The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-05-28
The Asphalt War.

After considerable delay the High
Federal Court of Venezuela has decided
that II has Jurisdiction of the case
growing out of the Warner Quinlan
claim to its asphalt concession at Lake
Trinidad, up 10 this time held by force
and arms by the Asphalt Trust. but
which arbitrators agreed upon between
the contestants some time ago declared
10 belong to the other party The court
holds that the case must now proceed
upon its merits
In such circumstances il is quite nat
ural to hear that the trust is Inclined
to withdraw from the country and ap-
peal 10 the Mckinley Administration
for Interference, which would not have
any reference to law OF equity in the
matter, but would be merely in the way
Of coercing a weak Government for the
benefit Of a strong American monopoly
There Is a hint in a despatch from Ca
Tacas today that the trust may not i'm
mediately call for ships and marines,
but wait little while TO see if poiiti-
cal changes may not occur in the South
American Republic which would give
it what It wants irrespective of conces-
sions or actual rights. This, we may be
justified in guessing, might mean that
the insurgent General Andrade. whc is
said to be a warm friend Of the mon
opOly, still has hopes OF successfully
revOlutiOnizing Venezuela in the inter
ests Of his dictatoriaI ambition The Of
fer Of General Greene to employ the
dismissed cadets from West Point in
shoyeIing sand and gravel and mixing
the black dough of the industry would
seem to suggest the idea, that there
may be people in this country who sym
pathize with the rebel chief and his
aims. No doubt if he could secure the
services Of a force of American ex-soI-
der Adventures to promote his cause,
and be guaranteed liberal supplies of
arms, ammunition, and money. his
prospects might be considered bright,
as things go on the Southern Continent
The main objection to the Andrade
solution is that privately conducted
wars and revolutions are apt to be
costly, and the expense must be met
out Of individual or corporate bank ac-
counts. Direct interference by a great
Government, and, through it, the
prompt squelching Of those who would
oppose one of ''our best business inter
ests,7 would be vastly cheaper. and, in
the end, perhaps more effective Were
the rights Of the little Warner-QuinIan
syndicate extinguished in favor Of its
big rival, by means Of revolution, the
new dictator might ultimately conclude
to turn upon and rend the friends and
influences that had placed him in
power Then a new uprising would be
necessary. and SO on TO the tail Of. the
chapter
On the other hand. it if were known
to all Venezuelan parties and factions
that the least afront OF discoUrtesy to
the Asphalt Trust, or the least judicial
examination Of its claims. would bring
a feet and an army Of invasion to their
shores, they would probably accept the
inevitable and allow the trust to do or
take anything it liked without protest
or comment It IS not plain that the
Monroe Doctrine could be so twisted as
to fit case of this kind Even If possible
it would be unnecessary We are Iiv-
ing in an era Of new things, perhaps
requiring new policies with regard to
our American neighbcrs. IN view Of
this consideration, why might not
President Mckinley emulate the bril-
liant example Of Mr. Monroe, our
great dOctrinaire, and in his next mes
sage to Congress enunciate an Asphalt
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