AMERICA REQUIRES CHEMISTS

Professor Theodore William Richards '86, director of the Wolcott Gibbs Memorial Laboratory at the University, emphasized, in an interview with a CRIMSON reporter yesterday, the importance of chemists in war and peace. While laying great stress on the overwhelming importance of bending all energies to a successful prosecution of the war, he refuted the conception that chemistry is primarily a war science, gave an idea of the great benefit it can be to humanity, and spoke of the need for chemists today and in the future. Professor Richards said:

"The importance of chemistry in war is so obvious to anyone who reads the newspapers that comment is unnecessary. But it must be remembered that chemistry is of even more value in peace than it is in war. America is gradually awakening to the consciousness that, because everything is composed of 'chemicals' and depends for its properties upon its chemical nature, chemistry enters more or less into everything. People are beginning to realize that manufactures must be fostered, and also that chemical knowledge must be applied in many other industries not primarily of a chemical nature."

Professor Richards then stated the need for America to take a leading part in the manufacture of many articles such as dyestuffs, the new varieties of steel, alkalis and acids--especially nitric acid--with their wide bearing on all processes. "We have already," he said, "made great studies in the last three years, but much remains to be done."

He concluded by saying:

"It is by no means easy to keep our instruction in the chemical courses in colleges and universities up to their full standard, because of the pressing necessities of the times. There is today a special demand for organic chemists. But we are all doing our best to cope with the situation.

"In the light of what I have said, it is obvious that whether the war is to continue or we are to have, as we all hope, a victorious peace in the near future, America will need many chemists. There are not half enough in the country now for our varied needs, and the demand for them is not likely to decrease."