Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-15
CASTRO NOT DICTATOR
Declares Gen. Gomez is Law
fuI Vice President.
SPEAKS AS FROM THE DEAD
Sensational Statement From Venezue-
Ian Executive.
OPPOSITION Is DUMFOUNDED
Had Not Expected Check to Plans to
Disrupt the Country-Ministers
Send Congratulations.
OPPOSITION Is DUMFoUNDED

NEW YORK, February 15.-The Herald
today publishes the following letter from
Caracas. under date Of February 2:
In an effort to save his country from the
ruin threatened by the struggle between
the two wings of his party for the control
of the government, in the event of his
death, President Castro has surprised
friends and enemies by publishing his first
utterance since he was taken so seriously
i'll. more than six months ago. These words
give clew to the gravity of his illness:
"A dead man returns to the living to
give his voice and opinion as are demanded
by the circumstances. When it treats of
the well being and tranquility of the
fatherland, you will never have to await my
efforts while even exhalng my last breath.
and until my few, my very few, adversaries
can speak with reason the consumatum est
over the corpse of him whom for so long a
time they have wished, and still wish. to
disappear, just If. miserable men, their
happiness or that of the republic depended
thereon. My physical condition compels
me- to be brief on the point to which 1 will
conf1ne myself: very laconic, but 1t will be
sufficient if the Venezuelan people under
stand me-.
Gen Castros sensational statement took
the form of a telegram to the director of
the government organ, Ell Constitutional,
ana 1t followed closely on week Of the
greatest activity by the anti-Gomez faction.
Newspapers controlled by the coup d'etat
party had been calling on Gen Gomez to
resign from the vice presidency. Other
papers have been declaring there are no
vice presidents. on the grounds that the
reclamation of last spring superseded the
constitutional elections and that Castro has
been dictator since.
INSTRUMENTATION in Barracks.
simultaneously with these attacks on the
constitutionality of Vice President Gomez's
office there was INSTRUMENTATION of the
barracks which has in custody the artil-
lery and ammunition of the federal Dis
trict. its commander having defied the min
lister of war. These. events, coupled with
the evident activity of Gen. Alcantara
threw Caracas into such excitement that
Ell Constitutional came out strongly for
the constitutionality of the present order
of things and appealed to Gen. Castro
to speak. His word was to be taken as
law by the warning elements within the
party, so that it might present solid
front against the threatened invasion from
abroad and an uprising of the masses,
which had been a possibility for some
time.
Castro has spoken from his bed when
nobody thought that he was equal to such
an effort, and his proclamation has for the
moment dumfounded the forces working
to disrupt the party. because he says that
Gen: Gomez has never resigned the vice
presidency, and that he should not do so.
These are his words:
when, and before whom. has this resig-
nation of Gen. Juan " Gomez from the
position of first vice president been made
and accepted? At least l have no know-
edge of such an act, except that 1t has
been so stated. We can safely assert, then.
that even should our constitution permit 1t
there has been no reason for even dis
cussing the aforesaid resignation"
Denies He is Dictator.
Denying that the proclamation of June
could be construed to have superseded the
elections and to have established a dicta-
torship, he says:
CAS- to myself. may God save me from
changing the toga of the magistrate for
the sword of the warrior in order to con-
vert myself into a dictator. 1 have never
wanted, nor do 1 want. oppression for my
fellow citizens. but only complete well-be-
ing and happiness"
On the publication of this telegram from
Castro, the cabinet ministers wrote joint
reply congratulating him on this proof
that he is still watchful for the welfare
Of Venezuela. They said:
'"ro you, our esteemed friend. in whom
the fatherland and society place their
dearest hopes. we send our congratulations
for this plausible manifestation which re-
veals to the Venezuelan nation and to the
whole world in an evident way. that the
brain and heart of the invincible hero
from whom Venezuela hopes with only too
much reason for still greater prosperity
and glory. lives and beats with all it's
energy and all its abnegation.'
General Castro, on January 26, few
days after writing his letter, sat out on
the upper porch of his house at Macuto,
and could be seen from the street sur
rounded by few intimate friends. Ell
Constitutional Immediately published
bulletin announcing this event. 1t said:
AT this moment, 10 am. the restorer
is on the balcony of his house. talking
with various friends. All Of Macuto is !
walking past the residence of the hero.
The country has been saved! What tri-
umph for DR.. 'Revenga The triumph of
the wise physician will, from today, be
united to the glory of Castro!'
Castros first photograph since he be-
came ill seven months ago was taken by |
an intimate friend that day on the piazza
and was published in the government |
newspaper to show the country that al |
though i'll, he still lived. He is seated in !
a rocking chair, dressed In pajamas and |
with the same smoking cap that he was |
wont to wear. Although his face looks |
swollen. emaciation Is shown by his hand, |
which is the most striking part Of the |
picture.