The Washington times., 1914-04-07
WAR DOES NOT HELP
THE POWDER MAKER
Mexican Revolution Hurts the
Business, Declares Col. E. G.
Buckner, of du Pont Co.

NEW YORK, April Col. E. G..
Buckner, vice president of the E. L.
du Pont de Nemours Powder Company,
Of Wilmington Del. arrived at the
Waldorf several days ago after what
for him has been en- unusually long
absence. amounting to several months.
Colonel Buckner was expressing the
wish that Mexico would hurry up and
subside into a condition of peace.
But doesn't the Mexican revolution
help your business. with all the shoot
Ing that is going on?" he was asked.
That Is where you are wrong"
Colonel Rucltnar replied. Almost any
business Is better of under peaceful
conditions. and the powder manufactur-
ing business Is no exception
But your product is being con-
sumed."
do you know that in times Of peace
one miner will shoot away more powder
than whole regiment Of soldiers ?"
asked Colonel Buckner. That Is true,
and the regiment has to keep fighting
pretty well all the time to make any
showing against the single miner. As q
matter Of tact, 1t takes peaceful condi-
tions to make the manufacture OF pow
der profitable. Nowadays mines are the
biggest consumers Of powder.
Until lately. the mines of Mexico
have been quite large consumers Of our
product, but the war down there has
almost destroyed the demand. In fact.
the powder consumed in the Mexican
war amounts to nothing as compared
with what We sold In Mexico in times
Of peace.
Powder manufacturers are eager for
peace IL only because 1t is better for
their business. In spite Of the speeches
which learned Congressman have the
habit Of making in Washington. when
they charge the powder companies with
being responsible for war scares. We
are just as much opposed to war as
anybody else, for the reason l have
mentioned"
But tremendous quantity OF pow
der would be consumed in a big naval
battle. would II not?"
Yes. but the character Of that kind
Of powder is such that the manufac-
turer could not take advantage of a
demand for It for years to come. or
until he could make up another reserve
American battleships Of the first class
engaged in battle. all armed with
fourteen-inch guns. Each of those ships
would carry about 10000 pounds Of
powder. or. roughly. there would be
5.U0.Ooo pounds in the squadron. Such Of
with a hostile squadron. presuming
there were losses OF others. would in all
probability use up most OF their supply
To replace the 5000OO0 pounds lost or
used would require six months before
the first shipment could be made. and
to complete the whole order would take
year and a half"
Colonel Buckner spent six months in
South America, good portion of which
was devoted to Buenos Aires. and there
he met the President of the Argentine
Republic. DR.. Saenz Pena-
president Saenz Pena Is q very able
man." said Colonel Buckner, land he
knows what he is talking about. Per-
sonally I think he is right. I found
throughout South America that the Ger
mans and other foreigners doing busi-
ness down there have used the Monroe
doctrine 10 stir up prejudice among the
Latin Americans against this country,
and they have done II successfully.
They continually taunt the Argen-
tinians and others with the guardian
ship the United States has arrogat tied
to itself over them. and II is just like
sticking knife into a wound and twist
ing It around. So the South Americans
resent our proclaimed policy regarding
them. and say the Monroe doctrine is
out of date. and that they can look
after themselves. Certainly 1t has never
helped US to get trade down there"