The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-19
READERS TELL OF
DOMINICAN SNARL
Plans of Busting Business
Woman and Her Husband
Upset by Roosevelt

NEW YORK, March 18.-Athole B.
Reader and his wife, mentioned by
Senator Morgan in the Santo Domin-
go treaty discussion as composing the
Reader syndicate which had in hand q
plan for raising the debts of the Do
minican republic and the sale of "A
naval port in the island to the Ameri-
can government, are in this city. 1t is
stated that Mrs. Reader was formerly
Miss Ella RawlS of Alabama, stenog-
rapher, who came to New York in 1891
TO seek her fortune. In five years she
had become owner of a large stenog-
raphic bureau in Wall street and did
considerable work for the Venezuelan
boundary commission. Later she went
to London and, representing a promi-
nent English banking firm, procured
from the sultan Of Johore a S5,000,000
railroad contract. While in London
she married Reader, a native of New
Zealand, who Travelled widely and acted
as confidential secretary to well known
persons. The couple claim later to
have taken charge of a big Peruvian
mining deal and by the diplomatic eff
forts of Mrs. Reader to have averted
revolution in that country.
Spoiled by Dillingham;
In a long statement issued by the
Readers they set forth their scheme
for relieving the Santo Domingo situa-
tIOn WHICH Iell through MHth NOill-
mander Dillingham; arrived on the scene.
They claim 10 have been engaged in
the matter by one Perez, a secret agent
here of President Morales. Reader as
serts that he consulted well known
attorney here (who yesterday issued a
denial of all interest in SaDto Domingo
affairS), and after outlining his plans
to the lawyer, took a steamer for the
island. There he was received by
Morales, and documents We're formu-
lated appointing Mrs. Reader fiscal
agent of the republic in the United
States and giving her authority TO ne
gotiate treaties for the debt settlement
at Washington, as well as the entire
financial rehabilitation of Santo Do
mingo.
These matters had, the Readers
claim, almost reached conclusion
when President Morales announced he
had received word through Minister
Dawson that Commander Dillingham;
was coming and all negotiations with
Reader We're instantly. dropped. Reader
felt much hurt over the outcome and
declares some interested person aware
of his secret negotiations had informed
the authorities at Washington. In re-
ply to a query as to what he was going
to do about 1t, he asked What can 1
do about it ?"
Mr.. Reader said that on Jan. he
called on President Morales and saw
Mr.. Sanchez, who said that United
States Minister, Dawson had advised
the Dominican government not TO pro-
coed with Reader, but to negotiate di-
rect with Washington.
asked him." said Mr.. Reader, IF
this was not very sudden and unex-
pected, and he confused and
anxious to avoid giving offense. /
asked him If he was quite sure of Mr..
Dawsoh's authority, and he said that
the president had seen a cable from
Washington. and that they were wait
Ing to receive another cable from
there that day to the effect that a
special commissioner was leaving
Washington within twenty-four hours
for Santo Domingo city.
II saw President Morales and asked
him why he had proceeded Sc far with
me, had accepted everything, and had
gone so far as to make out the tele-
gram appointing Mrs. Reader as his
fiscal agent and representative In
Washington, if he had not intended to
complete his arrangements. President
Morales also seemed confused and up
set. He said: What can do? / am
frightened by the Big Stick, and 1
dare not, under present circumstances,
offend President Roosevelt
II asked him if Minister Dawson pro-
posed TO make any arrangements for
the cancellation of the external debt
or to relieve Santo Domingo from its
present embarrassed and bankrupted
condition, and he said he did not think
so. and begged me to return in
month, when he would be free to take
up the question of the external debt
and the other concessions. Jan. IA
Commander Dillingham; arrived at
Santo Domingo city from Porto Rico
by the United States gunboat Castine
and proceeded with his negotiations
with President Morales in conjunction
with United States Minister Dawson.
Jan. IL left Santo Domingo city,
William Nelson Cromwell TODAY
made public statement that he had
never had any employment, under
standing or agreement with Mr.. and
Mrs. Reader respecting any Santo Do
mingo matters.