Symposium on “the status of the engineer”

IT IS an opinion that is very widely held, and particularly among engineers, that the engineering profession is not appreciated at its full value, and that the engineer does not receive the recognition in public life and as a leader that his attainments entitle him to. In times past I have not hesitated on various occasions to raise my voice, feeble though it may be, in support of that proposition. I have not changed my views at all, and I agree with what has been said by previous speakers this evening in regard to that matter. However, it seems to me that by emphasizing continually what the engineer ought to have, we may possibly overdo somewhat that aspect of the matter. I am, therefore, going to ask you tonight to take a different point of view with me for a few minutes, and to consider, if the engineer has not received proper recognition, what the causes for this are, and how the existing condition may be remedied.