Evening star., 1924-12-30
COOPERATION VITAL
SCIENTISTS TOLD
Hughes Declares Nations,
Lawmakers Should Work
With Experts.

Cooperation between nations and be-
tween scientists, lawmakers and the
public was the Keynote of the formal
opening in Memorial Continental Hall
last night of the American Associa-
ton for the Advancement of Science.
which began its seventy-ninth general
convocation.
The principal speaker was Secretary
Hughes. who emphasized. the value OF
international cooperation In scientinc
attainment. DR.. Charles d. Walcott,
retiring president of the association,
spoke on Science and Service" and the
need of teamwork between the scien-
tist and the public toward the solution
of the great problems OF the day.
A new era "of international COOP
Grafton in the scientific field" which
cannot fail to add strength to the
influences which make for better ufl-
derstandings between peoples was
forecast by Secretary Hughes in his
address.
Nations Back Cooperation.
Mr.. Hughes based his statement on
reports which, he said, revealed that
the United states. England, Japan,
Australia, Canada and several Eu-
ropean countries had taken definite
steps to encourage and support sclen-
tf1c Investigations a 5 well as to help
create international scientific agencies
The setting up of these new enter
prises, the Secretary said. naturally
led to arrangements for special IN
terna tional scientific conferences.
Thus we are at the threshold of a
new era of international cooperation
In the scientific field" Mr.. Hughes
continued This cannot fail to add
strength to the influences that make
for better understanding between
peoples and for a desire to adjust
their differences so that they may en-
joy theAfruits OF peace.
with scientific applications on
every hand. the American people are
daily winning their escape from the
danger OF being fooled. There are,
it is true, many false prophets who
are active in those areas OF eNertion.
where patient inquiry and regard for
facts are not priced. but their follow
Ing. while strident. is apparently not
increasing.
Would Make War Crime.
I'VE need your method in govern
ment; we need 1t in law making and
in law administering. We need your
interest in knowledge for its own
sake; the self-sacrificng ardor of
your leaders; your ceaseless search
for truth, your distrust of phrases
and catchwords; your rejection OF
every plausible counterfeit; your
willingness to discard every disproved
theory however honored by tradition,
while you Jealously conserve every
gain of the past against the madcap
assault; your quiet temper. and above
all. your faith in humanity and your
zeal to promote the social welfare"
Scientific enterprise. Mr.. Hughes
declared. promised additions to the
resources of humanity and the ad-
vancement of civilization. At the
same time. he pointed out, ii had a
close relation to war and peace-time
pursuits.
I'VE are deeply interested in :he
promotion of peace. ] am in
hearty sympathy with those who
would make aggressive war a defined
crime, but such definition, like other
legal concepts. in order to be effec-
tive, must be sustained adequately by
sentiment and we make the most
rapid progress as we convince the
practical judgment that unnecessary
resort to force is a stupid blunder.
at Is your work that points to the
benefits of peaceful cooperation that
are within our grasp. Science, Ii is
true. forges the weapons of war and
constantly develops new and more
terrible instruments of destruction.
But she is far more eloquent as she
points to the wastes of strife, the re-
tarding of progress and the vast op-
portunities that are open to indus
trious peoples IL they are able to
abandon their mutual fears and de-
stroy the artificial barriers to COM
munity OF enterprise.
1--WE should think in terms OF CO.
operation OF peoples and not simply
of governments Science knows no po-
litical boundaries; she recruits her
conquering chieftains from all climes
and races. 1t may be an Austrian monk,
revealing the secrets Of plant inhen-
tance; or a New Hampshire farmers
boy who learns to fashion instru-
ments of the utmost delicacy and pre-
oision: or a Serbian herdsman TAX
ing youthful lessons in communica-
ton by listening through the ground; (;
or a japanese devotee of medical re-
search isolating and cultivating mi
croorganisms. In this field all are CO.
workers and pride Is not of race or
of tradition, but of achievement in
the interest of humanity"
DR.. Walcott discussed domestic