Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 51.djvu/227

Rh If there is an object for the congress to accomplish, it is to open its doors and honors equally to all geologists. It is thought that if the congress decides that only bureau employees enjoy exclusive privileges and alone constitute the personnel of the permanent organization, which keeps the organization alive in session and out, then the body has simply become a medium of officialism, a governments' trust, and should be disbanded. As a trust, it will simply continue to extenuate errors and preserve the power of government survey directors. The independent geologists think the congress has been perverted and diverted from its original high purpose, and that the time has come to rescue it. They desire it to be the highest tribunal of appeal on purely scientific matters.

The protesting Americans are led by Dr. Persifor Frazer, of Philadelphia, who is an able linguist and parliamentarian. He will represent the American Philosophical Society, the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences, and the editorial staff of the American Geologist. Prof. Giovanni Capellini (Italy), who recently received the Hayden medal and who will probably be decorated by the Czar at this congress, thinks the battle against officialism already won. In a recent letter he states: "The committee of organization has the good