The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-30
p LOTTERS OF PANAMA;
MEN WHO SCHEMED FOR
IN ISTHMIAN REPUBLIC

NCONCbUDED FROM FIRST PACED
TO him through Independence. His nature
Is instinct with the higher ideal of his pro-
fession making him a cheerful laborer
IN humanitys cause. and his present pur-
poses are 9irecte9 unseInsnly ana ioyalIy
10 the uplifting of Panama and the better
ment Of the Panamanians What is even
more fortunate is the fact that he has
had the benefit of most excellent advice
The people rely upon him with implicit
faith. and he in turn, relies upon those
who have guided his hand and his mind
In the events of the last few weeks. These
men-prtncipally Americans-have proved
safe and conservative counselors, and
while they will occupy unofficial stations
under the new government, DR.. Amador
viii continue TO go to them for advice, so
that his administration seems destined to
be successful.
JOSE AGUSTIN arrange.
Next to DR.. Amador the most interesting
character in the new republic is Jose
Agustin Arrange. OF medium height.
slightly built. with dropping shoulders and
a half-shuffiing gait. Senior Arrange has
been and will continue to be a great fac
tor in the affairs of Panama He is a man
well into the sixties, with snow-white hair,
beard and muStache. His skin is fair and
his eyes are soft and gentle, inclining
TO the most beseeching expressions. He
speaks la low, well-modulated tones that
seem TO impart and to invite confidence,
and his manner is gracious and winning
For years Don Jose Agustin has been a
politician. He has served a member of
the Colombian House of Representatives
and OF the Senate of the department Legis-
lature. and while Liberal in politics. he
has been in close touch with the govern
ing powers Some years ago the Panama
Railroad employed him as it's special
agent term which here, as in the
States. is the polite and official designa-
ton of the salaried lobbyist. Among all
the men of Panama, the railroad corpora
ton could not have found one better quail
fed for this office. The work required of
this special agent will instantly be recog-
nized as of the utmost Importance when it
Is remembered that the Panama Railroad
is owned by the New Panama Canal Com
pany, and that for fourteen years it has
been the business of the railroad, with
work on the canal virtually at a standstill,
20 keep the canal concession alive
Credit for what has been done in this re-
spect is cheerfully accorded Senior Arrange.
Knowing the ms and outs of Colombian
politics as a schoOlboy knows his alphabet;
knowing the weak points of the national
character as we'll as its strong ones; know
ing individuals almost as intimate as he
knows himself, and having an exceptional
faculty OF reading human nature, Senior
Arrange has discharged his duties SO faith
fully that, while under strict reading of
its terms the canal concession would prob
ably have been forfeited long ago. it was
kept alive up to the very moment the indie
pendence of Panama declared. FIRE.
quent trips to BOgota, dealings with all the
functionaries there and on the isthmus, the
employment of all of his gifts of adroit per-
suasion, and a full and free exercise of his
native suavity and grace of manner were
requisite to this undertaking; but not once
did Senior Arrange fail under the test, and TO
him more than TO any other man is due the
fact that since the work the canal was
stopped in 1889 the French corporation has
remained in 5cssessiOn of its properties and
franchises on the isthmus.
RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS BIRTH
In equal measure must credit be given to
Senior Arrange for the birth of the new
republic. Being a manipulation rather than
an administrator, a man TO execute orders
rather than TO issue them, It follows that
he is not fitted for responsible posts of
leadership. Nobody knows this any better
than does Don Jose Augustin. and So when
the first really formidable suggestion Of
Panamaian independence came from the
Panama Railroads. unquestionably il did
come-it issued 10 the railroads special
agent, ard found him not unmindful of
the part he should play in the drama which
was 10 De attempted Never Tor a moment
did II occur TO him 10 make himself the
leader In the movement. That would have
been most impOlitic. because il would have
brought the railroad company more prom
inetly TO the front that IL was wise for il
TO be brought. and besides Senior Arrange
knew his own shortcomings. He was how
ever fully equal 10 the task of discovering
the man best qualified for the responsible
post of leadership and he quickly produced
DIR. Amador. who instantly became the
leader in the movement. and who is fated
TO harvest its most substantial honors
AmadOr produced Arias, the third man let
into the secret OF the conspiracy. and these
three WORKING III perfect unison, but ALWAYS
under the advice which Arrange procured
from Colonel Shaler. II. G.. Prescott, Capt
]. r. Beers and Maj. w. NJ. Black actually
produced the new republic
From this il appears that the real bus
mess of the COnspiration found its source
In Arrange. more skilled than any of the
others in the art Of manipulation; and that
Arrange is in reality the man TO whom the
Hons share of the credit should be given
IS the well substantiated assertion of his
friends. Senior Jose Arrange is however.
less ambitious for himself than his friends
ore for him. When the republic had been
declared and the City Council OF Panama
had named the provisional governing iunta
he was named as the president of that
body and TO him was intrusted the actual
leadership under the new order of things
He Immediately resigned his place as spec
iai agent OF the Panama Railroad; but il
IS a secret which nobody in Panama at
tempts 10 conceal that as the head OF the
junta In directing the government OF the