The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-18
FEARED BIG STICK.
Story of the Reader Syndicate
Told by the Promoters.
How They Proposed to Pay the
Debt of San Domingo.
WASHINGTON CABLE.
Stopped the Whole Proceedings
1t Is Alleged.
Morales Was Afraid to Cross
President Roosevelt.
WASHINGTON CABLE.

New York, March 18-Athole B. Read
er and his wife. mentioned by Senator
Morgan (Ala-0 in the Santo Dominican
treaty discussion as composing the
Reader syndicate which had in hand a
plan for raising the debts of the Do
minican republic and the sale of a ma
val port in the island to the American
government. are in this city. It is sta
ted that Mrs. Reader was formerly Miss
Ella Rawls. of Alabama, a stenograph-
er who came to New York in 1881 to
seek her fortune In the course of a
few years she became proprietor of a
large stenographic bureau in Wall
street and in course of her business did
considerable work for the Venezuelan
boundary commission. Later she went
to London and representing a prominent
English banking firm, procured from
the sultan of lahore a $4,000, 900 railroad
contract. While in London she married
Reader who acted as confidential sec
rotary to well known persons. The cou-
pie claim later to have taken charge Of
a big Peruvian mining deal and by the
diplomatic efforts OF Mrs. Reader to
have averted a revolution in that coun-
try.
Readers they set forth their scheme for
relieving Santo Domingo which fell
through when Commander Dillingham;
arrived on the scene. They claim to
have been engaged in the matter by one
Perez, a secret agent here of President
Morales. Reader asserts that he con-
suited a well known attorney here, who
yesterday issued denial of all interest
in Santo Domingo affairs, and after
outlining his plans to the lawyer took a
steamer for the island. There he was
received by Morales and daily confer
ences were held during which docu-
Tr,4
Reader fiscal agent of the republic in
the United States and giving her auth
GRITTY to negotiate treaties for the debt
settlement at Washington, as well as
Santo Domingo.
These matters had. the Readers
claim, almost reached a conclusion
when President Morales announced he
had received word through Minister
Dawson that Commander Dillingham;
was coming and all negotiations with
Reader were instantly declared off
Reader felt much hurt over the out
come and declares some interested
person aware of his secret nego citations
had informed the authorities at Wash
ington. In reply to a query as to
what he was going to do about it, he
asked, What can do about it?''
Mr. Reader said that on January y
he called on President Morales and
saw Mr.. Sanchez, who said that
United States Minister Dawson had
advised the Dominican government
not to proceed with Reader, but to
negotiate direct with Washington. 81
asked him. said Mr. Reader, eff this
was not very sudden and unexpected,
and he seemed confused and anxious
to avoid giving offense- asked him
if he was quite sure of Mr.. Dawson s
authority and he said that the presi-
dent had seen cablegram from
Washington and that they were wait
ing to receive another cable from
l -
a special commissioner was leaving
Washington within "a hours for Santo
Domingo city.
IT saw President Morales and asked
him why he had proceeded so far with
me, had accepted everything and had
gone so far as to make out the tele-
gram appointing Mrs. Reader as his
fiscal agent and representative in
Washington, if he had not intended
to complete his arrangements
president Morales also seemed con-
fused and upset. He said:
What can do? I am frightened
of the big stick, and I dare not, under
present circumstances, offend Presi-
dent Roosevelt
IT asked him if Minister Dawson
proposed to make any arrangeme
for the cancellation of the external
debt, or to relieve Santo Domingo
from its present embarrassed and
bankrupt condition and he said he did
not think so, and begged me to return
IN a month Tune, Wnen ne WOulO pc
free to take up the question of the
external debt and the other conces-
sions.
ION Saturday, January IA. Com
mander Dillingham; arrived at Santo
Domingo from Porto Rico by the
United States gunboat Castine and i'm
mediately proceeded with his negotia-
lions with President Morales in con-
junction with United States Minister
Dawson. On Tuesday, January IT,
left SantO Domingo City,