Evening star., 1924-12-31
FUTURE. Of WORLD
HINGES ON SCIENCE,
COOLIDGE ASSERTS
Welcomes Visiting Savants
as l'Wonder Workers of
All the Ages"
WAGES OF u. S. EXPERTS
NOT GENEROUS, HE SAYS
Chimpanzees May Be Taught to
Read and Write, DR.. R. M.
Yerkes Holds.

Society looks to science for the
tuture welfare of civilization, Presi-
dent Coolidge told more than 1000
members of the American Association
for the Advancement of Science. who
halted their 18th convocation today
long enough to visit the White House
as the guests OF the President.
Whatever. feeling Of awe the lay
man may attach to the scientist for
MS achievements of the past. the
President said. I'VE are confident that
society Will somehow devise institu-
tions capable of adoption to the
changed circumstances with which
you are surrounding the business of
living in our world"
The National Government has a
special and profound interest in the
gathering of the country's' scientific
leaders here, the President said
speaking from the rear portico of the
White House. NO single agency has
so extensively relied upon the men
and women Of science as has the
Government. The personnel of the
Governments service and the figures
of the annual appropriation alike
testify to this. The Government has
been foremost in employing and most
liberal in endowing science.
Not Liberal I'm Salaries.
Let me say at once, however, that |
do not intend to imply that We have
been impressively liberal in dealing
with the individual scientists who con-
duct these activities of the Government.
The most casual inspection Of the salary
list of scientific workers in Washington
will make very plain that it is toward
science, not the scientists. that the Gov
ernment has been officially generous.
II was impressed with the new reali
zation of the extent and Importance OF
the scientific activities which center
here in Washington by some figures
showing the geographical distribution of
members OF your association. In proper
ton to its population. there are more
than five times as many of your mem
bers here as there are in any State. /
sash time would permit a brief sugges
ton of the amazing variety, the wide
ramihcations and the enormous value
to the whole people of these scientific
activities which are conducted under
the administrative departments.
whether in study of the stars or
mapping the bottom of a sea: whether
in making two blades of grass grow
where formerly one grew; whether
in developing a chemical compound
rha. will destroy life or one that VIII
save 1t: whether in Weighing an atom
or analyzing the composition of the
most distant star-whatever the
problem of human concern or social
advancement, the scientific establish
ments of the Government have en-
listed the men and the means to
welcomed to Capital.
so, as one particularly interested
in this governmental university OF
practical and implied science, ] well
come your great gathering to Wash
ington. You represent the interests,
the forces and the endless activities
which literally from day to day are
conQuering new domains and adding
them to the imperial realm of human
knowledge. The future of civili-
cation is well-night in your hands.
You are the wonder workers of all
the ages; the marvel of discovery and
progress have become commonplaces
simply because their numbers have
paralyzed the capacity of the mind
for wonderment. Those of US who
represent social organizations and
political institutions look upon you
with feeling that includes much of
awe and something of fear as we ask
next require US to adapt our scheme
of human relations.
But we know that you are ami
mated by profound purpose tp bet
ter the estate of men. We are con-
fident that society will somehow de-
wise institutions capable of adoption
to the changed circumstances with
which you are surrounding the busi-
ness of living in our world. We
galx m q nc wit
some doubt as to what you may final
ly do with us and to US, but at least
with firm convictions that your ac-
tivities will save life from becoming
very monoto4ous. And, besides, we
realize that If We did not give you
our confidence you would go ahead
without 1t.
Aid Truth Quest.
1T Is a wonderful thing to live
in time when the search for truth
Is the foremost interest of the race.
1t has taken endless ages to create
in men the courage that Will accept
the truth simply because 1t is the
truth Ours is generation of
pioneers in this new faith. Not many
of us are endowed with the kind of
mental equipment that can employ
the scientific methods in seeking for
the truth, but we have advanced so
Tar that we do not fear the results
of that process. We ask no recan-
tations from honesty and candor. We
know that we need truth, and We
turn to you men of science and of
faith, eager to give you all en-
couraGement In your quest for it,
Meteors, or Shooting stars" are
not distant worlds plunging ruth
fessly into Oblivion, as many unin-
formed persons think, but compare
lively small bodies not more than so
to 100 miles above our own earth,
which are heated into incandescence
upon entering the upper air of this
planet at high speed, DR.. C. NJ. Spar
row of the University of@Virginia, told
the physical section of the convention
today. When they disappear they