Letters Sent to R.F. Hammer, June 12, 1928

June 12th, 1928. Hammer Radium Company, 622-23 Central Savings Bank Bldg. Denver, Colorado. Attention Mr. R. F. Hammer Dear Mr. Hammer: We are quite aware that the publicity recently given the so-called "Radium Poisoning" cases has seriously impaired the business of those engaged in the distribution of radium and radio-active products. We have given careful consideration to all possible means for combating this publicity, and have arrived at a policy which we believe will in the long run prove to be correct. There is a grave question of doubt in our minds, as well as in those of a number familar with the situation, as to the condition claimed by the complainants in this action, but unfortunately for us, although fortunate for the complainants, their legal counsel chose to try these cases in the public press rather than in the courts, and we must admit that he has been very successful. Through the publicity which he has given these cases the public sentiment has been so forma- lated that had we been forced to go to trial before a jury in this distfict, we would have been unquestionably defeated - not on the facts of the case, but upon the opinions which had been formulated through reading the papers. In fact the publicity given the cases had forced the New Jersey Courts to a point where I don't believe there is one judge in a hundred who would have had the courage to treat these cases as they should have been treated - that is not taking into consideration public opinion. We, therefore, deemed it advisable to buy our peace by settling these cases, and for the time being satisfying the public. We denied liability in these cases, and have so stated in our settlement. It is our opinion that the complainants will in a very short period of time be normal in their health, insofar as any injury which they may have received at our plant is concerned. Had we attempted to controvert the publicity given these cases we feel that such a procedure would have only tended to aggravate the condition, rather than alky it. As you know news has been rather carce of late, and there is nothing the press would have liked better "n to have come to us with the statements of the complainants, and ived our reaction, then gone back to the complainants with our story, You must realize that in the Court of Equity, the Complainants d their case, but up to the time of settlement we had never 1 our defense in court. For this reason you can see that it ave been out of order and methical for us to have attempted to