The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-01

matic representative withdrawing his countenance from Caracas has not dis turbed Mir. Castro's eQuanimity in the least.
 As regards the United States. vene- zuela has not only revoked the charter
 of the asphalt trust. but now invades New York and hales into their own courts the ofiicials of that once naughty corporation, in pursuance of occusa- tions almost criminal in their nature. The testimony taken before United States Commissioner Alexander during the last few days may not have startled those who have been aware of the facts all along, but 1t must assuredly have pained and disconcerted President Roosevelt who, up to recent date. has implicitly believed the assertions of his friends. General Francis V. Greene. Avery D. Andrews. and Professor John Bassett Moore, to say nothing of high officials" of the State Department.
 Eyes Opened by Late Revelations.
 Of course 1t is not yet proper to say that these gentlemen have been defi- nftely discredited. The whole story has not been told. But certainly 1t can not reassure the President to hear a former president of the asphalt com pany testifying under oath that he paid out, under the direction of Avery D. | the account of Government relations" and to hear of other large sums turned over on an order signed revolution ists." and to read about photographs showing the Matos insurrectionists re- ceiving money and food at the asphalt company's ofice in Venezuela.
 He must feel by this time that he had not heard the whole truth when the State Department was hurling ultima
 tums at Caracas. We already know that he had begun to harbor misgiv-
 ings some time ago, for otherwise he would not have thought 1t necessary to send W. J. Calhoun to Venezuela; but doubt whether he was quite prepared for such revelations as are now ema- hating daily from Commissioner Alex ander's court In the New York post office building.
 Theodore Roosevelt loves and trusts his friends with a loyalty that does him infinite honor. As things look now. however, he may have to erase a few names from the list before all Is done and said.
 "GOvernment Relations" Cost Fortune. This testimony to which refer does not proceed from Venezuelans. but from Americans, former officials and
 employees of the New York company. Mir. Thomas. for example. was president of the asphalt concern in 1901. when
 the $100.000 check was issued for the account of Government relations" Perhaps 1t is because of that trans action that he withdrew, for he says
 he acted under the order of Avery D. Andrews. the vice-president. and Ar
 thur w sewall. the secretary. IL
 must have been a queer organization In
 which the reputed head was subject to his subordinates. and l can easily imagine a self-respecting gentleman making his escape as soon as possible. But MT. Thomas Is not the only one, and there are others yet to come. II already Is clear enough that many hun dreds of thousands of dollars were dis
 bursej for account of those Govern | ment relations"
 What we are to hear next, not only York. but from MT. Calhoun's investi- gation in Venezuela, even the most cynical pessimist might we'll hesitate to
 suggest.
 Asphalt Company nt Fault. For my part, I have believed from
 the beginning of the controversy and
 have said as much in these letters, that | in Venezuela. The circumstances at
 tending It's bankruptcy two years oi
 so ago. the infamous charges pub
 lished in newspapers in New York and
 hiladelphia-charges which to my
 knowledge never seriously were de
 nied-all these, and other things too
 numerous to mention here. persuaded
 me that the fair surface hid much tha
 was scandalous and sinister.
 And now 1t Is worth while to talk
 another look at Castro. He ha emerged with credit from a complica
 tion which would have appalled, an or
 dinary man. Set upon. at one time, b. | three great powers-England, Italy
 any Germany-he stood his groun' 1 without dismay. In that emergency
 aided by Herbert w. Bowen and Wayn