Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-12-16

Planning for Election of Pres
ident.
Washington, Dec. 12-Secretary
Moody has received cablegram from
Rear Admiral Glass, saying rumor has
reached Panama that a small body of
Colombian troops has landed on Colon
bian territory with view to marching
overland to the isthmus. Rear Admiral
Glass has been unable to confirm the
rumor.
M. Bunau-Varilla, the minister from
Panama, called at the state department
Friday and had lengthy conference
with Acting Secretary LOOMS, the ma
ture of which he would not disclose.
Gen. Reyes, DR.. Herran and Wayne Mac
Veagh were in conference Friday for
some time at the Colombian legation,
preparing statement setting out the
Colombian position. Rumors are atloat
that, failing other means of settlement.
the Colombians are trying to secure a
submission to The Hague tribunal OF the
questions growing out of the separation
of Panama, and that this will appear in
the statement.
1t is the intention OF the navy depart
ment to increase it's force in isthmian
waters by the addition of a torpedo boat
destroyer, which will act as dispatch
boat.
News from Panama.
Panama, Dec 1.-THE principal work
of a political nature now occupying the
attention of the junta consists in prep
arations to call convention and to
proceed with the elections of members
of the house of representatives, etc.
Efforts are being made to hold the con-
vention February 3, three months after
the declaration of the independence of
Panama. FREDERICK Boyd, who recent
ly went to the United States as mem
Der of the special Panama commission,
has resumed his place on the junta,
Senior Espinoza, who was temporarily
appointed a member Of the junta, retir-
ing
Several of the Panamanian scouting
parties have already left here and 9TH
ers will leave Panama shortly to watch
the movements of the Colombians. No
reports have yet been received from the
parties in the field, and there is no news
tending to confirm the report from La
Guayra of the landing of Colombian
tsoops at the mouth of the Atrato river.
A Panamanian gunboat and United
States gunboat have proceeded together
to David, near the western end of the
isthmus of Panama, for the purpose of
giving the people of that district evil
dence of the fact that the United States
forces are cooperating with those OF
Panama in maintaining peace on the
isthmus. The gunboats are expected TO
return here on Sunday.
Decree Issued.
Colon, Dec 1.-THE French steamer
Fournel arrived here Friday from Sa-
vanilla and Cartagena. She was the
first vesse l to reach this port since the
decree closing those ports to vessels to
and from Colon was Cancelled. The
Fournel brought passengers and mails.
The authorities of the department of
Bolivar are still unreconciled to the
loss of the isthmus, which they do not
regard as hopeless as they issued clear
ance papers not for the republic of Pan
ANA, but for Colon, departamento de
Panama" A decree, signed by Gov.
Insignares, dated Cartagena, December
2, says:
by virtue of instructions received by
way OF Port Limon from his excellency
the commandeT-in-chief of the army
been resolved to give preference to
diplomatic methods in dealing with the
government of the United States in re-
gard to the efforts made to defend our
sovereignty and national integrity, di-
minished by the secession of Panama
this government to adopt measures to
prevent communication with the rebel
department having ceased, it is now
proposed that all citizens may travel
freely, without the obligation of obtain
ing passports, and it becomes incum-
bent on the civil and military authori-
ties to give all the necessary guarantees
to those entitled to the same. Conse-
quently, it is decreed that article two of
decree No. As, of November 10, prohib-
tting all communication and commerce
between this department and Panama
is temporarily suspended"
National Committee Meets
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE republican
national committee began its initial