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Burlington Atomic Energy Week, 1946-1950

Atomic Week Blackout at 7 Tonight

Tonight at 7 p. m. downtown Burlington will be blacked out for 5 minutes, and an hour later a mass meeting will be held in memorial auditorium with atomic energy the theme.
Burlington churches Sunday got a special Atomic Energy week underway with sermons on the subject from many pulpits. Store windows are decorated with atomic motifs, signs are on sidewalks and literature has been distributed by the League of Women Voters.
Rear Adm. Lewis Strauss, a member of the atomic energy commission, will speak at the auditorium at 8 p. m. Also on the program is Forrest Seymour, of the Des Moines Register & Tribune staff. Both are familiar with t he subject of atomic energy.
Mrs. Dorothy Schramm, League board member, said a letter of commendation had been received from Albert Einstein, noted scientist, in connection with the Burlington observance. The letter is as follows:

"Dear Friends: I thank your committee in the name of the emergency committee of atomic scientists for this opportunity to acquaint the citizens of Burlington with our efforts. These efforts have their origin in a feeling of heavy responsibility which physicists have taken upon themselves by the creation of the atom bomb.
"You all know that the development of this frightful means of destruction was urgently demanded by the perils of the wartime situation. The peril of the moment was removed by the success of this enterprise: simultaneously, however--by this very success--a new perilous situation has been created whose shadow is upon us continually.
"The novelty of the situation lies in the fact that it can no longer be successfully coped with through national armaments. One can well threaten others through armament, yet one cannot defend oneself effectively. Effective defense can be achieved only by the removal of the present anarchy in international affairs and by reliable supernational security against military aggresison.

"To achieve this is the task of responsible statesmen; on its success depends the fate of this and future generations, not only here, but in all countries.
"Yet what can the handful of intellectual workers do, so that this goal can be achieved? I may say without exaggeration that we have already started with some success on what is for us the only hopeful way. The intellectual workers cannot successfully intervene directly in the political struggle. They can achieve, however, the spreading of clear ideas about the situation and the possibilities of successful action. They can contribute through enlightenment to prevent able statesmen from being hampered in their work by antiquated opinions and prejudices. It is for this campaign of enlightenment that the emergency committee of atomic scientists was formed.
"I appeal to you for your support in this work we have undertaken and wish you every success in your efforts."
In conjunction with Atomic Energy week, the library announced the following books for circulation: "Dawn Over Zero", "Atomic Energy in Cosmic and Human Life", "must Destruction Be Our Destiny?" and "Explaining the Atom".

The Burlington Hawk-Eye Gazette
Volume 111, No. 93
Monday, October 17, 1947.

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Atomic Week Blackout at 7 Tonight Tonight at 7 p. m. downtown Burlington will be blacked out for 5 minutes, and an hour later a mass meeting will be held in memorial auditorium with atomic energy the theme. Burlington churches Sunday got a special Atomic Energy week underway with sermons on the subject from many pulpits. Store windows are decorated with atomic motifs, signs are on sidewalks and literature has been distributed by the League of Women Voters. Rear Adm. Lewis Strauss, a member of the atomic energy commission, will speak at the auditorium at 8 p. m. Also on the program is Forrest Seymour, of the Des Moines Register & Tribune staff. Both are familiar with t he subject of atomic energy. Mrs. Dorothy Schramm, League board member, said a letter of commendation had been received from Albert Einstein, noted scientist, in connection with the Burlington observance. The letter is as follows: "Dear Friends: I thank your committee in the name of the emergency committee of atomic scientists for this opportunity to acquaint the citizens of Burlington with our efforts. These efforts have their origin in a feeling of heavy responsibility which physicists have taken upon themselves by the creation of the atom bomb. "You all know that the development of this frightful means of destruction was urgently demanded by the perils of the wartime situation. The peril of the moment was removed by the success of this enterprise: simultaneously, however--by this very success--a new perilous situation has been created whose shadow is upon us continually. "The novelty of the situation lies in the fact that it can no longer be successfully coped with through national armaments. One can well threaten others through armament, yet one cannot defend oneself effectively. Effective defense can be achieved only by the removal of the present anarchy in international affairs and by reliable supernational security against military aggresison. "To achieve this is the task of responsible statesmen; on its success depends the fate of this and future generations, not only here, but in all countries. "Yet what can the handful of intellectual workers do, so that this goal can be achieved? I may say without exaggeration that we have already started with some success on what is for us the only hopeful way. The intellectual workers cannot successfully intervene directly in the political struggle. They can achieve, however, the spreading of clear ideas about the situation and the possibilities of successful action. They can contribute through enlightenment to prevent able statesmen from being hampered in their work by antiquated opinions and prejudices. It is for this campaign of enlightenment that the emergency committee of atomic scientists was formed. "I appeal to you for your support in this work we have undertaken and wish you every success in your efforts." In conjunction with Atomic Energy week, the library announced the following books for circulation: "Dawn Over Zero", "Atomic Energy in Cosmic and Human Life", "must Destruction Be Our Destiny?" and "Explaining the Atom". The Burlington Hawk-Eye Gazette Volume 111, No. 93 Monday, October 17, 1947.