The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-07-04
LABORATORY
AND SHOP
= Notes on Science and Technology

{ no discovery will De mace available,
unless it can roll up profits. Fifty
per cent Of American machinery
and plant equipment is obsolescent.
The equipment is not being replaced
by new machinery because AmeriA
can industry could not operate them
prohtably.
These are questions that workers
understand more easily than intel.
lectuals. In the factory, the mill-ef
the mine it is easier to comprehend
the waste, the inenciency and ths
cruelty that characterize capitalist
methods Of production. lst
For scientists doing research IN
laboratories, such matters are hard
to grasp. The great majority Of
them are kept carefully wrapped in
cellophane by bourgeois society.
They are filled with nonsense about
the saoredness of their work. The
more respectable are used as paid
propagandists. With the decay OF
organized religion a new faith IS
being preached to the nasses-Sci-
ence. But it is a science that is
wrapped In mystical wells, tech-
nology that is not used to tighten
the burdens Of humanity 10
IT is not strange, therefore, that
4 at Chicago the scientists did not
rise and challenge their capitalist
masters. They did not confront
their bosses with the fact that prof
its stand in the way Of technical
revolution that would transform the
life and customs Of mankind. In
stead the scientists went to bat for
capitalism. Their solution for tho
problem Of starvation in the midst
of plenty was the creation Of an
"elite group" which would develop
Social consciousness on the part
Of leaders in science and industry
They INDUCED in wish-fulf1llment
to the extent of maintaining that
prosperity was lurking Just behind
a General Motors frigidaire, and
could be coaXed out Of its retire
ment by the development of some
new fabulous industry It was bit
of magical incarnation combined
with the fervent hope that the cree
alton of new industry would mean
additional scraps from the capital
lists table in the form of larger
budgets for research. This pious
prayer was offered IN to the bosses:
I'VE cannot hope but feel [reads
hope and pray1 that in very short
time we are going to break loose an
other great piece of basic informe~
ton which will keep us industrialy
busy for great many years to
come"
However, the 800 industrial lab
oratories, the 100 university lsbora-
tories, the rs trade association lab
oratories and the 40 government
technical bureaus, for all their mar
velous achievements, cannot patch
up the capitalist scheme of things
so that it will function even in its
old wasteful fashion. Every new
invention and discovery will only
accentuate the irreconcilable diff
culties of capitalism. If they are
put on the market at all they viii
only increase (sooner or later the
exploitation of workers and farm
ers. 80
Capitalism cannot push through
the revolution in technique. It calls
a halt on scientific advance; it di-
verts science into the channels Of
war. The complete chronological
revolution can only take place in
the Soviet Union. 1t will take place
in America only under Soviet sys-
tenn. The workers and farmers must
first readjust the political and So
cial structure, before they can take
full advantage Of the age Of free-
dom and plenty that technology
and science holds In store for them.