Show WAS POLITICAL MATTER New York Feb 23 Spencer Spencer Eddy first se secretary of r t g th Stat is 1 ati n nat at Constantinople who who had charge of of the negotiations for or the release of Miss Ellen Elien M. M Mrs arrived here today on the Wilhelm In an interview he said the brigands captured an American rather than any other missionary because they believed the Americans had the most money and would be likely to pay the ransom Did the brigands want the money for themselves Mr Eddy was asked No they did not and that is where the American people do not understand this case It is entirely a political mat mat- ter and all the people In Macedonia are In sympathy With the for they donla believe fief fie f from It Is a Turkish step Ys YsO toward O rule ed f freeing the Ins same Macej ac a Bulgaria has been and the money they demanded was Intended for the Macedonian cause j If we had been dealing with the pro prot pure sr o and a simple brigands t instead instead- nf who d' d wanted of Ft the political Yn rl ones Miss Stone would have been re released released re- re leased long ago It Is very likely tUat this capture was deliberated upon for a along along long time and the victims selected were considered best to serve the cause when compared with those of other ties Do the Macedonians have any feeling of ot enmity toward the missionaries No they are rather friendly to them than otherwise They desired to attract the attention of the world to their cause and incidentally to get some need much ed money 1 I have every reason to believe they have given Miss Stone and her companion companion com com- panion in captivity the very best of treat treat- ment When Mme baby was wasI born she received the kindest of treatment treat treat- I m ment from all i we can learn I r i have live letters t sn l from Miss Stone written In Bulgarian so her captors could read them and they were masterpieces in cleverness and diplomacy Miss Stone is isa a very courageous woman Will not Turkey attempt to punish the ringleaders Turkey will have have- a problem problem- m. m oh her hands if she does for the Macedonians have risen as one man in their determination determination deter deter- to bo be freed from Turkey and this of the two American missionaries miss mis mis- s maybe called chapter one in their plan for liberty |