The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-22
THE ..T,TFTVC,, OF M BOWEN.

THE "EIRlA4E2 OF NIX BOW IN
The outcome of the Bowen-Loomis
row in the state department at Wash
ington has been the vindieatiOn of As
sistant Secretary Of State LOOMS, and
the dismissal of Mr.. Bowen as min
lister to Venezuela. In reviewing the
matter President Roosevelt says that
even if Mr.. LOOMS had been guilty
of the charges made against him by
Mr.. Bowen. the conduct of the latter
was reprehensible and made his re-
| tirement from the diplomatic service
necessary.
! This does not, however, necessar lly
mean that the decision is a vindication
Of the asphalt trust, which was at the
bottom of the trouble. The most val
liable asphalt deposits in the world are
in lake in Venezuela. and there is
a fight between the Barber asphalt
trust and another corporation to con
troll it. President Castro and his gov
eminent recognized the rights of the
other company. The trust is alleged
to have financed a revolution to over
throw the government, which was
treason. The revolution was unsuc-
cessful Mr.. LOOMS was BOWen's
predecessor as minister at Caracas.
When Bowen went there he found ugly
rumors afloat involving LOOMS. It
was charged that he had received ten
thousand dollars for using his infiu-
ence in behalf OF the trust
Mr. Bowen repeated these charges
to the state department, and he is also
accused of spreading them broadcast.
He is also said to have done every
thing possible to secure evidence to
convict LOOMS. LOOMS claimed that
certain checks of his were given in
making an exchange of currency and
did not involve any transaction be-
tween him and the trust, and Presi-
dent Roosevelt seems convinced that
this is the case.
While the present outcome reflects |
seriously upon Minister Bowen, partic- |
ularly in view of his summary dismiss
sal from diplomatic service, there are
those who will yet give Mr.. Bowen a |
benefit of a doubt. The positive and
emphatic action of the president, in |
whom all have confidence, is indeed the |
one thing against Bowen that seems /
Still even the president may
be mistaken. Mr.. Bowen comes of a fine /
family. He has been trained to the /
diplomatic service and seemed in line I
for promotion to an embassy. He is a /
graduate of Yale. His father was /
Henry c. Bowen, for so many years the /
editor of the New York Independent. /
which under his charge was a power /
throughout the country and was one Of |
the first Independent newspapers.
Mr. Herbert ". Bowen has seen dip
iomatic service in its most strenuous
forms and has been in this department |
Of government during all his manhood /
He was at Barcelona, Spain, a treacher-
BUS post, and filled the position with
bravery and credit. He was minister
to Persia and for year, has been at the
aotbeds in Colombia and Venezuela. He
mas undoubtedly been more or less ma
igned by enemies he has made.
However. the vindication of Mr..
LOOMS certainly does not mean that
his nation should step in and try to
enforce the demands of the asphalt |
rust in Venezuela. If a British cor
poration had tried to do with US what
the asphalt trust tried to do in Ven
azuela, we would have thrown it clear
out into the middle of the Atlantic
ocean.