New-York tribune., 1913-07-15
L|KENS GOMEZ TO CASTRO
President of Venezuela Charged
with FavOring POCketbook.
HEAD OF VAST MONOPOLY"
Has Made $15,000,0OO in Less
than Ten Years, Says Lead
ing Nationalist.

Rafael de Nogales- Mendez, member
Of the Nationalist party in Venezuela
has an article in The South American
issued to-day. In which he makes vio-
lent attack upon the administration OF
President Juan Vicente Gomez.
The Constitution OF Venezuela prohibits
a President from occupying the office for
two consecutive terms. Senior Nogales-
Mcndez SAYS that President Gomez Is
plotting either 10 amend the Constitution
20 permit his own continuation I'm office.
or, failing in that 10 nominate sue
cessor who would be mere hgurehead
I'm carrying out the policy OF the regime
which the writer terms the invisible
government Of Caracas" Nogales- Men
dez recites the history Of Venezuela for
the last forty years. He attacks each ad-
minlstratiOn as the absolute ana contlnu-
Gus rule of a ring which has dominated
the affairs Of Venezuela IN its own inter-
ests. lie saws that Castro amassed II
great fortune while he was President.
and that Gomez has made 100000 in
less than ten years.
Castro had hardly assumed the PreSl-
dency before the master minds OF the IN
ner ring. having made d keen study OF
his personality. began 10 play on ms
idiosyncracles. says Senior Nogales- Men
Gez Castro was ignorant almost 10 tn
point OF illteracy. lie had risen from a
very modest condition OF rather strong
personality. his two predominating weak
nesses were egotism and a penchant for
fomiuinity Through an appeal 10 these
characteristics the ring leaders OF the
system soon had him completely under
control and had little trouble in retaining
The mastery Of the situation until toward
the close OF his administration.
President Gomez mas continued the
Castro system continues his critic. 1T
il said that he not only controls every
appcintive Office, but literally dictates the
election OF congressman. Senators, the
judiciary and other officials"
Senior Nogales-Mende accuses Gomez
and his associates OF controlling and eN-
plotting all the principal indu'tries OF the
country lie says these men control the
Compania F1uvialty Costonera, which
holds the exclusive monopoly and right
10 navigate all the rivers and lakes. also
own the salt. match and cigarette
in0n0IOltN anu every VAlifA AAlie 9a4i'h'''
manufacturing or commercial enterprise
IN the country. including particularly the
cattle industry. He claims that when
the alleged coterie OF exploiters fancies
q mining OF plantation property they
either beclovd tie title or by some tech
ncality force the owner 10 sell without
regard 10 law or sacredness OF property
ownership lie also charges that impor-
ti,ns and expectations arr taxed TO the
very limit by a tarift which Is raised or
lowered 10 facilitate the speculatons Of
Gomez and the Invisible" lie hints
that one reason why Gomez and hts
friends are trying to perpetuate them
selves i'm power is that the bulk OF the
wealth they have acquired is tied up
In lands and estates, the titles 20 which
would be I'm question under a proper ad-
minlstration of the law.
Sehor Nogales- Mendez predicts that 70
per cent OF the people Of Venezuela are
opposed to the alleged invisible govern
ment.' and all will rise in opposition 10
il this winter unless the President and
his supporters permit an orderly election
under the present Constitution without
changes being made I'm IL.