As a regular reader of printed mass media, I have been aware for some time that articles, columnists and commentators, news flashes, bulletins, and letters to the editors have contained a recurring theme. Chemicals, they say, do this and that. In frequency of appearance, the broadsides have become so commonplace that I have ceased collecting them. They are as much a part of the format of one significant metropolitan newspaper as the box score for the Kansas City Athletics. The diligent scholar might find in substance a notable similarity between the performance of the chemical industry and that of the A's. This season, the Athletics have lost nearly two games for each league win. A content analysis of the chemical industry articles would likely show a similar record of accomplishment—for every celebrated achievement, chemicals suffer two sharp reverses. Consistent performance of this sort wins last place in the league. And ...