New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-24
USE OF EXPLOSIVES.
Washington Chemist Proposes a
License Lac to Curb anarchists.
From The Tribune Bureaul


Washington Feb. 22.-Any intelligent man can
be taught the manufacture Of the most danger
Gus deathdealing explosives in a weeks time.
The great majority Of high explosives used by
anarchists are made by Aem and kept in their
possession for weeks, probably months before
contemplated outra ges. In every body OF such
men there is probably one man who feels the
sting of remorsc before the time OF the execu-
ton of the dire deed and who would stop it If
it were possible for him to do so without making
himself liable 10 the vengeance not only Of the
law but OF his fellows.
Or. Thomas NJ. Chatard. former president of
the Washington Chemical Society. who has
served the national government in the manu-
facture of explosives and who. through large
mining enterprises, has handled them extensive
iy, declares that under the laws now existing
The making and the possession of dangerous
explosives within the reach of any anarchist
and that no protection is given the public from
the fanatic who proposes the destruction of in
dividuals or Institutions He says that an eff
tective law that would prevent nine-tenths OF
the crimes for which these people are response
BILE is practicable and could be enfosced without
mountaineering the interests that legitimateIy
use explosives.
DR.. Chatard first proposed the regulation Of
possession and use of explosives twelve years
ago. when a national law covering such cases
was regarded as extreme in that it would in
fringe upon state rights, but he now believes
that in the face of recent developments and
legislation the passage of a general minimum
law. which might be made more severe by stat
utes Of states, would meet with opposition from
no quarter.
In any group of conspirators who plan dire
Deeds said Dr. Chatard, the man who can
make a high explosive has a certain pre-eminent
standing and influence among his fellows. Su-
perior rank is no less dear To the all-levelling
anarchist than 10 the StanChest uphoder of the
divine right of kings. Hence, such a man will
always try TO make it appear that he can fur
nish destructive agents far superior to those
from any other source, and as he is not ham,
pered by scientific observation, criticism and
tests il is easy for him to demonstrate TO his
most ignorant companions that he controls
terrible and deathdealng substance.
The means Of destruction only too plenti-
fuI. but there are no secret and dreadful forces
at the disposal OF the evildoer. So far from this.
the materials used for outrages are, from the
nature OF the case. never stronger-generaIly
much wcaker--than those employed for legitt-
mate purposes.
''Nitroglycerine is made by the action of a
mixture Of nitric and sulphurc acids on glycerne.
These three constituents are ordinary articles OF
trade and may be purchased anywhere. Ex-
Plosives purchased from legal dealers and strict
" in accordance with the provisions OF law may
be unlawfully used; they may be stolen from
lawful posseSsors by intended evildoeTs. the
latter may easily obtain their own materials
for making their own explosives.
Nitric acid. an essential. has such extended
uses that it be bought at any druggists.
Nor is it necessary 20 purchase the acid, as 1t
can be easily made by distillinS a mixture OF
nitrate of soda and suphuric acid. both OF
which are in common even among farmers,
who them in the manufacture of homemade
fertilizers
1T is probable that I'm most cases of carefully
planned outrages the explosives are made by
the conspiTators Such was the case in the as
sass1nation Of Alexander II. when student in
ST. Petersburg sent the formula TO Paris from
which the bombs We're made that caused the
rulers death.
INT.
ter, and could teach an intelligent man with
cool head to do II in a week When I was
in the service OF the government the man who
made my explosives was an ordinary workman
with little special training. The power Of the