Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-09
ENGINEERS MEDAL
GIVEN TO HOOVER
New Honor Marks Extension
of Profession Into Public
Service Field.

first Hoover gold medal, founded by the
society, to commemorate distinguished
civic and humanitarian achievements
by engineers.
The presentation of the medal was
made during the banquet celebrating the
fiftieth anniversary of the society and
closing the latter's two-day session at
the Mayflower Hotel. In brief speech
of acceptance, the President made IT
evident how genuinely he appreciated
this recognition from the men OF his
profession.
The ball room of the Mayfiower was
thronged with members of the society,
among them the leaders Of the profess
sion IN this country as well as % foreign
nations Many of the delegates were
accompanied by their wives and the
scene was impressive and brilliant. Mr..
Hoover was loudly cheered as the medal
was presented and following his brief
speech of acceptance.
Shows Need of Engineers.
In the speech President Hoover en-
phasized the great need for engineers
in government but made it clear that
he was not advocating that all public
services be turned over to engineers.
He stated that he had high apprecia-
ton of the contributions of the other
professions, yet he insisted that the en-
gineers have a contribution to make to
public service and that they have al
obligation to give that contribution.
IT am glad to join with my fellow
members in this celebration of the
fiftieth anniversary of the founding OF
the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers" the President said at the
outset of his speech.
1T would be difficult task to meas
ure the blessings brought by this society
through the stimulation of invention
from the raw material of pure science
through the improvement of method,
through the adequate training of engi-
neers, and the advancement of knoWl-
edge in large sense.
During its span of life it has con-
tributed great part in the development
Of an art into mighty profession upon
whose capacity and fidelity so much of
human progress must rest.
Appreciation of Honor.
"'I feel especially honored that the
combined engineering societies should
through the beneficence of Mr.. Lauer
have established a new distinction
amongst engineers and should have
designated me as the first recipient.
The purpose of the medal is to mark
the public service of men who have gone
outside of their strictly professional
work to interest themselves in civic and
humanitarian affairs, and the engineers
have something to contribute to public
service. need but cite but one direc-
ton among the many that one could
find.
with the application of science to
the development of our great national
tools-our engines, our railways, our
automobiles, our airplanes, our steam
ships and our electric power, and
score of other great implements, to-
gether with the supplies of materials
upon which they depend-the engineer
has added vastly to the problems OF
government, for government must see
that the control of these tools and these
materials Is not miSused to limit liberty
and freedom, and that they advance
and do not retard equality of oppor-
tunity amongst the whole of our citi-
zens.
"These great discoveries and inven-
tons have brought great blessings to
humanity. but they have multiplied
the problems of government, and the
perplexity of these problems progresses
constantly with the increase of our
population. Every county government,
every municipal government, every
State government and the Federal
Government itself is engaged in con-
slant attempt to solve multitude of
public relationships to these tools which
the engineers by their genius and their
industry constantly force onto the very
doorstep of the Government.
Right Approach Urged.
And in solving these problems we
have need for large leavening of en-
cheering knowledge and of the en-
cheering attitude of mind and the en-
cheering method. These problems of
public relations are unSolvable without
the technical assistance of the engineer
himself. They are unSolvable without
the fundamental engineers approach to
the truth. That is, first to determine
the facts, arrange these facts in proper
perspective, and then to distill the
truth from them in the retort of ex-
perience.
Engineers do not undertake to build
bridges, power plants or railroads with
out knowing the service that they are
10 perform, without infinite patience in
discovery Of economic and scientific
fact. without an adaptation of expert
ence, without giving consideration to
the capacity of the human material
available to conduct them and without
the final cryStalization into positive
and constructive action.
mo one emotion enters into these
determinations. Emotion is perntssi-
BILE only in contemplation of their serv-
S~C w ouL WIlen U1e DrOO-
lens which these great tools create
come to the door of the Government,
they are at once emotional problems
Tor the resolution of our people for
equality OF opportunity, for freedom
frm doninatin, for maintenance of in
d1vidual initiative, for liberty of action
arise from the very deepest of human
emotion.
Patience Is Necessary.
"And yet If we were to find a solu-
ton to these problems, If we would deal
with them constructively, we must
traverse the same road in determining
the service We wish to PERFORM and
with the same infinite patience dis
cover the economic and scientific facts.
with the SEINE care and regard for
adaptation of experience, with the high
regard for the human material avail
able to conduct our administration, and
with the same positive action in their
application.
"Our greatest difficulty is dealing with
these problems Of government when
emotion comes first. The facts and
technical knowledge come but slowly
and are often lost In sea of embittered
controversy.
ut is for all these reasons that the
engineers with their training, with their
attitude OF mind and their method, can
contribute to the solution of the prob
lens which arise from their own crea-
ton.
Other Professions Landed.
"I am not advocating that all public
service be turned over to engineers. u
have high appreciation of the con-
tribuuon OF the other professions, but
the engineers, do insist. have A COM