The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-06-21
LOOMS INDICATED
YET REPRIhANDED
President Disposes Of AS
phalt Scandal Case.
MINISTER BOWEN DROPPED
Hunted Up Gossip Until 1t Became
Monomania, Declares sthe Chief
- Executive.
MINISTER BOWEN DROPPED

- Executive
Dismissal and severe censure for Her
bert w. Bowen, minister to Venezuela;
exoneration for Mr.. Loomis accom-
panied by q reproof for indiscretions, is
the outcome of the Bowen-Loomis con-
troversy.
President Roosevelt. in approving the
findings in Secretary Taft's report,
scathingly arraigns Minister Bowen, de-
claring that Mr.. Bowen asked one of his
witnesses to enter the employ of a GER
tain company for the purpose, lin plain
words. of stealing documents which he
hoped might incriminate Mr.. Loomis
and that Mr.. Bowen has evidently for
many months. indeed. for the last two
years. devoted himself to hunting up
scandal and gossip until 1t became a
monomania, and caused him to show
complete disloyalty to the country he
represented.
Censure for Loomis.
Mr.. Loomis did not escape entirely
Secretary Taft in his review of the case,
in which the President concurred. said:
Il cannot say. because I DO not think
that the record of Mr.. LOOMS as min
lister in Venezuela, as shcwr in this
record, Is such as to disqualify him
from service as minister in the diplo-
matte service in the United States, but
/ sincerely hope that his bitter expert
ence In this case makes it unnecessary
further to point the moral that one
who occupies the position of minister
of the United States cannot efford in
any country to which he is appointed
in which business enterprises must
more or less be affected by government
favor and concession kp
sonal investments of any sort or to
leave the slightest doubt as to the
absence of all personal interests in any
matters which he may bring before the
government to which he is accredited -
In his review of Secretary Taft's re-
port President Roosevelt starts OF with
the assertion that II agree with ali
your findings and conclusions regarding
Mr.. LOOMS and have nothing to add
thereto"
Bowen to Taft, "My Dear Bill"
The President then proceeds to con-
slider the case as it affects MIR. Bowen
through Mr.. Loomis' countercharges.
He then goes ON to comment on Mr.
Bowen's statement that he never made
charges" against Mr.. Loomis. This,
in the Presidents opinion is a mere
matter of Technology. He quotes
letter from Mr.. Bowen to Secretary
Taft beginning My Dear Bill" and
signed herbert, TO show that Mr..
Bowen sent copies of papers to Mr.
Tart in order that the latter might be
1aiiy informed as to the terrible
scandal in the situation. at Caracas
Ihe President also refers to cable
grams to Mr.. Bowen containing state
ments rejecting on Mr.. Loomis and to
q letter from Mr. Bowen to Secretary
Hay, written last February, in which
check and a letter incrimina ting Mr.
Loomis, and which the. President says
were wholly fictitious were in the
hands of President Castro. of Vene-
zuela, who, because he had them. was
not afraid to refuse TO arbitrate the
asphalt case with the United States.
sTue statements of Mr. Bowen that
Messrs. Russell and Buchanan had been
appointed respectively ministers to CO.
l aa ana Panama through the in
nuence of Mr. LOOMS.
Bowen Did Prefer Charges.
The President makes other references
TO statements of Mr.. Bowen to show
that he actually did prefer the charges
which he asserted he merely sent to the
etate Department for It's information.
In one letter Mr.. Bowen spoke of having
submitted documents with reference TO
MT LOOMS TO the State Department
ana TO the fact that a year had passed
without action upon them by Secretary
by implication at least looks as if Mr.
misconduct
The President also quotes a state
Hent OF MI Bowen that he was justified
IN securing the publication of the
newspaper attack on Mr.. Loonis and
tnat he did So because Mr.. LOOMS
seemed likely to bring still further dis
grace on our Government The Presi-
cent likewise includes in his review this
excerpt from statement by Mr..
"ff the newspaper renresen+,4iyes
were influenced by me 1 was justified in
trying TO influence them. because Mr..
LOOMS was dishonest while minister al
Caracas and as Assistant Secretary of
state was guilty of abrogating the
agreements President Roosevelt and
MI Hay had authorized me to make
with the Venezuelan government and
because he deceived and seemed likely
TO continue TO deceive the Government
and people Of the United States
~ Is disingenuous for Mr.. Bowen re-
peatedly to dse such language" says the
PRESIDENT, and at the same time to in
sist that he has made no charges
against Mr. LOOMS Moreover. it is
peHeve that the cableSram signed by
Mr.. LOOMS as Acting Secretary Of
state, which he calls protocol, really
proves that Mr. Loonlis was guilty Of
abrogating the agreements President
Roosevelt and Mr.. Hay rave authorized
me TO make with the venezuelan gov
eminent
Mr. Bowens statement is shown to
be absolutely untrue by the statement
of the solicitor of the Department of
State. Mr.. Penfield AS mat
ter of fact. the LOOMS cable in question
was sent by direction of Mr. Hay y
Mr.. Bowen's allegation on this point is |
In reality "A charge against Mr.. Hay
rather than a charge against Mr.. Loo
mis-
Excuse Made It Worse.
~ fnlI
of testimony regarding the instigation
by Bowen of newspaper attacks on