Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-30
Facts Regarding Venezuela to
Be Sent to Congress.
THE ARROGANCE OF CASTRO
No Recommendation to Be Made by
the President.
COMPLAIN OF oFFIcEHoLDERs
Citizens Of Gloucester Charge per
nicious" Activity-Hot Fight in
Mr.. Gardeners District.

Although the President will transmit to
Congress. without comment. the CORE
spondence and facts relative to the con-
troversy OF the United States and Vene-
zuela as to the claims OF American citi-
1ens against the latter. It is known that
the President feels that this country has
been patient with President Castro beyond
even the limits OF ordinary liberation or
decency. He Is sanguine that when
Congress has digeste the facts there
will be action of some kind. The re-
sponsfbility Of that action is to he left
wholly in the hands of Congress.
President Castro. as will he revealed.
has refused to arbitrate any question
and has played with the United States
as he would with an insignificant country
in South America. 1t is claimed that
never have arrogance and conceit been
more fully shown than in this cor
The whole case was TO have been sub
mitted to Congress today. but for some
reason 1t was decided TO wait for a few
days. Secretary Root conferred with the
President in the morning and afterward
announced that the correspondence would
be transmitted. without expression OF
opinion. from the President today The
decision to postpone was reached by the
President some time afterward The
Is said to be due to the fact
that the President did not have time to
fully read over the correspondents, which
he desired to do before submitting 1t.
A Puzzling Situation.
The administration is said to be some
what puzzled as to what course to pur-
sue should Congress see fit to authorizs
the President TO take whatever steps he
deems necessary. Venezuela is a big
country, and President Castro could
handful of men in the great
mountain Businesses against a tremend-
ously superior force Of this country.
Anything like war would cost the
United States millions of dollars and be
of little profit. II the course should be
pursued of taking charge of the principal
ports OF the country. as did the allied
European powers few years ago. mora
injury would be inflicted upon Castro and
his followers than by any other.
Minister Russell will shortly leave Car
acss for the United States. The State
Department says he is coming on leave
of absence. but 1t Is practically certain
that he has been directed to come here to
confer with the President and Secretary
Root as to recent developments and the
sentime 1T in Venezuela.
Alleged Undue Political Activity.
IitSlucll rsOoStNell fOStHldSIer zen.
eral Meyer and Senators Crane and Lodge
have received kilograms from four citizens
of Gloucester. Mass, protesting against
alleged activity on the part of federal OF.
iceholders in the fight for delegates to the
national convention from that congress
sional district. The telegram did not
make specific charges against any partic-
ular man or set OF men. but the under.
standing here is that it referred largely
to Postmaster Brown at Gloucester. II is
said he has been aiding Representative
Gardner of that district in a red-hot cam.
paign for Taft delegates. and has awak-
ened the disp.easure Of opposing poll.
ticians.
Although the White House has not
acted, in view of the lack of names Post.
master General Meyer has sent letters to
postmasters in the district. especially to
Mr.. Brown. calling attention to the de-
partment's rule against activity by its en-
ployes. Mr.. Meyer said today that thers
is no objection TO A postmaster register
ing his personal preferences in political
contests. but he must not become per-
niciously active, as President Cleveland
used TO call il.
1t is not understood here that the
charges relate to civil service employees
OF whom there are d considerable number
at Gloucester. In the customs house and
post office. Charges against them would
be referred to the civil service commits
sion for investigation and II is said theirs
would be prompt punishment Of the
guilty. Classified employees are protected
against demands upon them for assist.
ance, financial or otherwise In political
contests. and the administration has been
pretty severe in Furnishing those active
beyond the quiet require of citizen.
ship.
MT. Gardeners Fight.
The Gloucester district is represented
in Congress by Mr.. Gardner, a son.in.
law Of Senator Lodge. He is an ardent
friend Of Secretary T0ft. and does not
agree with his father-in-law and Sena.
tor Crane that Massachusetts delegates
to Chicago should go uninstructed. HI
asserted that all talk Of uninstructed
delegates meant delegates opposed to Sec
rotary Taft, and he set out to secure in
structions for the delegates in his distrto
or for the election Of two men beyont
question for the Secretary OF War. The
fight has developed into one OF great
bitterness. Mr.. Gardeners own return II
Congress being involved His politica
enemies feel that If they can beat him
on on the Taft issue they can put him ,Ia OUT
uation and is not giving or asking quar-
ter Men he has helped to secure goot
federal positions are joining him in TIN
fight. and that accounts for the com
Of officeholders.
President Roosevelt had a long confer
ence today with Commissioners Knapp
Lane and Clark Of the interstate com
merce commission. They declared tina
the conference related to a number
small details. and not to any importan
matter the President has under consid
Grafton.
The Oldest Senator Calls.
Senator Stewart, who took the oath
Office today as the successor Of Senate
Proctor called upon the President TO
day and paid his respects. The Presi
dent is an intimate friend of Philip Stew
art of Colorado, son OF the new sen
ator, and the selection of Senator Stewar
by Gov. Proctor was gratifying to tn
President Senator Stewart will now b
the oldest senator in the upper House. H
is eighty-three years old. Senator ALLISON
is the next oldest. He was seventy-nin
March 2. Senator Stephenson OF Wiscon
sin will be seventy-nine in June.
Cuban Quarantine Suspended.
After a long conference with Secretar
Taft today President Roosevelt orders
that the quarantine against Cuba. ordere
into effect April by the marine hospits
service, should be suspended TOR a wee
a report from Gov. Magoon Tn
business men and citizens of Cuba clair
that there is now no yellow fever on tn
stand and no probability Of an outbreak.
silva fhnr