Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-10-21

Mr.. Coleman du Pont is my cousin.
| have seen little Of him In late years and
am not associated it'll him in business IN
any way: furthermore, am not sufficient
lv in sympathy with the methods and
principles of the Republican party to say
that | am n Republican,. | voted for Mr..
Wilson at the time OF his tirst noinina nation
and have no regrets for having done 80
From this YOU may safely assume that
/ have no political bias IN writing tins let
ter
As to your injustice to MIR. du Pont:
IL is n well-known fact that he sold his
entire interest in the T.. |. du font de
Namours Powder Company IN February,
1915 about six months after tht begihnlu1
of the world war and at a time when the
earnest solicitation of the warning nauo's
had placed numerous contracts on tne
books Of the company. The price received
by HIM for this interest did not rcncci III
any way the possible profits oi these con
tracts. Since then Mr.. du Pont has had no
interest in the du Pont Company and, as
far as | or ANYBODY else knows, has no
reason whatsoever To expect profit from
the recurrence of war. | have never DIS
cussed with him the subject of the League
of Nations, but | am quite certain tfiae
YOU will find him IN favor OF nationai or
international measures that Will secure
tn near., of the United States and ether
nations Of the world II Is an outrage to
justice and fair play for you to assume
otherwise.
The du Pont Company has never pro
NOTED tn sale of munitions and, unth
the recent war came upon us, It's entire
financial development has been based
upon the pursuits OF peaoe-cight and
onc-half wears only were war years III n
total of one hundred twelve. NotwIth-
standing this fact, the du Pont company
| from the date of its inception IN lSU2, has
| be; n prepared to serve the nation when
| called upon 1t has tn honor to have done
| so IN every war Of the last century. May
| inquire in what manner you believe II has
"inspircd and invited thesc wars? For
many wears Congress has fixed the price
of military powder, using as basis oi
| figuring, the actual cost experience OF the
| government IL its own factories. he
| latter were built and equipped using all
processes and apparatus known to the
du Pont Company. Somewhat prior 10
the European war our government de
termined to manufacture AL of its own
powder. This determination was taken IN
n manner not uncommon IN the admins
preparation for the change and without
thought of the future. In conseQuenc'. the
declaration Of war with Germany found
the government without any provision for
a supply Of powder, To tn, surprise ol
those IN charge Of affairs, tho du Pont
Company was then found to be equipped
tn furalsh the quantity estimated ncCeS-
sary for the first year OF the war and at q
price no greater than that hxed by Con-
gress before the war began IN 1914. How
ever, for many months thereafter cur
COMPANY was unccasIng IN It's reCnmmcn-
datlon Of more adequate provision, but lt
was not until the latter part oi the wear
| 1917 that definite plan was prepared and
new powder factories were not started until
the spring Of 1918 The plan finally adopt
ed included the building OF two large
powder plants. one erected BY the govern
ment, ssing government methods, but
| supplied with AL the drawings and cxper-
ience Of the du Pont Company, the other
erected directly IN the du Font Com
pany. The result Of this test was rs oX-
pectcd by thosc familiar with industrial
affsIrs. Thc govcrnment-hullt factory waS
far from completed and produclng n very
small quantity Of powder when the armiS-
tice was signed. while the prIvatelv-buiit
factory, Notwithstanding the fact that
there was no profit TO the builders IN the
construction, was well nigh completed and
already producing great quantities OF
satisfactory powder.
1t may be popular tn attempt to be-
little the financially successful efforts OF
industrial concerns whose activities meant
so much toward the winning of the war
The du Pont Company made large profits
during the war by responding 10 the needs
of other nations, but not from furnishing
| powder To the United States government.
| Had the European nations proceeded
with the unuisdom of our government, Il
| is quite certain that the war would not
/ have been won They came TO the du
Pont Company because Of its recognized
ability and integrity. They placed them
selves In our hands, and there was nevel
| adverse question OF the proprietv o.
prices charged. or of the Iervice rendered
| Had not these nations proceeded Will
1 foresight in securing adequate factories