The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-11-23
Sketch of Castro

Ciprano Castro was born In the state
OF Tachira, Venezuela in 1860; his
mother q negro and father an indian
patriarch Of decidedly mormon ten
denotes. It is said that Castro was
one Of 60 children, for the most part
illegitimate. He kept small store in
his youth and tended his fathers cat
tie.
Castro was penniless when he usurp-
ed the Venezuelan presidency in 1900,
and at salary Of $4,000 a year he
amassed fortune of millions during
his incumbency. He owned the finest
house in Venezuela, vast ranches and
two palaces. He also owned the
steamers of the former Orinoco COM
pany, vast amounts Of railway bonds
and huge deposits in French banks. It
is believed that he always figured on
fleeing the country and spending his
remaining days In France, should the
turn OF political affairs in the South
American republic make it undesirable
or unsafe for him to remain in the
country.
In brief, his political career was as
follows:
In 1892 he took part in the unsuc-
cessful revolution Of Palacio, and when
the struggle collapsed he fled to COL
ombia. He made his appearance again
b>puhlio life IN 1899 a. deputy from
Tacnira under President Andrade.
Disappointed by the treatment &C.
corded him by, President Andrade,
Castro in May. 1899. started new re-
volt. Aided by Hernandez, Mendoata.
Matos and other leaders, Castro de-
feated the government and entered
Caracas in October. Immediately he
proclaimed himself president of the
republic.
In March, 1901 he was elected pres
ident after putting down the revolts
OF various leaders who deserted him
when he usurped the presidency. The
armed resistance to his rule continued
until Oct. 12. 1902, when Castro de-
cisively defeated the forces of Gen.
Manual A. Matos.
In 1906 Castro was elected for a
second term of six years. He had
used such bloody methods in putting
down all revolts against his rule that
at the election there was practically
no resistance to him.
AS president Castro began immed-
lately the policy of depressing foreign
m v,Sto1 onA vnnnnno1iuino hnv,no In
dustry. He created for himself and
his close friends and political sup
porters monopolies in the expectation
Of cattle and in the trade of fresh beef,
alcohol, tobacco, matches, hides, leath-
er, milk, and other staples, and in the
control Of navigation and trade along
the Venezuelan coast and inland
waters. BY means of these unjusti-
fable monopolies he ruined many
| thousands Of native planters, manufac-
turers and traders.
The fate of foreign capital under
Castro's regime was exemplified in the
ruin of the Caro- railroad, the Callao
and Imataka mines, the Manqa CON-
pany, and several irrigation and steam
ship companies. He annulled the
rights of existing companies and turn
ed them over to his friends.
In July, 1904, he seized the asphalt
lake owned by the New York and Ber-
muda company, refusing the request
of the United States for a suspension
Of proceedings pending an fnvestiga-
ton. The property was sequestered
in the hands Of Castro's personal rep
resentatives, who sold the asphalt and
retained the proceeds. With the ex-
cepticn of the asphalt and the French
cable companies, which continued to
fight for their rights, nearly all the
industries of Venezuela dwindled away
and disappeared under Castro's rule.
Those that were not dealt with in this
high handed manner were driven from
the country by adverse judicial decis-
ions and by extortion.
Personally Castro was a most in
significant specimen of humanity. He
was small Of stature, extravagant in
dress and vulgar in his manners. He
WAS conspicuous at social affairs by
his fantastic capers. Though he had
led several revolts he made it a point
to keep in the background when there
was any real fighting to be done.
His courage was illustrated in his
action during the earthquake Of 1900,
when he jumped from his window 80
feet to the ground, abandoning his
wife and child in the palace to their
fate.