The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-12

Senator Nelson ". Aldrich, OF Rhode
Island, in letter. made public last night.
denies the charges advanced against him
by Senator Joseph L. Bristow, Of Kan
Sas, in recent campaign speeches dealing
with the tariff on rubber He mentions
his opinion or Senator Bristow, and also
the little group OF men who. he says, en-
tertan opinions similar to those OF the
Kansan.
The letter addressed 10 William 3.
Mckinley, of Illinois, chairman OF the
Republican Congressional committee was
sent to the headquarters OF the COM
mittee in this city. The explanation OF
the rubber duties and the denial of the
charges made against him by Senator
Bristow are based upon the fact that
Senator Aldrich was called upon by a
Republican candidate for Congress TO
furnish the facts connected with the
changes made in the recent tarin act
Senator Aldrich divides Bristow's speech
into I'VE parts. each containing a spe-
cihc charge, and he deals With them
in order.
Tried 90 Make II Uniform.
Senator Aldrich said at the outset that
the increase from 80 70 S5 per cent on
small number Of articles OF manufac-
tured rubber was 20 make the tariff uni
form on kindred articles and facilitate
the labor .of the customs officers. He
published letter 10 him from Thad S.
Sharrotts, a member OF the United
States board OF general appraisers, stat
ing that the change was advisable and
had beer agreed to unanimously by the
Senate and House committees and by the
conferees on the tariff bill
Mr. Aldrich added that neither he nor
any member OF his family ever hsd any |
pecuniary interest as TO whether the /
rates on manufactures OF rubber were 80
or 300 per cent. or whether crude rubber
was on the free list OF the dutiable list
The five charges OF Senator Bristow are
enumerated by Mr. Aldrich. as follows:
Il That the Senate Committee on
Finance. OF which I was chairman, in
creased the duty upon certain manufac-
lures of rubber from 30 to 35 per cent
2. That during the session, or immedi-
ately after the adjournment OF Congress.
7. in connection with others. had organ
lied a gigantic rubber trust known as
the IntercontinentaI Rubber Company. in
which I was a large stockholder and
director.
% That this huge rubber trust imme-
diately advanced largely the price OF
crude rubber the supply OF which IL alb
sOlutely controls
Prices Forced Up.
- That this vast rubber monopoly. the
Intercontinental Rubber Company was
able. on account OF the changes in the
tarin referred 20, 70 advance-and did
rapidly advance-tne price OF every rub
Der product from automobile tires to
habies' rattles
- That the Increase in the rate on
rubber manufactures from 30 to IS per
cent enabled the Interconcnentsl Rubber
Company to realize Immediately enor-
nous profits. as shown by the large divi-
dends il had paid in the early months OF
the present year, and that the increase
IN rates was brought about with this end
IN view"
Mr.. Aldrlch says that neither the
Intercontinental Rubber Company nor
any Of its subordinate companies have
ever had any interest whatever in the
production OF crude rubber in countries
outside of the United States and in its
sale abroad He says that II Is not in
any sense. good or bad. trust The
only relations il ever had with any rub
Der manufacturing concern have been
solely with reference to the sale and de-
livery Of the crude product, according to
the Senator. Referring TO his own in
terest I'm this concern. the Senator saws:
For ten years have been greatly
interested. financially and otherwise, in
the development OF plans for extracting
crude rubber from shrubs, vines. and
trees by scientific chemical and mechan-
ical processes. instead of the old-fash-
ioned tapping method, now In general
use.
Never N Secret
The formation OF the companies to
which I have alluded were for the neces-
sary organization OF this business in
various parts of the world There has
never been any attempt at conceaIment
on my part or any reason for conceal
ment Of my deep interest in this develop
ment. The measure Of success which
has been achieved by the young men
who have had the management OF the
companies has been source Of satisfac-
ton and Of pride to me-"
Senator Aldrich declares that OF all the
RIDICULOUS statements made by Bristow
there is none quite so ridiculous as his
saving that the Intercontinental Rubber
Company absolutely controls the crude
rubber supply. IN 1909 he declares, the
worlds production Of crude rubber was
about 15O,OOO.oOO pounds. and the United
States took about 100000 pounds. OF