The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-04-21
CASTRO BLUFFED US
WITH DIRTY DEUCES?
Venezuelan President Taking
the Tricks While Uncle Sam
Looks Embarrassed.
THE "CALL" UNEXPECTED
When Connected Castro Did Not Shrink
at Sharp Words Administration
Finds More Drastic Meas
ures Questionable.

Washington. April l1,-South Amcri-
can diplomats nj this capital are in
great Elec over what they term the
clever manner In which President Cas-
tro OF Venezuela has called the bluff or
the United States
You yankees are very smart very
smart. You understand the great
American game of lS-kaW, and you
THINK IA, one else ku,,ws how to play
II. YOU made thc-what you call it
nh. yes. he bluff nj Castro. very
smart man. he call II. 1t Is very anus
ing
1t was II South American diplomatist
who said this TO AN American. The
South American smiled With insolcuce.
but apparently he was Charmingly po-
lite. Thr American wanted to slap his
face, but considered ii wise not to.
There viii hc a show down With your
dear smart fricNd Mr. Castro before
long, was all tive American said.
The Neuc2ueaus and cir South
American friends In Washington. who
are not ovc:toud of the Americans, are
chuckling With JOY What this South
American diplomatist said is exactly
the way they feel The yankees. they
say. put up II great big BLUM. They
told Minister Roweu to present what
was virtually an ultimatum to Castro,
believing that Castro would lose his
nerve. thrown dovu the cards and run
IN y panic. kut Castro did nothing OF
the kind Instead OF losing his nerve
he became more ncrvy than ever His
cards might have only been a pair of
dvuVrs. but they looked very large to
him. lie called, and up to the present
time tie has taken all the tricks.
Disagreeable Half Truth.
The administration knows what the
NcneXuel!ns and other South Ameri-
cans are saving ana is intensely an
nNNcd, and what adds TO the annoy
anre is the knowledge that the Sneer Of
the South Americans covers a half
TRUTH and pruverhially half truths
hurt more than downright lies. The ad-
ADMINISTRATION did not hluff Castro in the
sense thal il hullied him or engaged in
4 policy of waNton aggression but il is
true that il WAS never believed III
Washington that castro would play out
the game To a finish II MAS thought
that when he saw that the United
States A@ally meant business and did
vot int, d forever 20 be tNsulted and
hunted NY this midget among the ma
sous u satisfactory settlement would
'NNn he reached. Eut Castro is a gen
lSnnan With a tine sense of humor and
without the lease sense OF Responsible
lily, II rather llnuSeS him 10 stir up
the United States. He has ire
lNeudouS amount nt vanity and intoler-
able ron&eit He really believes that il
II came 10 q show Of force he could
hold his OWN.
The administration is puzzled 10
know what 10 DO NEXT; While the pres
i6eNt is smashing after wolves in the
wild> Of Oklahoma. he is doubtless try-
in:, IL filld a way ont NT the Castro en-
h2rra>sneut, The officials in Washing
ton are Also DOING considerable heavy
tGlNkinE. To save its owQ Self-reSpeCt
RID recover pr&StlSa in the eyes Of
South America the administration must
make guod. Sui how That is the
Q0eSIIoa,
a Pacific Slockaaeo
I: HIS been suggested that q pacific
sloG&ade" might bring Castro 10 his
ssnses. A 'p&CiTiG blockade" would he
enforced by the president sending war
ships 10 Venezuelan ports and oottti0g
them up 50 that there ,o0ld be neither
imports O. exports, Venezuela IS de-
pendent lIpon its customs duties 10 run
iGs government. and the merchants 81
Ne'asZUe!a upon the export OF their
HEstOTal products -p7!DClQallY coffee,
hides ana The cocosl beam. With no
change Il be drawn on London and
Ng1lsar commercial TemieTs> and trade
Wo03i come 10 :. >t&2I?&SI!' NeEeEUel..
raises practically 10 Wheat ana very
little corn. Il has 10 i'nnor1 the bulk
ot il from he United States, Il the
YNNcss were closed up IL would make
things uncomfortable for Castro
lSGg . 'NNS5itc blockade" <hough
,sgNS actually an act oE w2r, comes SO
close 70 il .ltg: !. is doubtful Whether
he president NNoNls! consider ne Mas
a<srrantts3 IN rssori!ns io That 6astric