Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1914 — FIGHT OVER RADIUM [ARTICLE]

FIGHT OVER RADIUM

EXPERT CLASHES WITH REP. AUSTIN IN HOUSE. ■ ——■. i Solon Intimates Bills for Conservation of Commodity Are to Prevent Monopoly. Washington, Jan. 23 Representative Austin of Texas that radium conservation bills were introduced only as a means of heading off a gigantic scheme to monopolize radium producing lands of America were given in an acrimonious discussion between Austin and Joseph M. Flannery of Pittsburgh, before the house committee on rflihes and mining. Flannery, who is president of the Standard Chemical company, the only producers of radium in the United States, was belligerent in his attitude toward the majority of the committee. “I don’t know whether you are going to grab thwe lairds away from the prospectors and pioneers or not,” Flannery declared. “You have no right to do it. We have put all the value Into these claims.” “I would not trust my own party nor one of the disciples,” said Austin, "with the privilege of getting a monopoly of control over these radium lands. We are going to see that you don’t get one, either." “Well, i don’t know about that.” retorted Flannery, pounding the table with his fists. "That’s not so sure yet.” . Chairman Foster opened the day’s hearing by reading a telegram which Flannery sent to a Denver newspaper urging a newspaper crusade against the withdrawal of radium lands, which has been proposed by Secretary of the Interior Lane. This shot at was followed by the reading of articles from circulars sent by Flannery to American consuls describing tile success of the business of his company, and declaring that it was ready to sell radium water, radium compresses and radium salts. Foster wanted to know whether Flannerty had proved the curative value of radium water. The radium king replied that he had not claimed that they cure anything, but referred to one of the physicians whom he had brought from Pittsburgh to give information on that point.