New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-08
VENEZUELA REVOLT
Continued from hrst page.

from Caracas of widespread discomfort
with the Gomez government. the latest
reports telling OF the many arrests made
Of persons who had either spoken or
published criticism Of the President.
One OF these, DR.. Rivas Vasduez said
Yesterday. was the editor of eel ITEM
10" of Caracas. which dared to repup-
,sh from The New York Tribune an ar
t,cle sent from n correspondent in Cara
cas. telling Of the situation in the coun-
try.
"That article. while correct in every
detail" said DR.. Rivas Vasquez, told
only OF one phase Of the condition that
exists to-day In Venezuela. The actual
situation Is sad, outrageous and unbear-
able. President Gomez has not only
continued the dictatorship. but has made
II more cruel than II ever was before.
when I became member of the
Cabinet in 1904 ] was an enthusiastic
partisan Of General Gomez, who was
then Vice-President, because l believed
him sincere. He Is n different man to-
| day. The monopolies that Castro for
merly maintained are to-day maintained
for the personal benefit Of President
Gomez and a few of his friends only
there are now more than ever before,
and the country is growing poorer while
the men who control the commodities
dealt in by the monopolies are growing
richer. The judiciary has been nullifed
% de-
MED by Gomez.
Gomez Controls Countrys Business.
Hundreds Of men in desperation have
been compelled to leave their home and
country, their only alternative. for
Gomez has turned a deaf ear to the cries
OF the hungry and disconnected. Gomez.
either personally or in company with
few friends. controls every industry In
the country that is worth while. Some
OF these are the cattle industry, the
cigarette industry. the rum industry and
the match industry.
"The guarantees given us under the
constitution of Venezuela are an irri-
tatng dream, the inviolability Of life is
a falsehood, and the people who have
only such small privilege as Gomez sees
fit to give them are. too, determined TO
end the despotism. Protest against this
infamous condition is answered by i'm
mediate imprisonment Tor the person VINO
dares to voice his protest.
Some time before Castro abandoned
Venezuela, in November. 1908, num-
Der of men of political and military pres
tige considered placing Gomez, because
of his Office of Vice-President. at the
head Of the government. The plan was
for him to take charge OF affairs through
COUP d'etat. II was believed that II
Gomez came into power he would give
heed TO public opinion. President Castro
left his country and Gomez declared
himself President. In reality he became
an emperor and a decidedly despotic
one. too He has proved bitter disap-
pointment TO the country. for he has not
only fallen into the ways that aroused a
protest against Castro. but has gone
even further in his disregard OF public
opinion and needs.
THE few persons Of prestige who sup
port him are those who receive benefits
from him, which are bestowed at the ex-
pense of the public and of the country.
No effort has been made to develop the
great natural resources of the country,
and such efforts by private individuals
have been frustrated by the government.
cF jaol &c fnl-
Grated that might interfere with what
you call the graft of the select few.
Fruit Companys Experience.
"A fine example Of this was had last
August. when | came to this city and
interested the United Fruit Company in
the possibility of the banana industry in
my country. The company was ready to
create company with 100000 au-
thorized capital to exploit the business
and sent one of it's representatives to
Venezuela with me. President Gomez
had promised all possible help. He had
offered to have a gunboat convey the
representative TO Lake Maracaibo. When
the time came for Us TO make the trip
the gunboats were all engaged in carry
ing products for some Of the Presidents
companies. The American agent left
Venezuela in disgust. after being threat
ened with death BY several armed police
men, only because my constituents gave
me an enthusiastic reception which was
not in accord with the Capitalization of
ell the glory in the country in Gomez.
The time for protest has passed Pro-
tests have availed us nothing. Now we
are compelled to act. With property
rights a mere fiction and personal lib
erty only a myth there remains nothing
but 10 protest with arms. This shall be
my mission from now on until we have
freed Venezuela Of her present despot-
ism; and / will add that / have not the
least doubt Of the entire success Of the
movement, for / have such support both
in my country and outside as will make
failure almost impossible"
--f
THOUSAND CHICKENS BURNED.
About one thousand chickens were burned
10 death yesterday in a fire that DESTROYED