Evening journal., 1915-01-30
sullivan Denies
ALL VICE'S CHARGES
Statement From Minister TO
San Domingo, Read on Last
Day of Probe in New York
SAYS ACCUSERS
ARE PIRATES

NEW YORK. Jan. 3O.-A statement
from James NJ. Sullivan, American
minister 10 the Dominican Republic,
denying all the charges Of unfitness
made against him. chiefly by Walker
W. Wick, former receiver general of
customs of Santc Domingo. was read
in evidence at the hearing into the
charges before Senator-elect Phelan.
The statement received by mail,
was supported by documentary evil
dence and made counter charges
against Wick. Sullivan declared he
had been made the victim Of news
paper campaign engineered by Wick to
attack his character and conduct,
which was unsupported by facts lie
said certain newspapers in the United
States had "championed the cause of
an audacious gang Of pirates as ever
sailed the Caribbean"
Sullivan said he had no apology To
make for recommending as the depos
tory for the receivership funds thc
Banco Nacional, which Wick charges
was an Enthusiastically institution and
had been accused of seeking the ap-
pointment of Sullivan in order to cx-
plot the island.
"If Wick was unwilling to make thu
change, he would have scarcely acted
upon my recommendation. wrote thf
minister. THE fact is that the 1e
sire to make further change was bOrr
in Wick some months later for rea
sons best known TO himself. and in tn,
campaign he then opened on th'
Banco Nacional there was no inter
ference from me until ! learned .
Vick's determination TO turn the bust
ness over from an American 10
British corporation (Royal Bank .
Canada, whNeupon simply mott
fed the State Department OF Nj
Vick's intention, and asked the Stat
Department to note the significanc
of the change. This notification pre-
vented Wick from carrying out hi
purpose. and the depositary was re
turned to the original banker fror
which it was first taken. who was tn
lowest bidder in the proposals mad
in answer to Mr.. Vick's advertisement
"Tho records of the State Depart
nront will show that l never recorde
any one bank above another. eXceu
that l urged preference for som
American bank. stating that if tn
American banks here were not salts
factory. the Department should urg
some responsible bank in America
open a bank here
Sullivan claimed he had been in
strumental in having a financial eS
pert, Charles NJ. Johnston. sent Z
the island
"If / had any intention OF exploit
ing Santo Domingo" he wrote, "whs
a strange policy 10 place on guar
a man who would have the right an
has the right which affects it fnanc
ally"
Sullivan denied that he had caus
ploodshcd ON the island and assert
that at the time # the revolution
'0l3 it was through his efforts that
peace pact had been signed (which end
what promised to be the most sangt
nary revolution in the history of Il
country" lie declared that on mo
han one occasion he had prevented ha
ties almost ut the moment they were
occur.
He had been instrumental in holdii
iair election ito the astOnishmcnt
natives and foreigners" and for the fir
time established government not has
ou force lie had secured free spec
and free press. released political pri
oncrs. obtained from the government {
right of fair trial and broken up CORFU
tion in the public works department
said
"Since that time / have devoted m.
self TO the task of driving unwortl
Americans. bent on loot. from Il
country" he added.
Sullivan declared that Wick Ia
displayed more interest in public COZ
tracts than he did, and charged tn
Wick was interested in lighthou
contracts. This Wick today denied {
the stand. as he did all OF Sullivan
counter accusations. charactcriziI
some OF them as lies"