Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1915-06-29
THE WORLD WIDE
WAR TRUST
(By Con. Clyde H. Tayenner)

The history of the transactions be-
tween the United States government
and the Du Pont Powder trust aver
age with the history of the dealings
between the government and the arm
or makers. The aggregate of the sums
paid the Du Pont trust in excessive
and eXtortionate profits no doubt runs
into the tens of millions.
In the period between 1905 and 1913
alone the government purchased 90,
565,512 pounds of powder from this
trust, paying OH an average of so
cents pound for 3,297,712 pounds
of 3O-caliber powder and an average
OF 90 cents a pound for 1866, 512
pounds of army and navy smokeless
powder, OF a total of S21,99S,25O.
The government is now manufac-
turing powder for SO cents a pound,
all overhead charges included, and
the larger the quantities it manufac-
lures the lower the cost. If the gov
eminent had manufactured all of the
b~'NNh ~ DSlNSSn 1SUO ana
1913, 1t would have cost $1O,167,49G,
enough to build u first-class battleship.
The Du Points boast they have been
selling the government its powder
since the Civil war If a saving of
S1O'162, 1886 could have been effected
by complete government manufacture
in eight years, how much do YOU i'm.
agine could have been saved by GOV
ernment manufacture in the half cen.
tury between the Civil war and the
present day?
when the supreme court entered it's
decree ordering the dissolution of the
Du Pont trust, Pierre S. Du Pont, act
ing president, wrote the secretary of
war, imploring him TO use the infiu-
ence of the war department with the
attorney generals office TO prevent
the separation of those units of the
trust manufacturing powder for the
government; or, in other words, to
arrange 1t so that the Du Points would
continue to have monopoly on the
sale OF smokeless powder to the gov
ernmeTt!
THE plan as now proposed" wrote
acting president Du Pont in this most
remarkable letter, which was dated
November Is, 1911, "contemplates a
complete dissolution of our military
smolIeless powder department and its
reorganization into two or more sepa.
rate and distinct corporate units, each
to be operated independent OF the 9th.
er and in competition with each other.
with all that this implies. "
I'VE believe that If the at
torney general could be informed
through your department OF otherwise
OF the real facts surrounding the
smokeless powder industry and its re.
lations to the United States govern
ment he might feel inclined TO per.
NIT the situation to remain as a pres
ent."
What sublime confidence the head
OF the Du Pont trust must have had
in the secretary of war to make such
request, and that in writing!
The secretary of war referred this
lette rto Gen. Crozier, who made Ger.
tain Endorsements upon 1t and returned
1t to the secretary.
"Under existing conditions" report.
ed Gen. Crozier in part, IL consider
that the department Is doing very well.
The Du Pont Co. has considerable
reserve capacity available for wars
needs, which new company could
not be expected to bring into exist
ence and maintain, with expense,
plant In excess of that employed in
time OF peace. Established confidence
Is worth something. The department
does not find itself pressed by any
necessity for change in the present
situation"
The end OF the matter was that the
supreme court left the military
plants" Of the Du Pont Co. in one
group. SO far as the government is
concerned, the Du Pont Trust remains
a trust.
The attitude of Gen. Crozier was
service worth large sums to the Powd.
or trust, and the Du Points are realiz.
ing on II to this day, because the trust
10 still without competition in the sale
of smokeless powder TO the govern.
ment
D