The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-06-21
SAYS HE WAS A BUSYBODY In
HUNTING SCANDAL AND GOSSIP
Secretary Tafts Investigations of Loomis
Conduct Said to Prove Innocence
President Says He Had Intend
ed to Promote Bowen

Washington, June 20.-The disms-
sal of Herbert W. Bowen, for some
years United States minister to Ven
ezuela, and the exoneration Of Assist
ant Secretary of State Locmis, of al
legations brought against him by
Bowen are the outcome of the Loomis-
Bowen controversy, which has attract
ed wide attention FIR many months
past.
Disposition the case s made by
President Roosevelt in letter ad,
dressed to Secretary Taft. made pub
lie tonight, approving Taft's report on
his findings and conclusions in the
case
Bowen scathngly hrraianed.
The president scathingly arralgns
Bowen declaring that his conduct Is
especially reprehensible," that Bow
en- asked one Of his witnesses to en-
ter the employ Of certain company
for the purpose, Sin plain words, OF
stealing documents which he hoped
might incriminate rLoomis and that
Bowen has evidently for many
months, indeed for the last two years,
devoted himself" to hunting up scan.
dial and gossip until 1t became mono
mania and caused him TO show com.
plete disloyalty" TO the country he
represented.
Had Hoped to "Promote" Bowen.
The president says he had hoped to
promote Bowen, as during much of his
service he had done good work, but
that his usefulness in the diplomatic
service rs now at an end The presi
dent adds that he would direct thai
Bowen's resignation be requested but
for his statement that he would con
slider resignation an admission d
misconduct and dismissal is therefore
ordered The letter quotes the cor
respondence and testimony. The pres
ident states that 1t appears that Bow
en-, while minister, secured the publ
cation of attacks on Loomis and fur
nished to the press documents pend
ing before the state department fo
approval and that his explanation il
inexcusable and shows his entire un
fitness for the service. Even i
Loomis had been guilty, says the pres
ident, Bowens conduct would be i'm
pardonable. The letter quotes certain
correspondence and testimony.
Secretary Taft's Report.
The report of Secretary Taft on tn,
case, In which the presidents action
is based, Is voluminous document
reviewing the charges and evidenc
taken.
Quotes BoWen's Letter.
The presidents letter to Taft quote
Bowen's letter to the secretary ii
which he informs Taft Of 'terribl
scandal" and encloses copies of cable
grams and a report that Mr.. Loomi
was paid check and that the custc
dian OF the Bermudez lake had in hi
possession this check and also lette
promising that the United State
would not intervene, and that til
president Of Venezuela felt safe, be
cause OF these facts; copy OF a LEI
ter to Secretary Hay, of February 1S
1905, in which Bowen distinctly state
his belief that this alleged, and as
turns out, wholly fictitious, check, an
wholly fictitious letter. were in tn
hands Of President Castro, who, bc
cause he had them undoubtedly ha
not feared to refuse arbitration wit
the United States.
As to Collecting Moneys.
The president quotes Bowen's ALI
cation that Loomis collected "the Me
cado claim from the Venezuelan go
ernment. got a share Of 1t for d sma
sllm, and never reported the case I
the department Of state
And again he says: He dealt wit
Buchanan, whom Loomis smbseqnen
ly got appointed minister to Panam
(which Is again an untruth. Loom
had nothing whatever to do with th
appointment Of either Buchanan (
Russell. says the president.
The president quotes Bowen as d
nying that he preferred charge
against Loomis, and cites the ia,
that n this same letter Bowen pr