The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-18
Asphalt Company Took Sides
 With General Mates
GENERAL GREENE TEST|E|ES
He Says He Told the Men That He Thouuht They Had Made Mis- take, as Mates Was
 Bound to Lose.

New York. October 17.--Gen. Francis N' Greene former president of the Ma tional Asphalt company, was examied to- aav before United states Commissioner Gilchrist as a witness in behalf of the Venezuelan government in the action in- stituted by the latter against the New York and Bermudeze company to recover about S11 100000 because of the latter or ganization's alleged assistance of the Mates revolution in 1901.
 General Greene was asked but one ques- tion, his reply being to the effect that the defendant company did not materially aid the revolutionists.
 The question put to General Greene by Lawyer Rufus B. Cowing, Jr, represent ing the Venezuelan government, was as follows:
 State whether, when you returned rom Europe in 1901, you knew John M. Mack Avery D. Andrews and Arthur w. Se- wall ,or any of them as representing the National Asphalt company, or any or the allied companies, were in communication with M A. Matos or were aiding him with money, or in any other mannerg
 Decided to Support Mates.
 My only knowledge" replied General Greene, "of this matter, comes from what was told me by Messrs. Mack. Andrews and Sewall When l returned from Eu- rope in October 1901, l was surprised to learn from them that during my absence they had decided to support Matos In ms contest with Castro. l told them that | thought they had made a great mistake, because what they had done was not acting in good faith with the state depart ment in Washington, which up to that time. and largely on representations made by me to Secretary Hay. had supported the 3eInvsde2e company to such an ex- tent as to enable it to continue in pos session of it's property.
 T told them that in view of what they had done during my absence 1t would be impossible for me to make any further claims at the state department in Wash ington in Sehalf of the Bermudeze com pany, a/d in fact l never did after that go to the state department in behalf of the asphalt company. l also told them that I thought 1t was q great mistake, because 1t would cost the company great deal of money in addition to the amount which they told me they had already expended, which. as I recollect. was in the neighborhood of S100.000. and that the company was not in a position to spend such large sums of money, nor could it accomplish any good results, for In my opinion Matos could not succeed and 1t would ultimately be known that the company had aided him. and this would weaken its position before tho Venezuelan government. I told them my own judgment was that the proper policy for the company to pursue was to rely upon the support of the state department at Washington.
 Had Made Arrangements.
 This however, they said. was impos- sible, for they had already made arrange ments to support Matos and if he should succeed, as they thought he would, the company would then be able to protect its interests in Venezuela. In view of my position in the matter very little was told to me of what was actually done in support of Matos The business was transacted under the direction of the off, cers above named and largely without my knowledge. While l was president of the National Asphalt company, MT. Mack and friends controlled large majority of the stock and he was also vice-president of the company and virtually In control. The company passed into the hands of a re- ceiver about two months later. and after that time I had practically no voice in the mana cement of the company"