The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-04
HITS UNCLE SAM.
How the Tariff Affects the
United States Government.
RObs 1t of Millions in the Item
of Powder Alone.
SELLS AT TWO PRICES.
The Trust Charges Double the
Cost of Production.
Is Now Striving to Dictate
Character of Ammunition.

chicago, Jan. A dispatch to the
Chronicle from New York says. The
New York World today says:
The powder trust, protected by a pro-
hibitive tariff and rolling up millions in
| profits in its supply to the United
States government alone, will on jan
uary g. employ every possible means to
gain control of the National Rifle as
ISOLATION and if successful can dictate
the character or ammunition for every
state military organization in the
union. The occasion will be Sic cleo
IN of a preSIuent of the aSsocia tion
to be held in the list regiment armory.
General Bird w. Spencer of Passaic,
general inspector of rifle practice in the
state of New Jersey, and the incum-
bent, is a candidate for reelection.
James A. Drain of Olympia, Wash, his
opponent is the candidate of the trust.
Spencer's election means the throt-
Ting of what has been pronounced by
an independent powder manufacturer
to be an infamous conspiracy which
makes commerce of patriotism and
sells it's product abroad for its sole
profit.
The National Rifle association was
incorporated in the state of New York
in 1871. Its purpose was to encourage
and promote rifle practice in the several
states and territories. From July 1.
l.
the government 5.947,S20 pounds OF
smokeless ordnance powder. The cost
of manufacture at the mills was 81
cents a pound. The price charged to
the government was 20 cents a pound,
SO in that one item alone the approx
mate profit was So cents a pound. De-
Quoting freight charges, this aggregated
$1,c15, 562.9 5.
Three hundred thousand pounds of
powder for 80 caliber weapons was
OF cents a
pound and sold at "a II cents; 20, 600
blank fire cartridges, costing Al cents.
at 90 2-19 cents, and 1850 pounds for
the 3S calibers, costing SO cents. at
9415 cents.
The total profit, approximately,
footed up $2,34S, 1854. which Is greater
than any profit ever derived by any
seller of any product of staple manu-
facture sold in one year to the govern
ment in the history of the republic,
and the monopoly carrying on this
business was at the same time con-
tracing with foreign nations to Iur-
nish ammunition with which they
could attack American merchantmen
on the high seas
The powder trust is known legally
as the Dupont International Powder
company, organized under the laws OF
the state of Delaware with a capltan-
cation of $10,00O,000. The corpora
ton is controlled by the E. L dupont
Denemours Powder company, which
was incorporated In New Jersey May
10, 1903, For the purpose Of con-
solidating the various explosive manu-
factories controlled by the Dupont in
terests."
At present practically all of the sub
sidiary companies are controlled by
the main corporation, either through
ownership of stock or ownership of
property. The authorized capital Is
$25,OOO,OOO at the par value of 500.
The trust has absorbed all the powder
manufacturing interests save the
Buckeye Powder company of Peoria,
Ill. of which Robert s. Wadden Is
president and who has issued an ad-
dress to the president of the United
States and to the senators and repre-
sentatives in congress on what he
terms THE powder conspiracy"