The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-22

CARACAS, March 81. President
Castro has resigned. He placed his
resignation of the presidency of Nene-
Zuela in the hands of the president of
congress after reading the presidential
message today. He handed over the
presidential authority to the president
of the senate.
In the ordinary course of events,
President Castro'S term would have
ended Feb. 20, 1908. He was elected
president of Venezuela in February.
last year, for six years. He had been
elected provisional president of Vene-
zuela on March 80, 1901, by the con-
stituent assembly. SenOr Castro, when
the presidency changed hands some
time previous to that date, had pro-
claimed himself president, and the
United States government, in Novem-
Der, 1899, had officially recognized the
de factO government headed by him.
The action of the constituent assembly
legalized his position and invested him
with the full powers of a presidential
ruler to the limit of its authority. Up
to that time, while being generally
recognized as president of Venezuela,
he had in reality been simply dictator.
A year later, as already stated, con-
gress ratified his election and regu-
larly installed him as president for
term of six years, dating from Feb. 20,
1902.
Fine Little Scheme.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 21.-
This move on the part of President
Castro has long been contemplated.
Representations were made to him
several months ago by the leaders of
Venezuela 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 contro-
fIon 10
statement is made by an authority
here that the resignation is the result
of a secret agreement with the leaders
referred to that President Castro
should temporarily relinquish his Of
flee pending the adjustment of the
matters which Minister Bowen has in
hand. It was intimated by the in
formant that, While President Castro
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 presidency. 1t is the
belief here that the plan is to allow
President Castro to remain out of Of
flee for a short time and then re-elect
him at the next election.
When told later that President Cas-
trO had turned over the functions of
his office to the president Of the SEN
ate, Gen. Velutini, the informant, eX-
pressed much surprise, in view of the
reputed understanding upon which the
resignation was based. Velutini is said
to be one Of the cleverest and shrewd-
est men in Venezuelan public life. 1t
is believed here that if the Venezuelan
congress refuses to accept the resigna-
tion, which it is likely to do, it will
be to circumvent any action looking to
Velutini's getting the power of gov
ernment in his hands.
Did Castro Change His Mind?
The last dispatch relating to Presi-
dent Castro came from Caracas March
IA, and in it it was stated that Castro
left Monday for La Victoria. When
Castro was interviewed Jan 4 regard
ing the report then current that he
intended to abdicate or resign the pres
idency of Venezuela, he made the fol-
lowing reply:
You are at liberty to state that 1
have fought during two years to re-
tain the supreme power which was
vested in me by the people of Vene-
zuela. 1 will no more abdicate than I
will resign