Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-05

transactions as they appear. There is no
showing that Mr.. Loomis used, or INTENDED
to use, his influence as minister In secur-
Ing concessions from the government. al
though had he gone Into the railroad en-
terprise 1t is probable that he would nave
been drawn into some such scheme of Sc
curing government aid, or at least a gov
eminent concession
Notwithstanding the specific findings that.
In so far as the matters under investigation
were concerned, l had been guiltless OF any
improper conduct, and, though 1t did not
appear that / had participated in other
Venezuelan enterprises some suggestion
has been made as to a supposed lack of dis
Greatness on my part. which suggestion
whether well founded or otherwise, need
ont be considered here
Replying specifically to the Herald's latest
attack. under the heading How Finan-
ciers Helped Loomis to Get Office, Mr..
Loomis says that. like the earlier ones In
the same paper, 1t carefully avoids every
thing in the way of specific charges against
him of moral turpitude either personil or
official and seeks by suggestion and IN
ference to create the impression that prior
to my appointment as minister to Vene-
zuela | had entered into some understand
ing. agreement compact by which, While
in that country, my influence was to De I'M
properly exerted in favor Of the company or
concessions in which MeSSrs. Radcliffe d
Kurtz either were then or might hereafter
become interested" He continues:
Venezuelan Concessions.
Without pausing to comment upon the
obviously specious character of the argu-
ments and deductions contained in that ar
ticle, / take this occasion to again deny,
In the fullest and most positive manner. that
at any time l have had any personal in
terest. financial or otherwise, in any Vene-
zuelan concession or in any diplomatic
claim against that country, or it's govern
ment or any of it's officers. / further deny,
in the same emphatic manner, that l have
ever profited in any wise through or by
reason of any agreement or understanding
with any concession hunter or concession
owner operating in Venezuela or having in
terests in that country.
With respect to the Manoa concession
and the affairs of the Orinoco Company.
deny specifically that l had any under
standing, agreement or compact concern
ing it CT them with Mr. Radcliffe or Mr..
Kurtz, or anybody acting for them, or in
their behalf, or in the interest of either OF
them, or of the Orinoco Company. Prior
to reading the article in yesterdays Her
aid l had knowledge or information
whatever which would lead me to believe
that Mr. kurtZ, through whom l was in
troduced to Mr.. Radcliffe, had any interest,
direct o. indirect, in that concession or the
affairs of that company; nor did 1 know
or have any reason to believe that he had
any definite intention of becoming inter-
ested in that or any other Venezuelan en-
terprise.
1t is true that after my appointment
minister and prior to my departure for
Venezuela Mr.. * urtZ, whom l had known
In a friendly manner for fourteen or fif
teen years, asked me to advise him as to
my Impressions of that country and its re-
sources and to inform him of any favor
able opportunity which presented itself of
making investments there. 1t was In COM
pliance with such request that 1 informed
Mr.. Kurtz that there seemed to be plenty
of concessions to be had. but that it was
desirable for any intending applicant to
personally look over the ground himself.
At no time prior to my departure for
Venezuela or afterwards that L can recall
did Mr.. Radcliffe make any request of me
for action In any capacity concerning the af-
fairs or business of the Ornoco Company
and though l have received half a dozen
letters from Mr.. Kurtz since my appoint
ment as minister and have probably seen
and talked with him score of times he
has never, to the best of my recollection
ever referred to the Manoa concession or
the Orlnoco Company, or intimated that he
was In any wise concerned In their des-
TIMES
In view of the very evident intention of
the article in question to further false i'm
pressfons concerning my official conduct
in connection with the Manoa grant IT is
perhaps, worthy of notice that Immediately
Following the somewhat extensive selection
OF letters mutilated and otherwise, APP
follows:
Mr.. Radcliffe asserts that nothing Of a
penehcial character to him or his enter
prise came out of his efforts in behalf of
Mr.. LOOMS candidacy as minister at Ven
eZuela.'
Ihat statement Is. no doubt true and
1t may be added that at no time prior to
yesterday did I have any reason to believe
that Mr.. Radcliffe expected to reap any
favors or reward on such account. If nv
the further suggestion that 1.-The OrInoco
company, over the Strengthening out of
which Mr.. Radcliffe and Mr.. Sanford had
iapored for years. passed by some process
as yet not quite clear to the Orinoco cor
porat1on, with its chief offices at Cincin-
natl. and Ohio interests in the saddle" It
is intended to suggest that l In any wise
instgated or assisted al or was concerned
In such transfer, l cannot too empha tfcaIlv
oeny the suggestion. 1 have never had
ana nave not now any business relations
OF any sort or kind either with Mr. DOLCE
or the Ohio interests in such Connection
In conclusion, permit me to saw that If
IN any respect this denial should seem IN
De incomplete or inconclusive l would be
glad TO accord to any specific charges for
which the Herald would assume Tesnon.
sioility the consideration which they woujd
no doubt deserve o