New-York tribune., 1911-01-29
Mr.. TAFT WINS FIGHT
AGAINST POISON MATCH
Obtains Free Use Of Harmless
Substitute for White
Phosphorus.
PROTECTION FOR LABOR
Patent on Sesqui-S -Sulphide Can
celled at Instance of Diamond
Match Company-Will
Prevent Diseases.

Washington. Jan. 2S-Following Presi-
aent Taft's Intervention in legislation 10
nroh,hit the use Of poisonous phosphorus
IN matches, and hearings before the COM
n,ittoo on Ways and Means on the Esch
hill "a prevent using such material
vhich the independent interests charged
ooo,,st the Diamond Match Company
,bo Patent Office to-day cancelled the
ootont ~ that company on sesqui-sui-
,.hido That substance is considered d
harmless substitute for Nhite p"'o
nborus. which is alleged to cause -
and other diseases. This action, taken a'
H. ;rs,ance of the so-ca!lod trust TOT
.,,r,,anitarian purposes" was IN mar
monv with the following letter Wl'c"
President Taft addressed last THURSDAY
- Charles p. NELL. the Commissioner OF
I obor. Professor Edwin r. Selismah' oi
Columbia University, and Mt falsto"'
attorney for the American Federa'ioi
of Labor. as trustees of the patent
~. Great anxiety to- see American
tahor nrotected from the raNages oi d.
vhoIlv unnecessary and loathsonle ule
go n the same extent mat loielsh
Countries including Great britaih' nave
urotected their working people III mater
factories. prompts me 10 peneVP .hd'
everybody would. of course. he glad 10
zoe tho owner Of the patent ana us
licensees take the public spirited action
of cancelIing the patent for the use OF
sesoui-sulphide. in order that TINS harm-
less substitute may he gratultously used
bv all other American match msnufact-
urers for II ought to have tho effect
Of dispeling any fear that inc enactment
Of this legislation would result I'm
monopoly 10 the match industry.
'rhe Presidents letter was in reply 10
one addressed 10 him by the three men
named suggesting that the recommends
tion IN the Presidents annual message
that a prohibtive tax he placed on the
manufacture of white phosphorus
matches in order that a serious abuse
NAV he stamped out has created an
embarrassing situation" Tho EsCh bill
was introduced 10 prohibit the use Of
poisonous phosphorus in match manu-
fscture. and I'm the hearings before the
Wavs and Means Committee. the letter
N the President pointed out. sus-
picion arose that its enactment would
give the Diamond Match Company and
it's licensees o monopoly I'm the match
Industry. The three men constituted
trustees Of the patent contended that
such fears were groundless. because
there were q number of other substi-
tutes for white phosphorus, and all Of
them open to use by any match manu-
facturer in this country. because the
duration Of any monopoly under this pat
ent could not last more than three
wears. and because the Diamond Match
Company had assigned to the three men
az trustees all its rights under the patent
on condition that any match manufact-
urer desiring to make use Of 1t may do
90 on paying such sum as the trustees
deem 10 be just.
Messrs. NeiIl. Selgman and Ralston
suggested the advisab blity OF requesting
the Diamond company. in tho interest Of
humane legislation. TO cancel the patent.
This action was taken to-day.
II is said that one outcome ~ such
legislation for which the cancellation
smoothes the way would be to drive out
most of the Independent interests, as
well as meeing the causes Of necrosis
through elimination Of the availability
OF white phosphorus.