Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-07-30
MAY Spank CASTRO
Uncle Sam ltches to Chastise
Venezuela For Refusal to
Pay Her Debts
TO BE RECEIVER AGAIN
Roosevelt Idea May Be Brought Into
Play Again-Powers Would Like IL
New Defiance Given-course of Ac-
ton May Be of the Effective Kind
Roosevelt Has Lost Patience.

Washington, July 3o.-Venezuela, in
refusing to arbitrate the claims which
American citizens have against that
government may compel the United
States to use force in bringing about
an adjustment.
Whether or not the United States
collect the customs revenues and pay
a portion of them over to the Ameri-
can citizens whose property has been
confscated by President Castro and
who has refused all redress is a qGes-
ton which has not yet been decided.
President Roosevelt has been sorely
vexed at the action of President Cas-
tro in refusing to do anything In the
direction of bringing about a settle
ment and long ago he contemplated
sending a fleet to the Venezuelan coast
and forcing some action from Castro.
Castor has again defied the United
States government, as he did the
French government in connection with
ing to have any official relations with
a French counsel because he was zeal
Gus in pressing for settlement the
claims of the French Gable company.
Castro also defied Germany, Great
Britain and Italy, blockaded the port
of Caracas This action of the powers
caused the United States much trou-
BILE as it was feared that if any OF
these nations landed forces they would
attempt to remain in violation of the
Monroe doctrine and compel this gov
eminent to expel them by force. AZ
ter long negotiations the three powers
withdrew their battleships and Castro
promised to settle.
President Roosevelt has been in a
mood for a long time to give Castro a
spanking, but even with the new de-
fiance there will be some hesitation on
the part OF the president to send fleet
of vessels 10 Venezuela. Such course
would be entirely satisfactory to the
European nations, which would like TO
see someone compel Castro to carry out
the contracts his government made
with foreigners.
There would be no interference on
the part of European nations to the
United States blockading the ports OF
Venezuela. but they would not look
with favor on this government secur-
ing justice for American citizens and
collecting their claims unless some ar
II !, .Jr o
payment of the claims of their sub
jects.
If the coast is blockaded, in all prob
ability it will be after some agreement
has been reached between the United
States and the leading European ma
lions that all foreign claims, against
must be paid. This may
lead to another instance of the Amerl-
can government acting as receiver for
as it is now doing in Santo
Domingo. thus putting into effect the
policy in another part of the
world.
Suppose all this jingo talk results
in war with Japan; what Will the
United States do for smokeless pow
der?
Doubtless this question has been
fully considered and wisely settled by
the long headed war and navy col
leges. but it's pretty nearly enough to
stump any ordinary mortal. The fact
is that Japan has pretty nearly mo-
nopoly of the camphor industry. and
must be had for the manufac-
ture of smokeess powder by the pres
ent methods.
Until within a few years the entire
supply of the world came
from Japan, which produced in 1906
about 100000 pounds of camphor
gum and about 100000 pounds of
oil. Recently China has beer
some camphor but the in
dustry there is almost entirely In the |
hands of Japanese. who developed it
and are supporting it. 1t is very
doubtful whether China would become
a source of supply in case the United
States should get into trouble with the /
Japs.
Under conditions of peace, 80 per
cent of the camphor produced in Japan |
is exported, but of course none of it |
would go TO the United States in event |
of war These considerations renew |
interest in Uncle jim" Wilson's pro-
ject of Introducing camphor culture in
the United States. Already a little |
start has been made, but nothing like
4 sufficient supply is in sight A pri-
vate corporation has a camphor grove
in the south, and in event of war this
government would probably be obliged |
10 take possession of the entire grove.
Neither the enactment of a good
free alcohol law nor the publication of /
liberal regulations can, of themselves. |
ouild up a new alcohol industry in this |
country" said David A. Gates. the
man who drew the new free alcohol /
regulations.
There is no use in trying to get +
around the square fact that it is easier
10 administer this industrial alcohol
egislation in the interest Of the manu-
'acturer and of the dealer than in the
interest Of the man who wants to in
,tall and operate a small distillery. We
,now lust about how far we can go
With manufacturers and dealers; we
nave had plenty of experience with
hem. But we have not had e1per-
euce With farm and other small diStll- I
cries of this nature. and We can /
luow exactly how 10 handle them. OF
course we hear a great deal about the
inc development of small distillerles
n Germany but the fact is that con-
ltions there are altogether different I
rom conditions in this country. and H