The sun., 1909-02-21
VEEEZUELA'S NEW RULER
Gr\. GOMEZ'S HOPE TO DEVELOP
ms COuNTRY'S RESOURCES.
Ne win wslesne Fere.en Cspitsi, He
Ssw. Establish Cable Communica-
ton and Revise Mining Code Glad
lie VAS Abie to Open Prison Doors.

tic WAS HUo ~ Vpcu rTtsVn boofs.
CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb. t.--On De-
csnAer 10 Juan Vicente Gomez, only a
few hours after he had by his presence
Of mind and personal bravery brought
N nanght the attempt to assassinate
him made by Castro's satellites, was
Walking up and down his offlce at the
Yellow House awaiting replies to the
orders which he bad transmitted to the
isilers Of the prisons Of the republic 10
st all the political prisoners at liberty.
and A he received the kilograms adv is-
ing that his orders had been executed,
ha would rub his hands with almost
boyish glee and with tears in his eyes
would eSclaim:
Poor fellows, how glad they will be
10 he at libertyi How content their
families will he to have them. husband
and father. brother and son. again at
home for Christmas!'
This within few hours OF an attempt
10 murder him clearly reveals the large
iorgiving heart and benev olent nature
n the man. He seems 10 think himself
in real and not only metaphorioal sense
the father OF all the people whom cir
cmstances rather than self seeking
have called on him to rule.
Nor is this kindly treatment reserved
for his own people. When the writer
called on him at Mirafores he was sitting
in corner OF the reception room. He
Immediately arose and taking his visi-
tors hand between both OF his. in a su-
relatively frank and open manner.
retained throughout the conversation. ex-
pressed pleasure at receiving the CORE
spondent OF THE Sun.
After pointing out the great inconveni-
erce TO which the press and public we're
subjected owing to the want OF means
II getting rapidly into communication
with foreign countries the correspondent
inquired whether he hoped TO establish
cable communication. He replied that
that was his hope. and that furthermore
when established he believed 1t would
he on a better basis. with tariff cheaper
than the former. which was exceedingly
high and prejudicial to both public and
private interests
In speaking Of international questions
he said that his Government, the best
inspired OF all that have guided the desti-
nes Of the republic within the last thirty
eight years, with the only exception Of
that Of DR. Rojas Paul In 1888, earnestly
desired to effect arrangements OF all
matters In dispute between Venezuela
and foreign countries in a friendly and
worthy manner. but that in all such settle
ments the laws and interests OF the re-
public would be kept steadily in view.
Regarding the interior conditions Of
the country Gen. Gomez said that the
present Government had made extensive
plans for the development OF the natural
resources Of the country and had slready
begun to carry them out, as could be
clearly seen from its putting an end
to monopolies and from the concessions
which had been given to national and
foreign companies. and consequently
he would see the introduction Of foreign
capital for assisting In the development
Of the natural wealth Of the republic.
provided it involved no hurt OF any kind.
not only with the greatest pleasure but
even with enthusiasm. for that whatever
related TO the increase Of agriculture.
cattle raising. ways Of communication.
railroads and the working Of mines had
the first place in the administrative
programme traced by the Government.
and this but voiced the desires OF the
nation.
The correspondent referred 70 the
difficulties which mining companies met
at every step under the existing mining
codes and asked him whether his Gov
eminent thought OF making a careful
revision Of these codes, to which he re-
piled that the matter had already re-
ceived attention and a commission had
been named for that purpose, at the
head Of which was Dr. Abel Santos. one |
Of the most eminent lawyers Of the coun-
try. who had been imprisoned by ex-dio-
tator Castro for the independence and up
rightness OF his ideas The other COL
leagues named 10 assist him In, the re-
vision we're both young men OF good
sanding at the bar
The conversation then touched on
Jess important matters and finally the
correspondent asked him whether it was
true that he was born at Capacho. to
which he answered with a twinkle In his
eye that it was Castro who was the
'Capachero. but that he himself was
born at the town OF San Antonio on the
Colombian frontier. and consequently
felt himself almost as much at home
in Colombia and at one with the Colom-
bans as il Colombia were his native
country.
Gen Gomez was born on July ~. 1859.
and Is therefore now in his fftieth year.
he is tall standing about five feet eleven
inches. swarthy, robust and active. with
masslve head and limbs He is an early
riser 70 quote his own words. in accord
snce with the Spanish proverb
ri que sc ietdntd ,drde
~ oge misd nj comprd cd're.-
He is generally up at A. NJ, devotes
himself to the work Of his private affairs.
and then 10 the duties OF his Office He
works afterwsrd with his Secretary OF
State Cen Leopoldo Baptista. from
sto 2 o'clock. according to the exigen- I
c'es the case and then with the MEM
"'S 4 the Cabinet.
Prom early youth Gen Gomez has been
accl' med to WORK. devoting himself
70 az 'ItIra' pursuits. first in Ven
ene.s and subsequently, in Colombia, |
shn'- he was driven through political Z
Uou "' and where by untiring energy
and lnr"igence he founded a coffee plan
N'I"r row known as Buenos Aires and
accumulated fortune OF ABOUT 500. .ooO !,
'"'nr = under the influence OF Castro :
and .. ewing in his professions of nat a