institute. 1912: publicswelfare medal
National Academy OF Science. 1917.
The degrees conferred upon him are:
~ n q Uh
D. Sc Cambridge. '0S; D. Sc. Yale, 19.
X # "a
THE manner in which DR.. stratton
views his position and the posi-
ton the bureau of standards occupies
in relation to the people of the coun-
try can best be described by his an
swer to a question of just what the
bureau Of standards had done. was
doing and had to do. The statement
was as follows:
1T is the duty of svery. .one of US
connected with this bureau to serve
and economically the peo-
pie Of the country. 1t is a pleasant
duty. 1t has ever been our aim to as
sist in the development of. the United
States. and nothing gives US more
pleasure than to help solve some
knotty problem that has been per-
picking an individual. a company. q
large business concern or an associa
tioi1 that is anxiously striving to give
the people worthy product. We
strive to help out on the right track
any one who Is endeavoring to utilize
the heretofassssrasa evelopedssesour
of, the country. Since the inception
of the bureau we :Iaveptever been
working to the end that the bureau
would be suited to all classes Of work,
and when the late war came we were
Just as well suited to war work as we
were to peace-time pursuits.
There was no upheayal. because We
were working. to a large extent. in
the same fields of endeavor. We are
ever striving to justify the confidence
the people have placed in US. For in
stance, there Is the holster wireless
device. small but o. great intensity.
This is direction finder. which was
of great use during the late war in
locating submarines. Not only is that
device useful for locating those un-
der-sea crafts. but has proven to be
great value on ships during fog. An
other wartime benefit that l might