The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-12-30
ASPHALT TRUST BEHIND REvO.
LUTON.
cooperation That Conspired With Ma
Oos In 1901 is Said to be Aiding Lar.
est Attempt TO Overthrow yene.
seulan Government.

| new York. Dec. 22.-Dispatches
from Washington indicate that IN.
Asphalt Trust il. for a second time.
behind q revolutionary attempt to ov-
erthrow the existing government OF
Venesuels. Its first attempt was in
1901. when. according to the testi-
mony OF the trust officers four years
later. 1t donated $ls0,000 to Manuel
"A. Aatos. the revolutionary leader.
A dispatch to one Of the New York
papers says that shipments of arms
and munitions Of war. from the Uni
tea States to the revolutionists, are al
ready under way" and that "the rev.
olution seems to have ample financial
support" The same dispatch says
that the first reports Of revolutionary
movements in Venezuela came hard
upon the heels" Of rumors that the
Asphalt Trust looked forward to an
early settlement of its case.
The facts Of the asphalt reyolu-
ton" Of 1901 came out In 1905 when
Gen. Avery D. Andrews and other Of
ncers OF the trust testified in the sui.
brought by the government of vene-
zuela. Gen. Andrews testified that
Gen. Matos. bearing a letter OF intro
duction from the New York and Ber.
mudez company's agent in Caracas.
called at the Office Of the company, at
No. II Broadway, New York, In July
1901. some seven months before Ma
tos began hostilities in Venezuela. FOn
this visit Matos explained to the off,
GERS of the company. his chances Of
success and proposed that the COM
pany should supply the necessary
funds Gen. Andrews said:
THE officers Of the National AS
phalt company therefore, decided TO
give to General Matos the amount
which he asked. namely 100000.
Further sums amounting 70 $4,000
all told were paid to General Matos
soon after the first payment Of $780,
000."
The president Of the National AS
phalt company stated:
when returned from Europe in
October. 1901. was surprised to learn
that during my absence the other Of
ficers had decided to support Matos In
his contest with Castro. I told them
that what they had done was not act
ing In good faith with the state de-
partment, which up to that time,
blargely on representation made by me
to Secretary Hay, had supported the
Bermudez company / told them 1t
would not accomplish any good re-
suit. for. in my opinion. Matos could
not succeed and 1t would ultimately
become known that the company had
aided him. and this would weaken its
position before the Venezuelan gov
ernment."
The Bermudez company was found
guilty, in all the Venezuelan courts
before which the case was tried, Of
conspiring to overthrow the govern
ment. It was expelled from the coun-
try and was ordered to pay a fine in
partial compensation for the loss Of
life and property which its revolution
had caused After that it endeavored
to persuade the United States govern
ment to interfere in its behalf At the
last session of congress. however. the
senate committee on foreign relations
declined to recommend any action
against Venezuela, on the ground that
the trust had outlawed itself by at
tempting to effect the overthrow OF
government with which the United
States was at peace. President Roose-
velt Is understood to have remarked
that the Asphalt Trust "did not come
to the government with clean hands"
After its demands were turned
down by the senate committee, the
asphalt combination suddenly ceased
its open agitation-'its campaign Of
education, and little has been heard
Of activities in the last few months.
Now there are rumors OF revolution
In Venezuela, and the revolutionists
are said to have "ample financial
support" In view of the history of
the Venezuelan case, it is not sur
prising that all the guesses as TO the
giver of this ample financial support"
point In the same direction.