Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-14
H IS ELTON MUST GO
The Minister to Venezuela Said to Be
Broken Down.
Other Causes Besides Admiral Meade's
Charges Led to the Demand
Tor His Resignation.

The general impression appears to pre-
vail in well-informed circles that the
United States minister to Venezuela, Mr..
Haselton whose resignation of his post
was peremptorly demanded early in April,
has not improved his chances for recon-
sideration Of this decision by his visit to
Washington. Mr.. Haselton has given out
several interviews since his recent arrival
in this. city, in which he has averred that
he understood the reason for his virtual
removal could be found in charges which
he believed had been preferred against him
in the State Department by Admiral Meade
commanding the North Atlantic squadron.
Thereupon Mr.. Haselton. without having
any definite knowledge of the character
of the causes which led to the request for
his resignation, criticised Admiral Meade's
manners upon the occasion of his reception
by President Crespo Of Venezuela at Car
acas on the occasion of the visit of the
admirars fleet to that country, and reflect
ed generally on the admiral's temper and
disposition while he was receiving the hos
pitality of the Venezuelan officials.
Yesterday Mr.. Bradley b. Smalley, the
leader of the democratic cohorts of Yer
mont, from which state Mr.. Hase1ton halls
and was appointed, came down to Wash
ington in order, 1t was generally supposed,
to have things fixed for his friend in the
State department Mr. Smalley declared,
however, that he had not come to Wash
ington on the Haselton case, but on other
business.
He said he had known Mr. Haselton for a
great many years in Vermont, and he was
always regarded as a strictly temperance
man. Mr.. Smalley thought it was very
unfair to remove a man and put stain
upon his character without even permitting
him to see the charges that were lodged
against him, and such. he understood were
the conditions in MIR. Haselton's case.
Mr.. Smalley Accomplished Nothing.
Today 1t was stated authoritatively that
the Intervention of Mr.. Smalley would not
avail anything in Mr. Haselton's case, and at
the Department of State it was said that
Admiral Meade's charges were fully sub
stantiated by the testimony of all the naval
officers who were with him at the time of
his visit to Caracas and his reception by
President Crespo. 1t has further developed
that Admiral Meades connection with the
case did not altogether bring about the de-
mand for Minister Haseltons resignation.
1t is said that he has been for some
weeks in falling mental and physical
health. due to a visit he made in March TO
Macuto, on the Venezuelan coast, where he
took sea bath on the morning of his ar
rival and Immediately afterward walked
three miles in the tropical SIN.
The result of this indiscretion was a
severe illness. closely resembling brain
fever and it was said that his friends
both In Venezuela and in this coun-
try. BELIEVING that his only chance Of re-
covery lay In fifs immediate return to the
United States, laid statement Of the case
before the State Department, where 1t was
concluded that public interests, which are
so important in Venezuela would be better
attended to by some one other than Min
lister Haselton.
Mr.. Hasclton Not Informed.
In conversation with several different
persons Minister Haselton has declared
that he had not been informed definitely
of the causes upon which the demand for
his resignation had been based He said,
however, that he was led to infer that
his recall was due to charges made by
Admiral Meade, ard he had gathered, but
had not been told in SO many words, that
Admiral Meade had asserted that the min
lister was drunk when he met the fleet
at La Guayra, and was also drunk at the
reception in Caracas. Mr.. Haselton said
that neither statement was true
He also declared that although he has
been twice to the State Department to
learn something definite about the charges
against him, he has not been able to get
any satisfaction, and that when he told
Assistant Secretary Uhl that he was going
to see the President about it, Mr.. Uhl said
such course would be useless, as the
President had fully made up his mind on
the minister's retirement. Mr. Haselton
all the charges, If such had been made, if
he was given time to get the abundant
testimony in his favor that he could Sc
cure in Venezuela.