Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-08-29
Make Rubber Any Way

Make Rubber Any w ay
THE assertion has been made, in discussions of the
/ rubber crisis, that Americans know how to make
synthetic rubber by six different methods and not
making it by any of them
while we spend time ARGUING which method
Is best" remarks Prof Frederic G.. Genzmer of Lafay
cite College "our rubber shortage becomes more and
more acute
Most of this delay is rs NEEDLESS 1t is
FRUTTLESS."
THIS commentator further declares in letter to the
press that one-"No chemist, chemical engineer,
industralst priorites expert senatorcan at this
time select the ONE BEST PROCESS" for the pro-
duction of synthetic rubber
IAN of the known processes are too new" he con-
tinues.
But ANY OF THEM will produce a disable and
an urgently needed product.
"Why must Do WITHOUT rubber when
know SEVERAL WAYS to make it?"
PROFESSOR GENZMER suggests that proceed
/ at once to utilize ALL reasonably good methods"
and HAVE SUFFICIENT SYNTHETIC RUBBER FOR
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS NOW.
Finding an analogy in the widespread development
of chemical industries out of the emergency prob
lens of the previous World War; Professor Genzmer
argues that immediate emergency production of
synthetic rubber by diverse processes will probably
result in several compounds each having cts particular
virtue, especially desirable for certain needs"
Thus 1.-The worlds largest of rubber will be
dependent upon one for a source of supply" and
AFTER THE WAR will be the proper time to ARGUE
about the ONE BEST PROCESS for producing the
synthetic rubber WHICH WE SHALL HAVE IN
ABUNDANCE"
THIS student of the problem also warns that
i placing too much emphasis upon the use
of essential materials to build producing factories
Certainly" he says with evident truth, Germany
Is making its tremendous effort with less Steel less
aluminium, and with far less copper than available
to
Perhaps must accustom ourselves to utilizing
critical materials for the production Of the EVEN MORE
critical rubber.
Even after making all due allowance for shortages
Of materials CAN ANYBODY NAME ONE MA
TERIAL MORE CRITICAL THAN RUBBER'"
IN THE common language of the day, it NAV be said
that Professor Genzmer "has got something there"
His predetermined view results from the same
kind of direct thinking Henry J. Kaiser and Simon
Lake have demonstrated in their proposals to build
cargo airplanes and cargo submarines by produc
ton and thereby win the U-boat war
Perhaps President Roosevelt equally wearied of dis
cussons and delays was thinking toward the end
when he appointed his factfnding rubber commission
Bernard M. Baruch, the experienced chairman of
the old War Industries Board knows how to make quick
decisions and to get production out of factories
DR.. James B. Conant was a distinguished research
chemist before he became president of Harvard
DR. Karl 7. Compton president of the Massachusetts,
Institute of Technology is international authority on
applied physics and mechanics.
IN ANNOUNCING the appointments, President Roose
welt said the commission would consider both 'the
question of the best method be followed for obtain
ing an adequate supply of rubber" and the equally i'm
portant problem of "how large quantity of critical
materials needed for other purposes CAN and
SHOULD be used for the construction of plants for the
manufacture of synthetic rubber"
1t may be, as Professor Genzmer has said that mo
one"-not even the Presidents commissioners in
falhbly select the lone best process"
In that event, Professor Genzmer's idea NAV prove
to be the quickest and surest solution of the entire rub
oerIamne situation PUT ALL THE KNOWN
METHODS TO WORK quicky-and MAKE THE
RUBBER WE so VITALITY NEED.
A++orc ~ IL CJ.I