The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-22
DISMISSAL OF
BOWEN ORDERED
Roosevelt sLetter a Scat
hing Document
"UNFiT FOR SERVICE"
Bowen's Conduct Was Disloyal, Dis
honorable and objectionable,
and Especially Reprehen.
sible Said Roosevelt.
..loomis is Siandered"
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, June 20.-The dismiss
sal of Herbert w. Bowen for some
years United States minister to Vene-
zuela and the generation of Assistant
Secretary of State Francis b. LOOMS,
of the allegation brought against him
by MIR. Bowen, are the outcome of the
Loomis- Bowen controversy, which
has attracted wide attention for many
months past. This disposition of the
case is made by President Roosevelt
i'm letter addressed to Secretary Taft,
made public tonight, approving Mr..
Taft's report on his findings and con-
illusions in the case.
The President scathingly arraigns
Minister Bowen, declaring that his
conduct lis especially reprehensible,"
that Mr.. Bowen asked one of his wit
nesses to enter the employ of a GER
tain company for the purpose I'm
plain words, of stealing documents
which he hoped might incriminate Mr..
LOOMS and that Mr.. Bowen has "evi-
IDENTIFY for many months indeed for
the last two years, devoted himself
to hunting up scandal and gossip until
il became a monomania and caused
him ito show coEIcjlete disloyalty" to
the country he represented.
The President says he had hoped
to promote Mr.. 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 President adds that he would di-
rect that Mr.. Bowen's resignation be
requested, but for his statement that
he would consider resignation an ad-
mission of misconduct and his dismiss
sal Is therefore ordered.
The President states that it appears
that Mr.. Bowen while minister Sc
cured the publication of attacks on
Mr.. Loomis and furnished to the press
documents pending before the State
Department for approval and that his
explanation is ineXcuSable, and shows
his "entire unfitness" for the service.
Even If Mr.. LOOMS has been guilty,
says the President. Mr.. Bowen's con-
duct would be objectionable. The
letter quotes certain correspondence
and testimony.
The report of Secretary Taft on the
case. on which the Presidents action
is based, is a voluminous document
reviewing the charges and the evil
dence taken.
In his report Secretary Taft says
that there was nothing dishonorable
in the transactions in which Mr..
LOOMS figured. but that he was not
discreet The report says that Mr..
personally interested i'm any of the
schemes, either with a mere nominal
interest or substantial interest. He
holds. however, that Mr.. LOOMS has
been most cruelty sandered," COM
mands him for the self restraint with
which he has met the charges and
points out that Mr. Loomis bitter ex-
perience in this case makes it un-
necessary to point out the moral that
m n CT or
try to which he is accredited to make
personal investments.
President Roosevelt in his letter to
secretary Taft quotes at length from
the testimony to show that Bowen
was responsible for the charge against
Loomis, that he instigated and secured
the publication of the attacks on
Lcomis by furnishing to the press
copies of documents believed to re-
fleet on the assistant secretary. The
President Says
"Of course such conduct is ineXcus-
able, and shows Mr.. Bowen's entire
unfitness to remain in the diplomatic
service. without regard to whether the
charges he has made against Mr..
Loomis are true or false. Even If Mr..
Loomis had been guilty, Mr.. Bowen s
conduct would be objectionable. In
Rsmuch as Secretary Tafts careful in
vestigation of the charges shows them
to be false, his attitude appears i'm an
even worse light. The department of
State had explicitly forbidden just
such conduct. in general circular
issued over three years ago" This
circular which the President quotes
prohibits diplomatic and consular Of
ficers from preferrihg charges against
or criticising any other officer in either
service except confidentially to the D =
partment of State.
The Presidents letter continues sit
appears from the testimony that Ca
racas is seething with scandal, and
that all kinds of accusations are rife
not merely against Mr.. Loomis and
Mr.. Bowen, but against practically
every other diplomatic representative
now residing, or who has recently re-
sided there. There is no excuse what
ever for repeating the injurious and
malicious gossip circulated about the -
various men. Mr.. Bowen himself
however, has not only furnished an
brought forward % great deal of sucf
gossip about Mr. Loomis but has evil
IDENTITY been one of the mar
sources from which it origi-
mated. He tried to tampe'
With the cable operator throug'
orr consul at La Guaira. Mr.. Gold
schmidt. i'm order to secure what ~
hoped would be discriminating tele-
grams against Mr.. Loomis.'
Mr.. Goldschmidts reply was j
would be dishonorable to do what 80
ask of me- Mr.. GoldSchmidt. saws NJ"
Bowen. seemed to bear an eytraordi-
nary animus against his predecessor
Mr.. Bowen asked one of the men h
himself produced as a witness. Seno'
Pastor. to enter into the employ of ;
certain company for the purpose o.
obtaining Gin plain words IF staalir~'
documents which he hoped might in
criminate Mr.. LoomiS. He has evi
IDENTIFY for many months. indeed fol
the last two years. devoted himself
tn hunting M eyerv piece of scandal
or gossip of which he heard. affectinE
Mr.. Loomis. until 1t has seemingly be
come momnmania with him. and ha'
caused him to show complete disloy
atty to the service to which he be
longs. and therefore to the country
which he has represented
Mr.. Rowen's conduct is espaciali
reOrphap sibIa harauSn of tho DANA q