The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-04-12
NAVAL DEMONSTRATION
NAY Be NECESSARY
President Castro, ofvenezuela, Not
Inclined to Yield to Uncle
Sans Demands.
CAUSE OF PRESENT 'mBRoGL'o
High Handed Methods of the Dictator at
Caracas Foreigners Prop
erty Confscated and Concessions RE-
voked and Resold-.Loomis' Recall.

San Juan de Porto Rico, April O.
Minister LOOMS has not yet arrived,
although cable dispatches state he left
LaGuayra for San Juan on the auxil-
tary cruiser Scorpion, due yesterday
morning. Avila Blanco, Venezuelan
consul here, says President Castro Is
unlikely to yield to the demands of the
United States, and Blanco expects that
naval demonstration will follow. He
fears the result because of the heavy
foreign interests at seaports, and hints
at possible complications of an inter-
national character Uprisings have
taken place in several districts. but
President Castro IS considered to be
able to quell them.
Origin of the Trouble.
New York. April 9.-The Tribune to-
day contains a long article purporting
to give a clear account of the circum-
stcnSes responsible for the strained re-
NttfonS between the United States and
Venezuela. 1t comes from writer in
New York, not connected with any pa
per, and, in order that it might be fair
~ criticised or corrected, printed proofs
OK 1t We're submitted to the Venezuelan
legation in Washington and to the
Venezuelan consulate in this city.
The article begins by saying the re-
call OF Minister Loomis from VeE.eZueia
released much information concerning
the methods of the Venezuelan govern
ment, headed by President Castro.
New York business men, who own large
commercial interests in Venezuela and
who are kept informed by their repre-
sentatives in Caracas of the state Of
affairs. have within the last few days
given to the writer facts long with
held. From these merchants it is
learned Castro is revising the constitu-
ton to suit his revolutionary policy.
ne called congress together February
~, whose members are all OF his choos-
Ing. Their first act was to pass, ac-
cording to his orders, an amendment to
the constitution extending the terms of
the ONCE OF president from four years
to six. This was done without any pre-
tension of consulting the choice of the
people. During the first week in March
ne appointed as members of his cabinet,
seven men who have learned to subju-
gate their will to his. Castro has been
dictator ever since he drove President
Andrade, by force Of arms, from Vene-
zuelas executive mansion, eighteen
months ago. He has yet to serve the
remaining year OF Andrade's term.
which does not expire until February
of the constitution, he viii enjoy Sir
years more-in Office.
Andrade in Exile.
Meanwhile the real president OF Ven
eIueia Is Andrade, who Is today In the
Island OF Curacao, which he has chosen
as tne starting point OF his proposed
In Venezuela there is no such thing
a. capital punishment Of crimes PEN
aities stop at Imprisonment for ten
years. But General Acosta a friend of
Andrade and an enemy of Castro. who
nads dared to take up arms against
Castro. and was the head OF the reyo-
siuuonary party In the field. was put
20 death, being shot by Castro's order.
FeDfuary IS. !. In Venezuela now 1t is
asserted the, government dignitaries,
5 JUS. courts and local officials in va
T,ous cities and states retain their
places as long as they cDey without
question the orders OF Castro.
& IN January two justices OF the su
preme court failed in a certain case to
hand down decision that accorded
with Castro's notion OF justice. These
Judges We're thrown into cell and kept
mere until they agreed to think with
Castro. In the first month OF his pres-
loehcy Castro called to his presence i
NUMBER Of wealthy represenf - five
merchants and bankers and Informed
lnen they must contribute to the sum
"! port 81 the government. According to
ms own estimate Of the amount Of their
.Sn,.,.. he nxed the sum which each
s SMoulo pay into the treasury at once.
I IN - amounts ranged from $40. 900 ID
SoV,vV9. a few objected and strairht-
way FOUND themselves conveyed "a the
hotunda, the worst prison In Caracas.
ana ana Only released upon payment 81 ths
A ~ a demanded. In this way Cas-
sro raised funds for conducting tho
government until the revenues 4 .xvs !,
taxes, began to come In. 8 49,
Another Method.
Another method OF raising nonav. !.
charging business men with acn,, sssia
tn8 against the government. and cn,,.
nscating their property. Not lonr aro
2 German merchant arrived Al Ray'
celona from Caracas to collect money.
~ on various enterprises In which he
Was interested. He collected in All
4 sLsv0 Castro heard OF this and rave
ken out OF the country. but ynn.t ~ r.
turned over to the government. me
man was seized, placed on 4 afooi II,
tne PRISON yard, where the hot raya ~
tne sun beat on his bare head. ana Z
1olaier stood on each side OF him withsI
= nAed bayonet with orders to- run hin,
ttntou9n Y ne attempted to escape. AZ
sytelded. took to the soldiers 10 the p IIa =
sWhere pc had concealed the money aysfs
1T He sailed on fhn narts
steamer leaving Caracaa. * n,Gst 4
later T. German cruiser entered Y,s-
Qua The captain and Twelve aaii.
;o ~ pulled ashore and rode 10 Caracas.
Ih0y ~ once entered Castro'a nrsssncaJI
and peramptortiy demanded not "a onss
svNt penny Of the 3l2.0OO, but i:iie nssss.
S1nhAaent Of the ohicial Who ma s,,,srS,sxs