Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-03-30
Washington Letter.
(FRoN OUR REGULAR CoRREsPoNDENT.)
Saturday. March Is. 1905.


(FRoM OUR REGULAR CoRREsPoNDENT.)
Saturday. March Is, 1905.
The information which has not been
denied by General Sherman Bell that
he may 60 to Venezuela as an agent Of
this Government with extraordinary
power to protect American interests
there Is regarded as significant of the
none to friendly relations with that
government at present. The situation in
that country while not regarded yet as
menacing is receiving good deal of the
Presidents attention though it is said
he has admitted that by the action Of
the Senate in refusing to ratify the
Santo DOMINICAN treaty he would be at
loss To know what can be done by this
government in Venezuela if the situa-
ton called for action on our part. 1t is
his opinion that the arrogant attitude OF
the President of Venezuela is the result
of the Senate's failure to stand by the
Administration in the Santo Domingo
affair. In conversation with Repre-
sentative Babcock he said he belieyed
that President Castro had accepted the
lack Of action on the part of the Senate
with regard to the treaty to indicate
that the government was divided
against itself that the Administration
would be found incapable of protecting
the interests of the United States in the
Caribbean Sea region. lie makes no
secret of the fact that he feels keenly the
embarrassment to the Government in
the Senate a failure to uphold him in
the Dominican treaty.
In Santo Domingo also the adjourn
ment Of the Senate without action is
being felt. Belgium which has been
awaiting the ratification of the treaty
BY which this government was to have
administered the customs receipts of the
Islands and have paid off her foreign
creditors has handed in an energetic
protest against further delay. and the
other creditor nations will likely follow
suit. These powers seem to take, as
final the failure to ratify the treaty
though it Is said here in the State De-
partment that the treaty will not be
abandoned but will be taken up at the
next session of Congress. In the mean.
time Secretary Taft now acting Secre-
tary of State, and Senator Cullom chair
man Of the Foreign Relations committee
are arranging for the collection oflnfor
nation concerning the Islands which
will be presented to the Senate in the
fall with view to convincing the Sen
ators of the merits Of the treaty. 1t is
hoped that when The Creditor nations
realize that there is yet hope for the
treaty they will he disposed to defer
pressing their claims.
Don Manuel de Aspiroz, the Mexican
Ambassador to this country. died at the
embassy yesterday. The Ambassador
is the second distinguished victim of
the fourth of March inaugural cere-
monies having contracted the disease
which terminated fatally, by the same
exposure which caused the death of
Senator Bate of Tennessee. Secretary of
State Hay whose illness of late has
pecessitated sea voyage and a deser-
ton of his office at a rather critical time
in the Government 8 affairs has attri-
buted bis condition to exposure on that
date, and it is probable that if il census
could be taken Of those who contracted
colds. grip, pneumonia and other diseas-
es due to exposure at that time could be
taken it would be found that the peace
full and joyful celebration would claim
more victims than some battles. The
death. or critical illness, of these distin-
guished men serves to emphasize the
necessity for action by Congress looking
to the postponement Of Inauguration
day until later III the Season, when
more suspicious conditions of weather
ard temperature may be looked for.
Washington was inaugurated on April
thirteenth and at that season the wealth
er in Washington is usually behaving