Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-27
THE ASPHALT CASE
Acting Secretary LOOMS De-
clines to Talk.
WILLISSUESTATEMENT
TREATING THE RUMoRs WITH
GREAT DETAIL.
Rudolf Dodge Says Bowen is Jealous OF
Loomis and Denies Check
Story.
WILLISSUE STATEMENT

Acting Secretary Loomis, who has return
ed to Washington from Connecticut, this
morning declined to discuss In any way the
publication connecting his name with that
of Minister Bowen in the matter of the
asphalt controversy, but it is his purpose to
issue a statement later on treating these
rumors with great detail
What Mr.. Dodge Said.
Rudolf Dodge, secretary of the United
States and Venezuelan claims commission
and American consular agent at Caracas,
who was recently in this city, in speaking
of the asphalt controversy, said:
at is u matter of sincere regret to me,
as 1 am sure 1t will be TO all Americans re-
siding in Venezuela, to learn that Mr.
Bowen has evidently again allowed his VIC
lent temper and indiscretion to get the
best of his judgment. although do not see
where in the end his charges can harm
any one except himself.
Certainly they will not hurt the prestige
of the United States in Venezuela, where
Mr.. Loomis is so well and favorably known.
and where it is equally well known that
Mr.. Bowen, having been an aSpirant for a
high position in the department of state.
has, for several years past been giving
free vent to his bitter jealousy of Mr..
Loomis by making reckless charges against
him to any one who would listen to them.
ITO those of US who live in Caracas year
in and year out. and who are wholly famil-
lar with the situation, it seems annoying
that any one should give currency to the
charges that Mr.. Bowen has made con-
corning Mr. Loomis. The story of the check
is an aged dscredited, exploded canard,
which was manufactured by man now
dead as part of a coolly calculated campaign
for the despoiling of one of the asphalt
companies, and set afioat to embarrass Mr..
LoomiS in the excellent work and vigorous
fight which he, under direct orders of his
Ii, IN
trigue. Every one understood the nature
and origin of this check story. 1t was a
sort of campaign lie. No proof was ever
offered to sustain it, and none is now Of
fered. The charge is a lie out of the whole
cloth. I say this advisedly, because tho
gravamen of the charge is that Mr.. Bowen
has stated that he has been told by the
minister of foreign affairs that the Ven
eZuelan government has this alleged check,
some thing connected with it.
General Ybarra's Denial.
an the course of a conversation with
General Alexandra Ybarra, the minister of
foreign affairs, who is friend of mine of
long standing l took occasion to refer to
the subject and to ask him the direct ques-
ton: is there any truth in the report that
you have stated that the Venezuelan gov
eminent or it's officials have any document
of any sort compromising Mr.. LOOMS in
reference to asphalt companies, or anything
elSe?'
General Ybarra said with great en-
phasis: The report that l have stated,
that we, this government, have or have
had any check other document COM
promising to Mr.. LOOMS or rejecting upon
him, is an outrageous lie, and authorize
you to quote me-
Mr.. Bowen has a mania for making
sweeping, sensational charges about peo-
pie. He has recently charged that a prom
inent foreign minister in Caracas. repre-
sentirg one of the great powers most
friendly to the United States, has received
a large sum of money from one of the
asphalt companies for selling to it dipo-
matte secrets. This charge is, of course,
wholly unsupported. He has also made
similar charges against several other peo-
pie of prominence whom L could name all
of these unsupported by particle of evil
dence'
A Change Contemplated.