The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1904-11-30

the Panama government. He con-
trolled the 500 troops absolutely and
besides had powerful hold upon
age, he had weathered SO revolutions.
He carried the army over to Panama
when the revolt was declared against
Colombia a year ago. Besides, as
every child in the street knows. that
false hand the little general carries
and part of the hand had been car
ried away. 1t was in the midst of
n civil conflict. four years ago. and
Huertas was leading the Colombian
government forces. He took
machet from his belt and hacked off
that he led his men for four hours
before he tainted from loss OF blood
So the army and adorlng public
sentiment were with Huertas and
President Amador notified the sec
rotary of state of the note. Arias
announced his resignation the same
day and there were demonstrations
in the streets OF the city wherever
Huertas appeared, A heroic sized
portrait OF the general was displayed
In the show window of the American
bazaar.
grew holder. He is n revolutionist
by nature. He regrets the day Pan
anna declared her independence. for
his troops are bound to be idle so
long as American guns are pointing
over the isthmus. If he cant fight.
though. he would be content with a
fat income. and this he is sure to
miss without the annual revolution.
This was Huertas' philosophy:
Let my restless army make trouble
for the Panaman government The
liberals will be my supporters. We
will overthrow Amador. The United
States will intervene. The govern
ment will he taken over as n terri
tory. The army will be made rural
guards. l will be chief at a fat sal
airy. Then. there are left $4,000, goo
of those 100000 the United States
money has got to go somewhere.
In support of this l may say that
l heard Huertas express this poetic
sentiment: THE Panama flag Is not
right. The blue star should he cut
out and sewed to the American flag.
Then the remainder of the Panama
flag should be thrown away"
Less than n week had passed since
Arias had resigned and Gen. Santa
go de la Guardia. former minister to
Costa Rica. had surplanted him, when
Huertas sent another dictatorial note
to President Amador at the palace.
This note complained of Nicholas
Victoria, who as minister of public
works, had refused patronage to some
of Huertas' friends. The general
Of the army Is said to have also de-
manded Victoria's resignation. and
President Armador had refused.
This ment trouble, Sunday was
n rainy day. The stuffy gambling
rooms In Panama were crowded and
the whirr of the ball In the roulette
wheel was unceasing. Near midnight
Il rumor was spread that there was
unusual activity at the barracks. Like
magic. and true to the Panama theory
that a live crowd beats two dead
heroes, lights went out quickly and
dark figures skulked across Plaza
Santa Ana. leaving the city quiet
and seemingly deserted In short order
Just before the cathedral clock
struck Monday mohning. n messen-
ger appeared at the United States
consulate and routed Lee out of bod
The American diplomatic officer
could hardly credit the story the mes
senger told him. Here. In city filed
with Americans. with 600 United
States marines at Empire, 80 min
utes away: with 400 United States
police officers in the zone, with a
fleet of four United States men-of-
war due IN port In six hours. and with
the converted cruiser Dixie at Colon.
here was the general of the Panama