Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-03-26
HAD FIVE YEARS TO SERVE
BEGAN AS DICTATOR. BUT LATER LIE
GALLY ELECTED.
NEWS AT WASHINGTON
intimation Given That office viii Stay In
Family or Congress- May Refuse 10 Ae-
eept Resignation.

Caracas, March 23.-PGesident Cas-.
trO has resigned. He placed his resig-
nation of the presidency of the repub-
lie Of Venezuela i'm the hands of the
president of congress after reading the
presidential message.
Senior Castro handed over the exer-
ciSes of the presidential functions to
the president of congress.
In the ordinary course of events
President Castro's term would have
ended February 20, 1908. He was
elected president of Venezuela, in
February last for six years, beginning
February 20 1902. He had been elect
ed provisional president of Venezuela
on March 80, 1901, by the constituent
assembly. Senior Castro, when the
presidency changed hands sometime
previous to that date, had proclaimed
himself president and the United
States government in November,
1899, had officially recognized the de
facto government headed by him.
The action of the constituent as
sembly legalized his position and in
vested him with the full powers of a
presidential ruler to the limit of its
authority. Up TO that time while
being generally recognized as presi-
dent OF Venezuela he had in reality
been slmnIy dictator of the republic.
A year laLer, as already stated, the
Venezuelan congress ratified his cleo
tion and regularly installed him as
president of Venezuela for term of
six years, dating from Februarys20,
1872,
Washington, March %. The first
intimation received by Secretary Hay
o" President Castros resignation was
gwen him by the Associated press
dispatch announcing the fact. He
would not discuss the matter, how
ever, beyond stating that the news
was.uneXpected Herbert W.-Boweu,
Venezuela's plenipotentiary here,
likewise had not been informed I'M
til shown the dispatch. Until OFF,
cially advised he said he would be
unable to give expression to any views
on the subject
From an authoritive quarter, how,
ever, it was learned that this move
on the part of President Castro has
long been contemplated. Represent
tatiOnS were made to him several
months ago by the leaders Of Venez-
uela that his resignation would have
the effect of enabling the people of
that country to present a solid front
to the world in the matters in con-
trnversy with the several powers.
The statement was made that the
resignation is the result of secret !
agreement with the leaders referred
TO that President Castro should tenn
porarily relinquish his Office pending
the adjustment Of the matters which !
Minister Bowen has in hand. It'll
was intimated by the Associated press |
informant that while President CAS- |
tro nominally gives up his Office it is
the intention to keep it within the !
family by an arrangement to make
Castro's brother vice president so
that he would succeed to the presi- /,
dency.
1t is the belief here, based on in '
formation which has been up to now
kept inviolate that the present plan
is.to allow President Castro to re,
main out Of Office for short time
and then re-elect him at the next
election Mr.. Pulido, the Venezuelan |
charge d'atfairs is absent from Wash
irgton and it was stated is now on
his way to the Venezuelan capital. /
Secretary Hay might received dis
patch from Mr. Russell, the United .
States charge at Ca acas. confirm ing
the report of President Castro's res. /
but stating that he doubted
if the Venezuelan congress would ac-
ceDt it.