Evening star., 1947-09-23

III my opinion CnlS is plain nonsense, ana
dangerous nonsense, dangerous to cherished
American institutions and for that reason
dangerous to genuine national security.
I say to you that atomic energy and scientific
discoveries have not and need not change the
fundamental principles of democracy, which
rest upon faith in the ultimate wisdom of the
people, when they have been truthfully and
clearly informed of the essential facts. This
principle and this faith form the basis of the
law establishing the civilian Atomic Energy
Commission. If the people of this country
want that principle and that policy to be made
effective-the policy that it is they who decide
their future and their fate-that is the policy
that will prevail.
propose to suggest a specific program where
by in American communities the people on their
own can set about to learn the essential facts
about atomic energy. make this proposal so
that In the months. and crucial years ahead it
can continue to be said as it has in the past that
the glory of the American system is that the
common sense. judgment of the people as a
whole determines the course of the Republic.
Atomic Energy and Atomic Bombs
1t Is important to understand that atomic
energy and atomic bombs are not synonymous
To continue to think so as most people do Is
major fallacy that will make more difficult our
efforts to eliminate atomic energy as a weapon
of war, a fallacy that may keep us from the
beneficial fruits of this great discovery.
Within the next few years-a decade perhaps
we should be in a position to unlock new
knowledge about life and matter so great that
wholly new concepts of human life will follow
In the wake of this new knowledge.
Such new knowledge inevitably brings
changes Thus the atomic weapon has changed
the relations between nations and the prob
lem of the maintenance of peace-and nothing
could be closer to your life and that of your
children than that Atomic energy has already
brought changes in the treatment of human
suffering, and is at this moment adding to
knowledge to be used in fighting cancer, heart
ailments, and many other diseases.
Radioactive materials from the commissions
plant at Oak Ridge are throwing a clear light
upon some of the Oldest mysteries of life. For
example, how does a stalk of growing corn
use the rays of the sun to manufacture Its
products into energy-giving food substance?
How does plant absorb fertilizer from the soil,
and just what happens within the plant? Much
progress has already been made through the
availability of these radioactive tracers
1t is fair to say that the entire investment
In the atomic energy project-now nearly two
repaid by the benefits to agriculture and to
human nutrition alone. Atomic treatment of
familiar metals and new knowledge of little
known metals open up great prospects in
industry.
At commission laboratories work proceeds so
that some day the energy released by the
splitting of the atoms of uranium and pluto
MUM will provide new source of electricity and
heat New professions for your young people
new hope for the afflicted, new understanding
of how science can serve for peace-these are
among the items on the agenda of the present
and immediate future. - -
Make the Charges Fit Our Pattern.
What we should be concerned about, and
what we should make sure of Is that the
changes shall be fitted into the American
way of doing things, that those changes shall
not be so imposed upon us that individual
freedom Is impaired. We must make sure that
the American people will have say-so, and
decisive say-so, in the adjustments these
discoveries will bring
Now must warn YOU that this will not be
easy. But it Is vitality important to you here in
this community and all other communities
large and small, that you keep the decisions,
the broad decisions in your hands. More and
more things of your daily life and in the
factory and school and farm will be affected
by the discoveries and applications of science
But you must not at your peril let these new
technical advances get out of your power to
control and direct. I warn you that this must
not happen or the essence of the American
scheme Of things will be lost.
It comes down to this:
First: We must persist until we find ways
whereby mankind will not make use of these
> discoveries for destructive and evil ends;
Second: (And closely related to the hrst.l
We must find ways of encouraging and stimu-
lating the application Of these discoveries and
new ones to come, to things that are beneficial
and helpful to mankind and to the best Of l1u-
man aspirations.
What this vast problem requires is not
technical Judgment, but rather the human
experience and good sense of the natural
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