The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1904-12-08

y ~ ANA iAft.s = Nearly every
I body in Panama has his own pri
yate version Of the events whiei
brought about the birth Of the new
republic ana estah Iiahed the Unite,
states IA control Of the canal zone
Natives and visitors never tire 81
/ diHruHaing the questionable enter
prise over their bottles in the hoteli
and cafes.
ON one main fact. however. az
seem agreed. The United States act.
ed the part OF the big policeman
who. with a brnudiahiuR Of his club
80 frightened the small boy Culum.
bia that he dropped his apple Int,
I yelping baby Panama'n lap aud "a,
policeman then BIT the apple.
The small boy was so scared b5
the Interference that he ran away
preclpltately and 40 relieved was th'
baby by the sight Of his VANISHING
Ieuatinlla that for the moment. d
didn't take notice Of the size Of IN,
rolicemuu'H blte. But now. IN the
light Of "a better understanding and
with the soothing sense Of protec,
ton stiil upon Il. Panama wants par
Of the bite back. please. for she find.
she only holds the core.
There are a few unwriften page,
IN the brief history OF the making
/ of Panama which loom up as I'm,
paftant IN the preaentsday rantro.
fersy over tho extent Of aaverelFnt,
the United States shall assume N
the canal zone. n the operation
stands az II IL today and the Tar
commission declares that President
Rooaevelts interpretation Of ths
treaty shall be upheld the men wh,
engineered the revolution and o..
cension viii find themselves In q
pretty mess
Back az the time that our gov
eminent was negotiating with Co.
lgmbia Tor the canal strip strings
we're being pulled from New York
and Washington for method "a
make Colombia HorrY" II she did
not accept cur terms
A corps Of American engineers
disguised as pfospeetara. were au the
ihthmuH making mapa Diplomatic
OFFICERS, representing the admins
tration a. Washington. unofficial
~ % course. were on the ground
putting buEzlnE bees into the hats
of the little eoterie q Influential
men who control the industry and
political life % the then province of
Panama. Secret meetings we're held
a. the homes % certain Of these gem
iiemsn and the matter was discussed
almost nightly
1, became nolaed about generally
that the United states stood ready
and willing TO protect the residents
bf the isthmus II they would rise
up 81 revolution against Colombia.
in the event ~ her refusing 20 sign
the treaty then before her congress.
and that a new republic would b.
formed. This would mean that the
tto.o0o.o00 the United States would
bay for the strip would fan into
the hands % the residents Of the
luihmuH and tho noFota Fraftcrn
would be cheated out 0f their great
game ln favor Of the Efafters at
home. Small officials In the prov
inee we're Immediately seized with
the happy haiiucinatfon that a river
bf milk and honey Was about TO
kuHh out from the Gulf Of Mexico
and flow by their feet Il isn't often
that the political Erafters IN these
countries get . chance at sc. a0o. 900
gold.
With 80 many secret meetings
going on and - murh sedItioua talk
heard la the streets u Is not strange
that the news reached BoRota In
short order. But certain young
American gentleman. from New
York. waH there and helped 20 quiet
these fears He was lawyer and he
represented "a number Of railroads ia
the United States which had huai-
ness reasons 20 prevent the passage
Of the treaty. Freight rates across
the continent would be seriously af-
fected by marine traffic from New
York 90 San Francisco by way Of the
isthmus. The lawyer spent a good
deal Of his time at the American
consulate Ia Bognta. whether he had
any business there or not / have
heard u said In weii-informed cir-
glea that he dld an he could TO quiet
the fears in BoRota that the United
states contemplated any radical ac-
ton On the event ~ the failure Of
the enactment Of the treaty and that
he put through a $50 600 deal with
certain Legislators before he left
BoEota.
There was q discussion Of the ru-
morH from Panama in the Colom-
blan congress when the treaty mat
ter was before the house. 4 quietus
was put upon them by the state
mcnt Of one Of the legislators who
said The people OF the United
states have too high sense OF
honor TO seize such territory or be
"A party 90 such seizure We should
remember that We are not dealing
with n European nation"
80 u was that the treaty failed
10 pass. az the weli-infermed IN
Panama said u would fail.
Colombia wanted bigger price.
whether she was unreasonable In
her demands r. one question. But
il was "a business method she chose
TO adopt. As seller she had the
right 10 Tx the price for her wares.
which act no one can deny Is COM
mon enough commercial practice.
Il was quickly. and true 70 the let
Ter Of the program. deereed from
that these common
trade tactics were improper IN the
enae of "a weak nation within the
Monroe boundary. and With a cry Of
ablackmail' Panama got her 'un-
official tip TO 60 ahead and seizs
the apple 20 that the big policeman
might bite q.
Colombia was badly deceived. and
she hates America with an her soul
carlos Duquc. who once ran the lot
terry IN BoRota for his father, mar
ried the daughter OF one Of the most
families Of Bogota.
Duaue was well liked IN Hogota un-
Il the secession. lie was warned
that he would take his life In his
hands u he rc-eutered the country
Tor the part his father took In the
revolution was well known there.
The few Americans who are In Coz
iombia were slightinRly treated. and
commercial travellers from the states
now avoid tho Mace