The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-21
MINISTER BOWEN 0USTED
 REBUKED BY P3ESI0EN I
fcontlnued from FIrst Paae.)

fcont,nued from First Paee.) ticles you wrote appeared statement concerning a letter written by MT. Loom Is asserting an interest in the Merecado claim which was published in the Her aid?
 MT. Biddle-Yes, sir.
 Secretary Taft-Did you get that from Mir Bowen?
 MT. Biddle--I did
 Secretary Taft-You required 1t rom him, or did he send 1t to you as casuai observationy
 ..Mr Biddle-I spoke to MT. Bowen about the charges in general way, and he told me he would give such informa- tion as he had and set me right on the entire thing: and he would show me cer- tain letters that he had forwarded to the state department.
 Secretary Taft-And they included the Mercado letters? The letters of Mayors to Looms? ,.on saw
 Secretary Taft-I suppose you saw the same letters that Bowen gave me one was the Mercado claim second, the Mayors letter, and the third has slipped my mind. There was letter to Mir Hay written by Bowen?
 MT. Biddle-I saw that at dlHerent times.
 "'Secretary Taft-Just run your eyes over these letters Getters of MT. Bow on to Secretary Taft, dated April 2 1902. enclosing copies of papers which had bcen in MT Hays hands, as follows; Telegram to MT. Hay from MT Bowen dated February 20, 1905; telegram to Bow on from Mir. Hay dated February "A, 1c5; telegram to MT. Hay from MT. Bow en. dated February 25, 1905; letter to MT. Hay from Mir Bowen, dated February
 r. from F. B Loomis, dated August 2o' 1goa; letter to MT. Loomis, dated July ls' 1900) <
 MT. Biddle-I have seen all of these and 1t seems to me there was some au- ditienal letters.
 Secretary Taft-Did Mir. Bowen know YOU were a newspaper reporterF
 Knew He Was Reporter.
 MT Biadle-Yes sir: 1 first met Mir Rowen at inc time of the blockade of Venezuela, and I obtained information from him at that time. He Knew "ho was, of course. and went to him as the Herald man. I told him what l had heard and he was frank about sNils me further information A
 Secretary Tuft--Dld he express ue- sire one way CT the otner' to ""Ne ' truth known?
 MT Biddle--He told me great many times that he thought he was Tn d afNerN unfortunate position: that pelhs tue United States minister he could not go forward and be quoted when ang,hins occurred so as to set himseii rish.' iic thought the Instructions inat ne was re- cciving from the department were very unfortunate and that he was ge,tlhs ths blame for the entire thing, Secretary Taft-And therefore would like to have his own side stated some time
 MT Bddle-He told me great many i times that he could not be quoted put would like it if his side could be Hated' I think that he was most anxious to have certain facts come out.
 Testimony of Dates. MT. Bowen himself admits that he | showed these letters and made these | statements to the representatives or the l newspapers in question. l have aireaoy quoted his remark in his statement or May 20, If the newspaper reporters were influenced by me. 1t was justified In try | ing to influence them because MT. Loo | mis was dishonest while minister at Car | cas-
 l Tn the same statement he says that | MT. Loomis' friends asserted that m | stigated the publication of the scandal | with which his name is associateu' mat may be true. Whether 1t Is or not tne | newspaper correspondents at Caracas l alone know. As the scandal was gener- ally known throughout the community I talked with them about 1t. certainly never attempted to keep them silent. on | the contrary, I urged them to tell the | truth. the whole truth and nothing but | the truth
 "1n Is letter to me of June he said: I had several interviews with both MT. I not tar H. Ed nation to which they were sending to | the Herald. In order to make my side