Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 June 1905 — MINISTER BOWEN IS GIVEN THE AX [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MINISTER BOWEN IS GIVEN THE AX

(Right in the Neck, from the Official Guillotine Operated by the President. ALSO GIVEN A VERBAL ROAST Result of His Charges Against Assistant Secretary Loomis. Accuser’* Career aa a Diplomat la Brought to a Sudden and Melancholy End -Loomla Declared Indiacreet. Washington, June 21.—The dismissal of Herbert W. Bowen, for some years United States minister to Venezuela, and the exoneration of Assistant Secretary of State Francis B. Loomis of the allegations brought against him by Bowen are the outcome of. the Loomis-Bowen controversy, which has

attracted wide attention for manj months past. This disposition of the case is made by President Roosevelt in a letter addressed to Secretary yaft approving of Taft’s report on his findings and conclusions in the case. President Gives Bowen n Roast. The president scathingly arraigns Minister Bowen, declaring that his conduct is “especially reprehensible;” that Bowen asked one of his witnesses to enter the employ of a certain company for the purpose “in plain words, of stealing” documents which he hoped might incriminate Loomis, and that Bowen has “evidently for many months, indeed, for the last two years, devoted himself” to hunting up scandal and gossip until It became a monomania and caused him “to show complete disloyalty” to the country he represented.

BOWEN MAKES HIS CAKE DOUGH Wm to Hot# Boob Promoted— Toft Gltm Loo ml* o Hop. The president says he had hoped to promote Bowen, as during much of his service he had done good work, but that his usefulness in the diplomatic service is now at an end. The president adds that he would direct that Bowen’s resignation be requested, but for his statement that he would consider a resignation an admission of misconduct, and the dismissal is therefore ordered. The letter quotes correspondence and testimony. The president states that it appears that Bowen while minister secured the publication of attacks on Ixtomis and furnished to the press documents pending before the stute department for ap proval. and that his explanation is inexcusable and shows his “entire unfitness” for the service. Even if Ixxmils had been guilty, says the president, Bowen’s conduct would tie unpardonable. The letter quotes certain correspondence and testimony. The report of Secretary Taft on the case,on which the president’s action is based, Is a voluminous document, reviewing the charges and the evidence taken.

In this report Secretary Taft says there was nothing dishonorable in the transactions in which Loomis figured, but that he was not discreet. The report says that Loomis was not Justified In becoming personally interested in any of the schemes, either with a mere nominal interest or substantial interest. He bolds, however, that Loomis has been “most cruelly slandered,” commends him for the selfrestraint. with which he has met the charges, and points out that Loomis’ bitter experience In this case makes it unnecessary to point out the moral that a minister cannot afford in the country to which he Is accredited to make personal Investments.

MINISTER HERBERT BOWEM.