Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-19
AIMED TO PREVENT
PRODUCTION OF TINT
Purpose of Germans in Try
mq to Corner CarboIic Acid
| Disclosed by Palmer.

How Count Won Bernstorr and DR..
Heinrich Albert, using DIR. Hugo
Schweitzer, a naturalized American of
German birth, as their chief tool and
instrument, tried to get control OF
all carbolic acid of the country in
order to prevent the manufacture of
trinitrotoluol. is told by A. Mitchell
Palmer. alien enemy property custo-
dian, in recent disclosures regarding
the activities of German agents in
the United States.
The expelled German ambassador
had induced DR.. Schweitzer. who was
a chemist with the Bayer Company,
recently taken over by the custodian,
to organize the Chemical Exchange
Association. 1t was through this as
ISOLATION and by the use of Schweit-
Zer's supposed ability to manipulate
the situation that Germany proposed
to cripple munition plants and make
impossible the production of the most
powerful explosive known
Credit Given F. P. Garvin.
Mr.. Palmer gives credit to Francis
p. Garvin. director CT the bureau of
invesu CATION. for unearthing and ex-
posing this gigantic Teutonic con-
spiracy. He shows that while Count
Won Bernstorff was posing as friend
of the United States. desiring. at all
costs, to keep peace between this
country and his native land. he was
quietly arranging schemes calculated
TO enfeeble America and to make her
anything but formidable bel.igerent
If she should enter the war.
Schweitzer proposed to work through
the Bayer company and the Hayden
chemical works of New York. Both
concerns have been taken over by Mr..
Palmer and each now is supplying the
war Department with chemicals es-
sential to the manufacture of high ex-
plosives.
I'm 1915" said Mr.. Palmer. Thomas
A Edison invented synthetic car
bolic acid, of which the American Oil
and Supply Company of Newark be-
came the selling agent Comparatively
little carbolic acid was purchasable at
that time. DR.. SchweitZer Immediately
get out to control this supply. and on
June %. 1915, entered into a contract
with the Amer: can Oil and Supply
Company whereby this company
agreed to ship 5000 pounds of car
bolic acid each working day from July
i, 1915 to December 81 1915. and 1000
pounds each working day from Janu-
AIRY 1, 1916, to March 81, 1916. at a
price nearly double the usual market
price. DIR Schweitzer put up 100000
in cash. which was furnished by DIR.
Albert, as security for the faithful
performance of this contract and a
S2s 600 surety bond.
TO obviate doing business in his
own name, SchweitZer organized the
Chemical Exchange Association. TIL S
association was co-partnershlp.
comprising DR.. Schweitzer and Richard
Kny. father-in-law of George Simon.
business manager of the Hayden
chemical works Muller. Schall &
Co. of As William street. New York,
were the sales agent for Dr.
Every effort was made by
Schweitzer and Kny to keep their
contract secret and to prevent the
American people from knowing that
DIR. Albert and the German govern
ment were behind this contract. In
the meantime the American Oil and
Supply Company delivered large
quantities of carbolic acid to the
Hayden chemical works which was
converted into harmless pharmaceuti-
cal prepare ions and sold Tho net
profit o. this deal was $4,000,
which Richard Kny told Mr. Garven
was divided equally between himself
and nr Schwe'tZer
The investigation showed that on
June % 1915. the day after Schweit-
ger entered into his contract with the
American Oil and Supply Company.
G. Amsinck & Co.. bankers wrote
DR. Albert stating that they had re-
ceived imperial German government
certificates due January 1. 1916. as
collateral. FOR which they placed at
the disposal of DR. Albert a drawing
account of 100000. G. Amsinck &
Co. acting upon the instructions of
DR.. Albert, gave their check to the
account of DIR. Albert This was the
100000 which Schweitzer posted as
forfeit with the American Oil and
supply Company. guaranteeing the
fulfllment Of his contract"