new york dcat annual dinner
TRANSCRIPT
Above, C P. Frailey, executive vice president, American Drug Manufacturers Association; C Gray Frailey, DCAT Washington representative; Maj. Gen. L. R. Groves; V. E. Williams, Monsanto Chemical Co.; J. P. Remen-snyder, Heyden Chemical Co.
Above. II. C. Green, L. Sonneborn Sons, Inc.; K, L. Patterson, president, Ν. Υ. Oil Trades Association; R. B. Magnus, treasurer, DCAT Section; J. Mclnnes, Jr., president, SAACI. Left. J. J. Toohy, DCAT council; P. B. Hofmann and Frank M. Head, DCAT executive committee; E. H. Killheffer, Du Pont
JL HE Drug, Chemical and Allied Trades Section of the New York Board of Trade held its 20th annual dinner at the Hotel Waldorf-Astoria in New York on March 14. Over 5,000 representatives of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries were seated in the multi-tiered Grand Ballroom of the hotel to hear Maj. Gen. Leslie R. Groves, head of the Manhattan Project, principal speaker.
The gathering was greeted by the chairman of the section, Harold M. Altschul. Mr. Altschul spoke of the ô6-year history of the DCAT and emphasized the fact that it represents a full cross section of the entire industry to whom it renders all the services of a trade association and in addition those of public representation. This latter function was especially important, he believed, whenever a segment of the industry found itself confronted with extreme legislation or regulation. Limited trade groups are unable to defend themselves against the accusation of self-interest, he continued, but an association encompassing representatives of many
fields can express an authoritative broad-gage viewpoint which will bear weight on behalf of the group under attack.
General Groves, in his address, remarked on the different attitude on scientific a p proach to a problem that had to be taken in the development of the atomic bonab. There was no time for the pilot plant or mock-up on this project and the transition from laboratory stage t o production scale was made on the most part without the benefit of intermediate study.
General Groves also stated that pending the adoption of legislation by the Congress to set up a permanent government body to handle atomic energy, the War Department is continuing research and development work in this field, not only on mil i tary applications but on broader aspects as well. To assist him in evaluating tfce different proposals of possible research, General Groves announced that he h a d requested the counsel of several eminent scientists including R. F. Bâcher of Cornell University, A. H. Compton, Chancellor of Washington University, W. K .
R, E. Borland, Dote Chemical Co,, F, J, Cullen9 executive vice president, and president, TV. Y. Board of Proprietary Association of America; Trade j Maj. Gent~A, H, Waitt, J, E, Hopkins, J, L. Hopkins & Co.; Chief, CWS; C, M, Anderson, W, R. M. Wharton, chief, Eastern THs-Merch & Co, and DCAT council trict, Food and Drug Administration
Lewis of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lt. Col. John R. Ruhoff, C. A. Thomas of Monsanto Chemical Co., R. C. Tolman, dean of graduate school, California Institute of Technology, and John A. Wheeler, Princeton University.
The safe declassification of technical information on atomic energy research without endangering national security has been accomplished according to recommendations of a committee of scientists headed by R. C. Tolman. This committee, Groves revealed, has approved the publication of the Smyth report: "Indeed there was very little scientific information given in the Smyth report beyond that which had already been reported in the scientific literature.' ,
General Groves concluded his remarks by saying that he believed this policy of declassification of technical information within the limits set up by the Tolman committee will make possible the utilization of this material gained during the war for peacetime uses without endangering the security of the United States.
C, C. Concannon, Chemicals and Drugs, Department of Commerce; H, L. Brooks, chairman, executive com· mittee, TV. Y, Board of Trade; G. L. Marsters, DCAT advisory council
V O L U M E 2 4. N O . 7 A P R I L 1 0 , 1 9 4 6 919
New York DCAT Annual Dinner