Milford chronicle., 1962-05-04
TWO ROADS

TWO ROADS
There are, naturally, many differences of
opinion over the Presidents program for
expanding this country's role in world trade
But there is general agreement as to prin-
ciple and purpose. The emergence of the
European Common Market, ib nothing else,
shows the need for dynamic American in
dustrialism in the great international mar
kets.
Going beyond the commercial aspects of
the matter, stimulated trade is one of the
roads that can lead to better understanding
between natiOns-and one hopes, to ohe
solidarity and strength of the West But it
is not the only road. Paralleling it is an
other-the road travelled by individuals who
go abroad from here and come from abroad
to here. Q
They come and go for many reasons-on
business, to study or, as tourists, just to see
how others live and to gain better knoW9
edge of the hopes, aspirations and thinking
of others. And out of this, too, comes under
standing For nothing is so dangerous as
ignorance. 1t is breeder of angers, mis-
conceptions, blindness.
The jet age brings with it vastly stimu-
lated travel The speed, comfort and drama
of these great planes attract legions ofopeo-.
pie who never thought seriously of wander
ing the world before And they return home
States or any of the other Western nations,
with new sense Of tolerance and humility.
SSeNNc
MAY
May, which probably derives its name
from Maia, the mother of Mercury is the
last spring month 1t is a particularly
pleasant month in the United States, and
most countries, and signifies the end Of
school for millions of students
r.
for marriage is a hangover from the old
Roman belief that the good goddess Rauna
was prophetic divinity, who revealed her
knowledge only to females. And the festi-
val of the goddess was celebrated IN that
month. The month was not supposed to be
lucky for marriages because of these two
festivals
May Day-observed on the first day of
May-traces back to the days of the Ro-
mans and to the annual Flora, the goddess
of flowers 1t is thought that the Greeks
might have observed the day even earlier,
but it is generally acknowledged that the
Romans, who occupied Great Britain for
four or five centuries, introduced the festival
in that country.
One theory holds that May Day festi-
walls originatedin India and Egypt, and this
theory is supported by the use of the May
Pole, which is said to be phaillic symbol.
seems that May has been a welcome month,
since it brings flowers and warm weather
and an end to the lingering danger of bitter
cold which is always present in April.
~~S0~E
RESEARCH is THE KEY
A short time ago Senate committee re-
jected proposal which would have reduced
the life of drug patents from the present IL
years, which applies to all patents, to only
three.
Without trying to guess the thinking of
the committee members, it's a safe bet that
one big reason for their action was belief
that the reduction would be aobody blow to
the research programs of the pharmaceuti-
cal industry 1t would be difficult indeed for
company to accept the costly risks that are
an implicit part of these programs unless
it could profit from the limited number of
discoveries which are financially successful.
very recent announcement by one OF
the leading drug companies provides an IN
teresting sidelight on the matter. This como
pany forecasts that it expects to spend more
than 15,500,000 on research this year
some eight per cent above the record high
it established in 1861. Moreover, the an
nouncement goes on, its research sObecom-
ing increasingly international. Last year 1t
spent about 81 million for research conduct
ed in England. This year it will establish
a research unit in its Canadian branch and
a similar unit is planned for branch III
Mexico.
The companys scientists-like those of
all the other leading drug companies-are
searching for new drugs in most OF the
major disease areas Other problems are
being attacked too, such as improving the
absorption of drugs in the body tissues ane
finding new dosage forms. Out of work such
as this comes healthier, happier, longer life
for millions of people.
Under such circumstances, who could
reasonably support any measure that would