The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-06-21
BLOW FOR BOWEN *T*
 Former Minister to Venez-
 ueIa Dismissed From
 Service in Dis grace. PRESIDENT SHOWS NO MERCY F 4e.
SCATHINGLY ARRAIGNs CON- DUCT OF THE DIPLOMAT.

Declares Bowen Asked One of His Own
 Witnesses to Enter the Employ of a
 Certain Company for the Purpose of
 stealing Documents Which He Hoped
 Might Incriminate Assistant Secretary
 of state Loomis-DevOted Himself
 For Two Years to Hunting Up scan-
 dal and Gossip Until it Became Mon-
 omania and Caused Him to Show
 Complete DisIoyaIty to His Country
 MT. Loonlis Indiscreet But Not Dis-
 honest--A Lesson to Him.
 Washington, June 2O.-The dismissal from the diplomatic service of Herbert w. Bowen, for some years United States minister to Venezuela and the exonera- ton of Assistant Secretary of State Francis B. Loomis of the allegations brought against him by MT. Bowen are the outcome of the Loomis-Bowen con- troversy, which has attracted wide att tention for many months past. This disposition of the case is made by Pres ident Roosevelt in a letter addressed to Secretary Taft, made public tonight, approving MT. Taft's report on his find ings and conclusions in the case. The president seathingly arraigns Minister Bowen. declaring that his conduct is especially reprehensible:;'' that MT. Bowen asked one of his witnesses to en- ter the employ of a certain company for the purpose, in plain words, of steal ing, documents which he hoped might incriminate MT. Loonis'' and that Mr. Bowen has evidently for many months, indeed, for the last two years, devoted hinself' to hunting up scandal and gossip until it became a monomania and caused him to show complete dis loyalty to the country he represented. The president says he had helped to promote MT. Bowen. as during much of his service he had done good work, but that his usefulness in the diplomatic service Is now at an end. The presi- dent adds that he would direct that MT. BoWeIls resignation be requested but for his statement that he would con- #SiueE8 E8@8tt SIGSiSIldIiOll etll etuIilSSloh ol misconduct and the dismissal is. there- fore ordered. The letter quotes corre- spondence and testimony.
 The president states that it appears that MT. Bowen, while minister, secur- ed the publication of attacks on MT. Loomis and furnished to the press doc uments pending before the state de- partment for approval, and that his ex- planation is inexcusable and shows his s.entire unfitness'' for the service. Even if MT. Loomis had been guilty, says the president, Mir. Bowen's conduct would be unpardonable. The letter quotes certain correspondence and testimony. The report of Secretary Taft on the case, on which the presidents action is based, is a volunlinous document re- viewing the charges and the evidence taken. &
 In his report Secretary Taft says that there was nothing dishonorable in the transactions in which MT. Loomis figured, but that he was not discreet. < The report says that Mir. Loomis was not Justified in becoming personally in terested In any of the schemes, either iWllll@ l1iGCIG0L oI Sup~ stantial interest. He holds, however, that MT. Loomis has been "most cruelty slandered, < comments him for the self restraint with which he has met the charges, and points out that Mir. Loom- is bitter experience in this case makes 1t unnecessary to point out the moral that a minister cannot afford, in the country to which he is accredited, to make personal investments in eompa- mics which are being promoted.
 President Roosevelt in his letter to Secretary Taft says:
 Sir: |, have read your report of June 19 on the. Bowen-Loomis matter. I agree with all your findings and con- cIusions regarding MT. Loonis, and have nothing to add thereto.
 Here a long review and details of the case are given, and the letter continues:
 Of course such conduct is inexcusa- ble, and shows MT. Bowen's entire un- fitness to remain in the diplomatic ser- vice, without regard to whether the charges he has made against Mr. Loom- is are true or false. Even if Mr. 4uLUUlll1S Fiicid lpCCil 9IL. DOWell 5 conduct would have been unpardona- state ia dexplicitly forbidden. just such careful investigation of the charges shows them to be false, his attitude appears in an even worse light. But 1t must be kept in mind that his un- fitness for the service is clearly estab- Iished by his own conduct, without any reference to the question of Mir. Loomis' actions. The department of or criticising any other officers in either conduct, in a general circular issued over three years ago, reading as fol- lows:
 Charges against diplomatic and con-
 sular officers
 Department of State,
 Washington, April 25, 1902 ITO the Diplomatic and Consular Off,
 ficers of the United States. f 5Esfss#8 fCnnfinJIad ons E,ie~hth Do uax 49