Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-21

81, 1860 PAGES.
Is associated with the scandal it Is only be-
cause there was breach of faith some
where.
Betrayal Of Confidence.
Again in his letter of June IA, he says:
I talked with the Herald men because
they said they would not betray my conf
dence. They did betray me, and one of
them even tried to produce from memory
the Mercado claim. which showed to him
confidentialiy.'
own statement. as well as from the state
ment Of Messrs. Dater and BiddIe, and the
letter from Mr.. Wright. that Mr.. Bowen.
while minister at Caracas instigated and
requested, and actually secured the pubii-
cation of attacks on the assistant secretary
of state, and furnished to the press copies
of documents believed to reflect upon the
assistant secretary of state. which doeu.
ments were already before the Secretary of
State for investigation. Mr.. Bowers ex-
cuse for this conduct so far as 1t can be
made out seems to be that he expected the
newspaper men to keep his connections
with the charges secret. In other words.
he apparently regards his case as improved
that he secured this attack upon his Of
fetal chief In furtive and underhand
manner and that hesdid not intend that his
connection with the attack should be
divulged.
"of course. such conduct is inexcusable.
and shows Mr.. Bowen's entire unfitness to
remain in the diplomatic. service, without
regard to whether the charges he made
against Mr.. LOOMS are true or false. Even
II Mr. Loomls had been guilty. Mr.. Bowen
conduct would be objectionable. mas
much as Secretary Taft's careful investiga-
ton of the charges shows them to be false.
his attitude appears in an even worse light.
But 1t must be kept in mind that his UNIT
ness for the service Is clearly established
by his conduct, without any reference to
the question of Mr.. LOOMS actions. Inc
Department of State had explicitly forbid
den just such conduct In general circular
issued over three years ago. reading as
follows:
".Charges against diplomatic and con-
sular officers.
Department of State.
Washington, April 26, 1902.
ITO the Diplomatic and Consular Officers
of the United States.
Gentlemen: 1 append for your informal
ton and guidance copy of an executive Or
der, dated April 25, 1902, prohibiting diplo-
matte and consular officers from preferring
charges against or criticising any other OF
fcer in either service. except confidentiaiiy
to the Department of State. l am. gentle
men, your obedient servant JOHN HAL
Order Disobeyed.
Executive order: Whereas the publication
of alleged charges and criticisms against
officers of the diplomatic and consular sery-
ice, without an opportunity being given for
due consideration Of both sides of the ques-
ton at issue. has led to injustice to the per-
sons attacked, and to embarrassment to the
Department of State in It's disposition of
the public business. 1t Is hereby ordered
that hereafter no officer of the diplomatic
or consular service Of the United States
shall attack or prefer charges against or
publicly criticise any other officer in either
service, except in a communication to the
Department of State. Whenever any such
officer deems that his duty compes him to
prefer charges against any other officer in
either service he shall communicate such
charges confidentially to the Department of
State, which will. upon the consideration of
all circumstances, make such disposition of
the case as in it's discretion seems wise in
the interest Of the public business.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
white House, April %. 1902
ut appears from the testimony that Car
acas Is seething with scandal, and that all
kinds of accusations are rife, not merely
against Mr.. Loomis and Mr.. Bowen but
against practically every other diplomatic
representative now residing or who has re-
Gently resided there. There is no excuse
whatever for repeating the injurious and
malicious gossip circulated about these va
rious men. Mr.. Bowen himself, however.
has not only furnished and brought forward
great deal of such gossip about Mr.
Loomfs. but has evidently been one of the
i
He tried to tamper with the cable opera-
tor through our consul at La Guaira, Mr..
Goldschmidt. in order to secure what he
hoped would be discriminating kilograms
against Mr.. Loomis Mr. Goldschmidt's re-
ply was 1T would be dishonorable to do
what you ask of me- Mr.. Goldschmidt I'm
his letter OF May 3, 1905, says Mr., Bowen
never lost opportunity to belfttIa nv
LOOMS character ability. &c whan he
spoke 10 me OF him, and seemed to bear an
extraordinary animus against his predeces-
Sor.' FSo'
Mr. Bowen asked one of the mon no
himself produced as witness. Senior Pas
tor. 10 enter into the employ of a certain
company for the purpose Of obtaining lin
pam words. OF stealing) documents which
he hoped might incriminate Mr.. Ioomis
He has evidently, for many months indeed
TOT the last two years, devoted himself to
nuntIhg up every piece of scandal or Cos
SIP OF which he heard affecting Mr.. LOOMS
until 1t has seemingly become a monomani.
with him. and has caused him to Shnr
complete disloyalty to the service to which
ne belongs, and, therefore to the country
winch he has represented. It was his duty
TO make known to his superior officers anv
facts rejecting the honesty of Mr.
Loomis or any other official. but IT was a
breach OF his duty to make loose and recL
less charges, and especially to give these
charges public currency after their sphmis
sion for investigation by the department.
MI Bowen's conduct is especially renre-
hensible. because of the damage il has nm
ooupteoIy done to the interest of this conn
try. We hold peculiar position toward
our sister republics lying south of us, In
all our dealings with these republics we
should endeavor not merely to act cour-
teousiy. justly and generously, but to make
II evident that we are thus acting. Anv
corrupt dealing. any misconduct by one OF
our representatives to these countries calls
TOT the sternest punishment, and, save onIy
corrup dealing, the worst and most fragrant
misconduct of which one Of these represent
tatlves can be guilty is to give currency TO
or secure the publication of scandalous at
tacks upon the service of which he ia a
member. or upon one of his superiors, a re-
sponsible head Of that service, for such at
tacks are certain to be circulated to the
discredit Of our government and our peonle'
not only In the newspapers of our own
country, but the newspapers of the various
Latin American republics. No matter how
baseiess they are, no matter how complete
the refutation Of the charges they do A
damage that cannot be wholly repaired.
Mr.. Bowen has been long time in the
consular and diplomatic service: during
much of that time he has done good work
and until recently had hoped to promote
him. If could condone his misconduct in
this case I would gladly do so, but his use
fulness in the diplomatic service is at an
I daoir 10