The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-28
DICTATOR AND YANKEE
Amusing Story of GuZman Blanco and
Hustler From the North,
Chicago Record

Chicago Record.
A gentleman who went TO Venezuela some
years ago to secure a contract from the
government tells an interesting story OF his
experiences with Guzman Blanco, who
was then the autocrat OF that country.
For three or four months he was kept dang
ling around the Case Amarillo tthe yellow
house,, in which the President resides, and
finally told Guzman that he wanted final
answer Guzman turned TO him with some
impatienc and said:
Come to my country house at Antimino
at g O'Clock tomorrow morning and evil
close this matter up
''I'n be on hand, your EXcellency,'' was
the reply.
The next morning he was called at 4, gal
Hoped out TO Antimino, and was at the Die
tator's residence before the clock in the
parish church struck 6. To his surprise
he found twenty or thirty people waiting
to be received, and some OF them men or
Importance, while the President satupOn the
porch slipping his coffee and reading the
morning paper. 1t was considered dread
full breach OF etiquette to interrupt the
great man when he was reading, and there
was not a person i'll the entire company
who dared do it. They simply stood around
or sat by where he could see them and
awaited his summons. But the Yankee
marched boldly up 10 the porch and said:
Good morning, General"
Guzman Blanco looked up in surprise
from this paper, but the Yankee, knowing
his temper and peculiarities, did not wait
for him TO speak.
In my country. general he said, at
is not the custom for people to get up so
early. but it is also a point OF honor to
meet an engagement promptly, and you see
am here on time
Have you had your Coffee" asked Guz-
man.
Yes sir; at the hotel few minutes ago"
ut must have been miserable stuff. You
ought to taste mine. ] use none but what
] grow on my own plantation, and al
ways carry it with me, no matter TO what
part OF the world ] CO." and ringing the
bell he ordered cup of coffee and roll
for his caller.
But the latter did not propose to waste
time, and Immediately said: You did me
the honor to say yesterday that You would
close up that matter at our interview this
morning, and ] have come prepared to
do So
Il wish my people were as prompt as
you. Our great fault as a nation is pro-
| crastnation. If we were as energetic as
| your countrymen Venezuela would be
| richer and more productive nation and
with that they went into business.
For an hour the details OF the concession
were discussed. and, being agreed upon,
the president dictated to his stenOgrapher
the terms of the contract. Then turning To
! his guest be said:
MY secretary will write this out and to-
morrow we will sign it,
Il would prefer TO have the document
signed now," was the Yankees reply. You
have just said that the fault OF your people
was procrastination, and propose that we
| avoid it this morning.
The secretary looked up in amaZement.
! He had seen men sent to the calaboose for
| less, and evidently expected that the Die
tator would call policeman to take the
| Yankee in charge. GuZman was q little
angry at first, but, seeing that his guest was
not abashed, smiled and said:
THAT is neat way of applying my phi
losophy to your own interest. We will wait
| until the document is written and sign il
| here"
| Handing q cigar to the Yankee. he lit one
himself and sat down for chat while the
secretary was writing. In a moment or wo
1.-The Director General of Police tapped at the
door and said he wanted to see the Pres
ident concerning matter that required his
instant attention.
''You will have to wait until / am through
with this Yankee was the Dictator's
reply; 'he is teaching me the way they do
business in the United States"