Document NzJkGLBnaMK82rDRm8vdXE8y

FILE NAME: Raybestos-Manhattan (RBM) DATE: 1935 DOC#: RBM063 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letters between Johns Manville and RaybestosManhattan Discussing Avoiding Publicity RE Asbestos T 'i i c VI? y y Published by X6th Floor, Inquirer Bldg. PHILADELPHIA, PA., U. 8. A. September 25, 1935. Mr. Sumner Simpson, President, Haybestos-Manhattan, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn. Bear Sir: ! You may recall that we have written you on several t occasions concerning the publishing of information, or dis- 1 cussion of, asbestosis and the work which has been, and is j being dona, to eliminate or at least reduce it. I ) I Always you have requested that for certain obvious j reasons we publish nothing, and, naturally your wishes have ! been respected. I Possibly by this time, however, the reasons for your objection to publicity on this subject have been eliminated, and if so, we would like very much to review the whole matter in "ASBESTOS". Our thought is that we could either prepare from data which we have in our files, or obtain from Mr. W. A. Godfrey of the Cape Asbestos Company, London, who is much interested in the subject, an article on th work done in England and then follow itr with an article written by someone in your organization, as to the work done here. We understand from Mr. Stover that your IJorth Charleston plant, contains very complete dust control equipment and a descrip tion of such equipment, If you approve, would make a very interest^.ing part of the article. Possibly even you could supply a photograph ^ ^ r two showing some part of this dust control equipment. 1 We await with much interest your reply. If there is no serious objection it would seem to be a most interesting suoject for the pages of "ASBESTOS", and possibly a discussion of it in "ASBESTOS" along the right lines, would serve to combat s^rae of the rather undesirable publicity given to it in current newspapers. Very trully-yoursv / O . A "A S B w 1 \f J ohrvs-Maiwille Tw e n t y -Two E a s t Fo r t i e t h S t r e e t New Yo r k .N.Y. II October 3, 1935 Mr. S. Simpson, President, Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn. My dear Mr. Simpson: I wish to acknowledge receipt of yours of October 1st enclosing copy of the September 25th letter from the editor of the magazine "ASBESTOS". I quite agree with you that our interests are best served by having asbestosis receive the minimum of publicity. Even if we* should eventual ly decide to raise no objection to the publication of an article on asbestosis in the magazine in question, I think we should warn the editors to use American data on the subject rather than English. Dr. Lanza has frequently remarked, to me personally and in some of his papers, that the clinical pic ture presented in North American localities where there is an asbestos dust hazard is considerably milder than that reported in England and South Africa. 1 believe the question raised by Miss Rossiter might well be considered at the committee meeting scheduled Wfiolrl neViex>t Tuesday, at which I understand both you and Mr. Judd Very truly yours, VBT Vandiver Brown Attorney. /v ' Ju t C-052 OZ V3 4*-v. Tmmfn f/ Bridgeport, Conn. Oct. 1, l'OEb Ur. Vandiver Brown, Attorney, Johns-Munville Coro., 22 East 40th St., New York City. My deer Mr. Brown: Enclosed is copy of n -letter re ceived from Miss Hossiter, of ''Asbestos.I11 i . As I see it personally, v.e would be just ss veil off to say nothing about it until our survey is complete. I think the less about asbestos, the better off v.e are, but at the same time, v.e c a m o t lose track of the fact that there have'been a number of articles on best os dust con trol and asbestosis in the British trace magazines. 'Iho ncguzinc "Asbestos" is in business to publish articles r.l'facting, .the trace and they have beta very ce-cent about not re-prir.ting the English articles. I shall oe pleased to have your opinio# in the natter. Very truly yours, SS-G. Enc President 00 5"8,; >;y Tdtblished blf 16th Floor, Inquirer Bldg. PHILADELPHIA, PA., U. S. A. c \ September 25, 1935, L!r. Sumner Simpson, President, naybestos-^'anhattan, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn. Pear Sir: You may recall that we have written you on several occasions concerning the publishing of information, or dis cussion of, asbestosis and the work which has been, and is being done, to eliminate or at least reduce it. Always you have requested that for certain obvious reasons we publish nothing, and, naturally your wishes have been respected. Possibly by this time, however, the reasons for your objection to publicity on this subject have been eliminated, and if so, we would like very much to review the whole matter in "ASBESTOS". Our thought is that we could either prepare from data which we have in our files, or obtain from Mr. W. A. Godfrey of the Cape Asbestos Company, London, who is much interested in the subject, an article on th work done in England and then follow ir with an article written by someone in your organization, as to the work done hero. IVe understand from Mr. Stover that your Iiorth Charleston plant, contains very complete dust control equipment and a descrip tion of such equipment, If you approve, would make a very interest^ ing part of the article. Possibly even you could supply a photograph l oorr two showing some part of this dust control equipment. We awai-t with much interest your reply. If there is no serious objection it would seem to be a most interesting subject for the pages of "ASBESTOS", and possibly a discussion of it in "ASBESTOS" along the right lines, would serve to combat sjraa of the rather undesirable publicity given to it in current newspapers. very trul: "A S B iv Bridgeport, Conn Oct. 1, ldc\> L'r. Vandiver Brown, Attorney Johns-Manville Coro., 22 Er.st 40th St., New York City. My dear Mr. Brown; Enclosed is copy of a-letter re ceived from Jii.r:: Hossit^r, of Asbestos." As I see it personally, v.e would be 'JasC ss; veil off to say nothing about it until our survey is complete. I tnlnk the less about asbestos, the better off v.e ere, but at the seme time, v.a carnot lose track of the fact that there have'been a number of articles on asbestos oust con trol and asbestosis in the British trace magazines. Inc magazine "Asbestos" is in business to publish articles affecting, the trace and they have been very cocer-t about not re-printing the English articles. Enc. President Johns-Marwille Tw e n t y -Two E a s t Fo r t i e t h Ne w Yo r k .N.Y. MraooucTB Str eet 0 October 3, 1935 Mr. S. Simpson, President, Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn. My dear Mr. Simpson: I wish to acknowledge receipt of yours of October 1st enclosing copy of the September 25th letter from the editor of the magazine "ASBESTOS". I quite agree with you that our interests are best served by having asbestosis receive the minimum of publicity. Even if we' should eventual ly decide to raise no objection to the publication of an article on asbestosis in the magazine in question, I think we should warn the editors to use American data on the subject rather than English. Dr. Lanza has frequently remarked, to me personally and in some of his papers, that the clinical pic ture presented in North American localities where there is an asbestos dust hazard is considerably milder than that reported in Englandand South Africa. I believe the question raised by Miss Rossiter might well be considered at the committee meeting scheduled Tuesday, at which I understand both you and Mr. Judd will be present. Very truly yours, VB:T Vandiver Brown Attorney. P P G0520E R / l 1-2-4ii-D9 nl