The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-09-25
WASHING
TONLETTER
IRON our Regular corresponden..)

With a very delicate turn in the latest
development OF venezuela's contro-
sersy with France, and the matter is
being watched with some solicitude.
The Departments advises show that
there is practical rapture of relations
between France, and Venezuela over
the rights of. the. French Cable Com
pany whose: concession has been de-
eiared forfeited by the Venezuelan
courts- There are two horns to the
dilema- This government is supposed
% stand for the Monroe Doctrine and
any militant movement of a European
power against a South American state
would be an u%nfriendly act. I'm
ffiendiyr Is almost a fighting word in
diplomatic language. At the same
time It looks from the dispatches as
though the Venezuelan courts for once
were right and that the French Com
gzuy had technically failed to fulfill
It's contract with the government.
sun President Castro has been going
around with a chip on his shoulders
nor so long and insulting the repre-
sentatiyes Of foreign powers in the be-
def that the United States would pro-
sect him from ultimate harm, till this
government is about of the opinion
chat he needs a sharp chastisement.
The probabilities are that the United
States would not see the chastisement
administered by German warships
without a protest, and probably Great
Britain would not be allowed to do
much In the way Of correcting a re-
calcitrant South American president.
But France might be permitted to take
tsle step with the distince understand
ing that It did not involve territorial
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. France would be
freer from suspicion in this direction
5lian y other first class European
" In fact 1t is limited that If
France wants, to take the trouble. she
viii be allowed to make a naval DEM
onstration In Venezuelan waters with
out any remonstrance by this govern
ment. It is quite possible that she will
do SO and II she does there will be a
universal sigh Of relief that the man
rf destiny as President Castro likes
10 call himself. has been called down
good and hard.
s.
It Is stated on very good authority
that Attorney General Moody will re-
sign mex spring and that he will be
succeeded in the Department of JUS
tice by Secretary of the Navy. Bona
parte. 1t was understood that when
Mr.. Bonaparte took the Navy Port
FOLIO that he would serve there not
longer than one year. 1t is known
that Attorney General Moody wants to
get back to the practice of law in Mas
sachusetts, and 1t would be in line
with the ambition and inclination Of
the present Secretary Of the Navy to
sneceed him. One Of the chief points
VI Interest," in this gossip is that it
would put a man in the Department Of
Justice who. would have no compunc-
lions I'M carrying out the trust prose.
cutions in the spirit they are known
ID he conceived by the President.
Secretary Bonaparte is a man of
wealth and he is not a machine poll
fician. so he has no obligations that
would prevent his carrying out the
task thoroughly.
The other talk of cabinet reorgani-
xation which would put Postmaster
General Cortelyou at the head of the
Treasury Department has a good deal
less Foundation. 1t is said that the
PRESIDENT is perfectly satisfied with
the work that Mr.. Cortelyou is doing
End that when there is a change in
Sshe Treasury, as there propably will
be moe avery far hence, there will be
a new man taken into the Cabinet.
VINO IL win be has not yet been d.
suigsd.
a very Interesting appointment that
EfM rob the government of a good
man, Is that Of H. Foster Balm of the
Biological Survey. to be State Geolo-
gist Of Illinois. Mr.. Balm is a very
5oang man for the post, being only
uiirty-three. He will draw a very
much larger salary from the State of
Illinois than he did from the federal
government. The appointment is in
snresting as showing that the govern
uent has hard work to keep first class
sne1r IN the face of inducements that