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Science Fiction Fan, v. 3, issue 12, whole no. 36, July 1939

Page 9

tirely to the impracticality of the item for everyday usage.

But to use these two examples to draw a blanket conclusion is falsifying the issue and covering up the facts.  There is ample evidence collected by the impartial agencies to prove thousands of cases of deliberate cold-blooded supression [sic] of practical economic inventions for which places could easily be found in our advancing civilization.  As a student of science, Mr. Campbell can hardly be unaware of these. 

One example of such supression [sic] on hand is provided by the patent study of the Bell Telephone Company by the Federal Communications Commission, a quite responsible body.  The Commission found that the company had supressed [sic] 3400 unused patents in order to forestall competition.  Of these, 1307 were said to be "patents voluntarily shelved by the American company and its patent-holding subsidiaries for competitive purposes. "The Commission goes on to say"— the Bell system has added to its—patents any patent that might be of value to its competitors.  This policy resulted in the acquistion of a large number of patents covering alternative devices and methods for which the Bell System has no need."

There in the statement of a government commission is one example disproving Jown W. Campbell's conclusions.

As a further example of the suppression of invention by capitalism, can be

[NEW COLUMN]

sited [sic] from F.L. Vaughan's "Economics of Our Patent System" the testimony of The Inventors' Guild to this effect:— "It is a well known fact that modern trade combinations tend strongly toward constancy of processes and products, and by their very nature are opposed to new processes and new products originated by independent inventors, and hence tend to restrain competition in the development and sale of patents an [sic] patent rights; and consequently tend to discourage independent inventive thought."

One might ask then why Campbell betrays his scientific education by going out of his way to apologize for an outworn and retrogressive system.  I don't know but he did.  Further it is exceedingly unlikely that having been disproven he will acknowledge any such fact and make any step to repair the damage he has done in hiding the truth and bolstering up the type of falsehood which the monopolists are anxious to keep the public believing.  The fact that Campbell reaches 75,000 with his statement and that the truth in the form of this article will probably not reach more than 100 should give some of my meager readers pause for thought.  If science is to continue to advance, the strength of its enemies and supressors [sic] is something to make any science-fictional defender of science realize the vast amount that must be done NOW SOCIOLOGICALLY to clear the path.

———
[LETTER BOX AT BOTTOM OF PAGE]

280 St. John's Place
Brooklyn, N.Y. 
July 14th, 1939

Olon F. Wiggins
Editor, SCIENCE FICTION FAN
Dear Mr. Wiggins:—

The Futurian Society of New York extends its greetings and most cordial congratulations to the SCIENCE FICTION FAN upon its anniversary.  Your magazine has served science fiction intelligently and honestly during its entire career, keeping itself independent and courageous.  It is the sincere wish of every member of our Society that you may continue to issue the FAN for years to come and that it may grow in strength and influence.

Yours sincerely,
D.A. WOLLHEIM, Secy.
Future Society of N.Y.
per D.A. Wollheim Secy.

Saving...

tirely to the impracticality of the item for everyday usage. But to use these two examples to draw a blanket conclusion is falsifying the issue and covering up the facts. There is ample evidence collected by the impartial agencies to prove thousands of cases of deliberate cold-blooded supression [sic] of practical economic inventions for which places could easily be found in our advancing civilization. As a student of science, Mr. Campbell can hardly be unaware of these. One example of such supression [sic] on hand is provided by the patent study of the Bell Telephone Company by the Federal Communications Commission, a quite responsible body. The Commission found that the company had supressed [sic] 3400 unused patents in order to forestall competition. Of these, 1307 were said to be "patents voluntarily shelved by the American company and its patent-holding subsidiaries for competitive purposes. "The Commission goes on to say"— the Bell system has added to its—patents any patent that might be of value to its competitors. This policy resulted in the acquistion of a large number of patents covering alternative devices and methods for which the Bell System has no need." There in the statement of a government commission is one example disproving Jown W. Campbell's conclusions. As a further example of the suppression of invention by capitalism, can be [NEW COLUMN] sited [sic] from F.L. Vaughan's "Economics of Our Patent System" the testimony of The Inventors' Guild to this effect:— "It is a well known fact that modern trade combinations tend strongly toward constancy of processes and products, and by their very nature are opposed to new processes and new products originated by independent inventors, and hence tend to restrain competition in the development and sale of patents an [sic] patent rights; and consequently tend to discourage independent inventive thought." One might ask then why Campbell betrays his scientific education by going out of his way to apologize for an outworn and retrogressive system. I don't know but he did. Further it is exceedingly unlikely that having been disproven he will acknowledge any such fact and make any step to repair the damage he has done in hiding the truth and bolstering up the type of falsehood which the monopolists are anxious to keep the public believing. The fact that Campbell reaches 75,000 with his statement and that the truth in the form of this article will probably not reach more than 100 should give some of my meager readers pause for thought. If science is to continue to advance, the strength of its enemies and supressors [sic] is something to make any science-fictional defender of science realize the vast amount that must be done NOW SOCIOLOGICALLY to clear the path. ——— [LETTER BOX AT BOTTOM OF PAGE] 280 St. John's Place Brooklyn, N.Y. July 14th, 1939 Olon F. Wiggins Editor, SCIENCE FICTION FAN Dear Mr. Wiggins:— The Futurian Society of New York extends its greetings and most cordial congratulations to the SCIENCE FICTION FAN upon its anniversary. Your magazine has served science fiction intelligently and honestly during its entire career, keeping itself independent and courageous. It is the sincere wish of every member of our Society that you may continue to issue the FAN for years to come and that it may grow in strength and influence. Yours sincerely, D.A. WOLLHEIM, Secy. Future Society of N.Y. per D.A. Wollheim Secy.