The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-12-22
SCIENCE AND THE CRISIS

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Hard times have made the aver
age scientist give up the notion
that he has no concern with society
and its conflicts. His proud quest
for truth, as he would have put it,
has turned into a frantic search for
job. Although economically the
scientist is very close to the poverty
line, he still likes to think himself
an integral part of the ruling class
which in the main uses him only as
an instrument TO increase its profits.
But he closes his eyes to the fact
that he has become a jobber for war
industry, and blsnles his troubles on
the "laboring man."
A theory is being developed that
it is the Ignorant working man"
who is blocking the further devel-
opment Of scientific research. Ac-
cording to this theory, the worker
blames science for bringing on the
crisis, and in retaliation he brings
the force Of his prejudices to bear
against scientific work. Some Of the
more pessimistic opponents of this
view predict the emergence Of a new
dark age in which science vii retro
gress back to superstition and
magic.
Now it is obvious that there are
very good grounds for being pessi-
mistic about the trend Of science
under capitalism. Dr. Karl T.
Compton, president of the Massa-
chusetts Institute of Technology,
has estimated that there has been a
cut Of s50000,000 in the annual bud
get of funds spent for scientific re-
search. A more realistic estimate
would run in the neighborhood OF
Sl0o000,000. In fact, the data that
is available indicates that appro-
priations for research have been
curtailed by at least 50 per cent. But
1t is important to note that the
slashing Of scientific budgets has
not been done by workers; they
have been cut by big business and
the government. by the very people
and the institutions that most
scientists look to for a solution of
their troubles.
IT IS capitalism that has destroyed
the scientists opportunity to
develop his ideas. There is more
money to be made from destroying
crops than in developing new agri-
cultural techniques. Rent can still
be collected from fire-traps; why
build, or encourage research in new
housing? The scientist, if he is
honest, will admit that when you
mention the word idea" to a cap
italist he screams for a policeman
unless it has the promise of sweet
profits.
Consequently those scientists who
toady to big business for small
favors only increase the contempt
that the bourgeois has for a man
who doesn't devote his life to max
ing money or clipping coupons.
Some awareness of this fact has APP
parently crept into the minds of
individual scientists, but by and
large, they still beg for crumbs.
The report of Roosevelt's Science
Advisory Board which was released
last week is the latest example of
the scientist going cap in hand to
his rulers. 1t is significant that
while the administration dished out
billions to big business, 1t refused
to appropriate the small sums that
the Board asked for. Thus the re-
port is wish-fulfillment on the part
Of certain Of the scientists who
made up the Board; there is little
likelihood that its proposed plan will
be put into operation
WHAT strikes the reader first
" about the research plan is its
tiny magnitude. Over a period of