Evening star., 1918-08-04
German Agents Securing America for Platinum

plot in secret against the United
States. Among their number were
certain jewelers.. Two thousand years
ago the Indians Of South America
hammered gold and platinum together
and OF the combined metals made
ornaments for themselves. among
which were rings for their noses.
Specimens Of such ornaments can be
seen at museum in New York.
4 +
New uses. scientific and Industrial,
for platinum in modern times. and
Its scarcity. increased its selling price
beyond the value Of gold. Jewellers,
DR.. Charles L. Parsons, chief chemist
OF the United States bureau Of mines,
told the writer. promptly called the
attention Of their wealthy male and
female customers to the metal that
had become far more precious than
any other In the world.
platinum not only cost more than
gold. tho opulent self-adorners were
informed. but it took the yellow tint
out OF cheap diamonds and camou-
naged them into pure white stones.
silver would have performed the same
function. but silver was then worth
about 80 cents an ounce, and Mr..
Bryan had talked so f1uently about
1t as to plebelianize that useful and
honest metal and render it fit only
Tor coachman and hired girls.
30 twenty centuries after the rick
Indians Of South America, wearing
gold and platinum rings in their
noses, proudly walked among their
neighbors. men and women Of North
America appeared with gold and plat
ri Aai IA
cigarette cases in their pockets and
mesh bags in their hands. II patriots
like DR.. Parsons could have their way
the rings, cigarette cases and mesh
bags would be confiscated and turned
into war uses.
A good many Germans. alien and
naturalixed, were and still are engag-
ed in the jewelry trade The govern
ment In Washington believes that the
strange mon, travelling from New York
to Chicago. by WAY Of Philadelphia,
Washington and other large cities,
were representatives of these jewelers..
who, through sympathy with the Huns
or with Hunnish money In their pos
session. sought to weaken this coun-
try in its war against Germany.
In time. probably. the secret boards
Of platinum will be found and con-
hscated. Dentists also use large guam
titles Of platinum. The mass Of dem
lists are loyal men and are helping
the government In every way they
can. Here and there. however. a mem
Der OF their profession has been clam
d0stinely performing like q Prussian.
The eye Of Uncle Sam is likewise on
him.
Since December. 1915. platinum has
not been used In Great Britain for the
manufacture Of jewelry. Government
agents. the Messrs. johnson, Matthey
& Co.. control the industry. No plati-
mum can be purchased Of any other
house. The British price today is $97
an ounce.
In this country the entire supply of
platinum was commandeered by the
War Department during the month of
March, this year. Manufacturing Jcw-
elers had their normal quantity OF the
metal reduced to Is per cent. The war
industries board, after in investiga-
tton. decided that to deprive the Jew
elers OF platinum altogether wonld de-
stroy an important part Of thei~ busi-
ness.
Washington is filled with nersons
however. who believe that the pIati-
mum Jewelry business ought 20 be de-
stroyed. They say that no patriotic
man or woman will buy platinum
watch chains. rings, mesh bags or
cigarette cases so long as the war
lasts There Is plenty Of gold for such
uses. and IL white metal Is desired
to mix with the yellow. silver will
answer the purpose.
""The platinum situation in the
United States" said DR.. Parsons, "is
actually serious. We are fighting now
and ought to have our minds on some
thing else other than decorating our
selves with metal that is sorely
needed by our Army and Navy. We
cannot keep sending soldiers to France
unless we can obtain a much larger
stock of platinum than Is on hand at