The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-01-16
Secretary Asked Dominican:
Collector Where to Place
Democrats.
PROBE GOES0N
LETTER IS INTRODUCED WITH
THE COMMISSIONERS NAME
ATTACHED.

GUTH.nH#
which it was asserted that changes
made by the present Washington ad-
ministration in the personnel of this
governments official colony in the Do.
minican republic were due to the infiu.
ence of interests seeking to exploit
the finances Of the country, was heard
yesterday at the inquiry conducted by
Senator.elect Phelan Of California to
determine Whether James M. Sullivan.
American minister to the republic. is.
to hold his position.
Secretary Of State Bryan was accus.
ed of lending a in appointing Sulli.
van to the Samuel NJ. Jarvis coterie OF
New York financIers who controlled
the Banco Nacional at Santo Domingo,
alleged to have been an Institution
without standing on the island, and
which sought to obtain for its Golfers
the deposits Of the customs duties, the
collection of which is administered by
the United States, and other govern.
ment funds.
William E. Pulliam. receiver general.
of the customs at Santo Domingo dur.
ing the Taft administration. testified
that F. ]. R. Mitchell, president Of the
Banco Nacional, had caused it to be.
published In a Dominican newspaper
that ". T. s. Doyle, head Of 1.-THE depart
mont OF Latin-American affairs in the
state department, had been removed
on complaint of Mitchell, and that.
Mitchell had subsequently said to him:
Il told you 5 0 Thererl be several
other changes, and they'll extend to.
santo Domingo
Bryan Wanted Jobs.
"A letter was placed on record while
Pulliam was t%estifying by Walker w.
Wick; who succeeded Pulliam as ireceiy.
!er general, and who, after his removal,
instigated the present investigation.
The letter, addressed to Wick under
date Of August &c. 1918, follows:
"NowSthatyouh have arrived and have
acquainted yourself with the situation,
can you let me know what positions
you have at your disposal with which.
to reward deserving Democratsg
Whenever you desire al suggestion
from me in regard to a man for any
place; down, there. call on me.
"You have had enough experience
in politics to know how valuable work.
ers r when the campaign is on and
how difficult it is to find suitable re.
wards for the deserving. lido not know
to what extent a knowledge Of the
Spanish language is necessary for EN-.
ployes. Let me know what is requisite,
together with the salary and when ap.
pointments are likely to be made. Sui:
livan will be down before long. and you
and he together ought to be able to
bring about such reforms as may be
necessary there. You will find sulli.
van a strong, courageous, reliable fel.
low. The more / have seen OF him the
better satisfied I am that he will ft
into the place there and do what Isl
necessary to be done. Very truly yours,
w. ]. BRYAN"
Department Warned.
Pulliam further testified that he had
warned Assistant Secretary Of State
Osborne; in July, 1913, under no cir.
cumstances to have anything to do
with the Banco Nacional crowd and
had explained the character OF the in.
~stitution to him, and that It was seek;
ing to exploit Dominican finances.
For eight years the ~receivership
had been operated without any trouble
and the difficulties that later arose
were unquestionably caused by sulli.
vans transferring the funds to the,
Banco Nacional. That was what they
wanted. They had no funds. They.
wanted to establish credit for. them
selves. Why, nobody would accept
their notes Of issue except as hand bills
o nthe street. The bank was a Joke
Place MadeJfor Long.
Wick testified that Secretary Bryan,
at tn recommendation OF Boas Long,
until. lately head Of the Latin-Americani
department, .'and a!friend, of ], q. Gray,
who was a great friend Of the Banco.
Nacional crowd had appointed Char.
les NJ. johnson, Of Indianapolis, as
financial expert for the republic.
bryan told me that Johnson would.
get $1,000 IA year and expenses said.
witness. johnson was "a -four sales:
man in Mexico and as far as know has
never had any experience that would
qualify him for the fob. He's been.
down there six months and hasn't done
a thing yet. was instructed to pay
his salary. but I refused. because It
would have been Illegal under the
terms OF our convention with the re:
public. Johnson Is supposed to be q
sort Of comptroller. anew office pick.
ed out ofthe skies"
$780,
.svfny Afers.s
The torn vinegar comes from win