The Washington herald., 1920-05-08
Debate Becomes Bitter.
FreIinghuysen and King
In Verbal Tilt.
MONOPOLY IS FEARED
Letter from Du Pont Off.
cial to Senator Moses
Causes Furore.s
ny ROBERT T. BARRY.

The dye-stutfs bill. first Of the af-
ter-war development measures pro-
posed by Republican. leaders, was
thrown into the vat OF politics yes
terday. When 1t emerged, its
sponsors regarded its chances for
passage as of deep blue hue. They
declare enough votes had been
pledged to pass it, but that the fill
buster against 1t had assumed such
determined aspect as to render ex-
tremely remote the prospect for a
vote
The dye bill is held by Republican
members of the Finance Committee
to be absolutely essential to the de-
velopment of the industry in the
United States and to prevent the
dismantling of chemical plants
erected for war purposes. Its fail
ure would mean a return of the
German mailed fist" domination OF
American markets, they say.
Opponents of the legislation
charge that it contemplates a mo-
nopoly by the Du Pont and associat-
ed interests who would exclude Ger
man competition and force American
textile interests to accept inferior
substitutes at arbitrary prices.
Regarded as Threat.
A political controversy with a
. fNNr
Senate yesterday afternoon. 1t re-
suited from the presentation Of a
letter regarded by some Senators as
embodying a threat by the Du Points
to withdraw their political support
from Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood un-
less his Washington manager, Sena-
tor George II. Moses. of New Hamp-
shire, dropped the effort to have the
Senate adopt an amendment to the
Dill that the New England textile
interests hold vital for their own
protection.
The letter was written to Moses
by Charles X. Weston, publicity di-
rector of the Z. Du Pont de Ne
mours Company, of Whining
ton, Del. 1t was read to the Senate
by Senator Kenyon, Of Iowa, who
said that both Senator Moses and
| Gen. Wood had asssnted to its pub
lication because they resented it.
Kenyon added that following its
receipt Moses had addressed an in
quiry to the president of the Du Pont
company relative to weston's on
cial capacity and that Iranne
DUPONT had replied that Weston
was publicity director. DuPont's
answer was very terse and did not
tons right to speak for the COM
pany in matters political
Weston Makes Statement.
When asked last night to COM
ment on the publication of his let
ter. Weston declared il spoke for
itself. but it sought to establish
beyond any doubt that it repre-
sented only his personal views with
respect to politics. He declared he
presumed" he was dealing with a
gentleman" but that Senator Moses
never had replied to the letter.
Il simply could not reconcile for
my own interest" Weston declared,
how Senator Moses could be posing
down in Washington as an opponent
of this very strong preparedness
measure and making a speech in
Wilmington telling what an ardent
champion he was of preparedness.
II anyone seeks to have IL appear
that the letter undertook to repre-
sent any but my own personal views.
they are stating what is not true"
Mr.. Moses is in New Hampshire
An effort by Senator Frelinghuy-
sen. of New Jersey, to obtain a vote
on the bill yesterday afternoon was
blocked by Senator King, of Utah,
who declared that Moses should be
permitted the courtesy of comment
ing on the Weston letter. Freling-
huysen replied 1t was Moses bust
ness to be in Washington attending
to business.
| King Makes Retort.
| King retorted that Frelinghuysen
was always present to look after
certain business. Senator Lodge. OF
Massachusetts. jumped to his feet
with a protest against an improper
reflection upon the Senator from
New Jersey. King. after some con-
sideration, agreed that his remarks
might be susceptible to misinter-
probation and he withdrew them
| from the Record.
| Kenyon protested against the at
Itacks upon Senators who were op.
posing the dye bill. He insisted
THAT the Senate should ascertain
why certain people were supporting
lit. He professed to regard as very
serious the effort of the Du Pont.
to force favorable action on the bill
by threatening political leaders.