The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-10-13
ROOSEVELTISM
BLICHTS PANAMA
Cumbersome Political Machin-
cry and a Lumber Deal
With Alaer in II

Special Correspondence Of The Globe
PANAMA, Sept 27.-Business in the
republic of Panama is at a. standstill
The cumbersome political machinery
that the Roosevelt administration is
trying TO set in motion here is showing
painful tendency to get out of order
and run away with the men who are
back OF it. The Panamans, bewilder-
ed at the official chaos in which they
are involved, are asking each other If
they are living under a republic of
their own or under American rule or in
a state of simple anarchy. For one
thing all are praying-that a change In
their condition may be inaugurated by
the presidential election in November.
Just now there are three heads in the
city of Panama. There is the nominal
president of the republic, Amador
Guerrero. Then there is. the American
minister John Barrett. And finally
there is the governor Of the canal
zone" Gen. Davis. Each of these gen
tlemen is supposed to be of supreme
authority in his own particular prov
ince, but just what that province may
be no one seems competent as YET TO
decide. The governor, whose commits
reSentative of President Roosevelt, IS
absolute on the ten-mile strip running
across the isthmuS called the canal
zone, But he claims to be authorized
to treat directly with President Amador
on all diplomatic questions as well, IN
which assumption he naturally falls
foul of the jurisdiction of Minister
Barrett, who is the only diplomatic
representative of the United States
nizes. So, in the opera bouffe republic
started by Mr.. Roosevelt there are sew
eral disagreeable minor chords that are
making themselves heard in anying but
harmonious fashion.
Business men are especially lachry-
NOSE over the entire situation, as they
claim that the commercial outlook on
the isthmus was never more depress-
ing. This is due, they say, to the polit-
zeal puzzle that is being unraveled
here, to the uncertainty induced by the
clashing of authority among officials,
and to the threat that the United
States tariff laws will be enforced on
the isthmus.
On the canal zone two ports have al
ready been opened by the American
authorities with the American tariff in
force, and it is undoubted that the eff
feet of this will be to seriously curtail
of Panama and Colon. But the en-
forcement of the tariff throughout the
isthmus, according to the merchants,
would mean the utter ruin of the bust
ness of the country.
AIger Is Interested
Allied with a combination of the rail-
road and steamship companies is a
more remarkable deal that brings be-
fore the public once more Gems. Alger
and Shafter, of Cuban fame. These
two men, with Col. Hecker, form what
is known as the Michigan lumber COM
bine, d concern that controls the South
ern States Land and Lumber company,
of which Alger is president; Suther-
land, of Pensacola, vice president and
general manager, with Shafter and
Hecker holding a controlling interest.
Col. Hecker is a member of the canal
commission, an appointment that he
received from the president at Ayers
request. 1t was he who built the noto-
rious Trisconia railway in Cuba five
years ago-an unsavory affair that re-
fected more scandal than credit on the
government.
With these personal interests and
connections influencing them, the canal
commission has voted to get all their
lumber from the Michigan lumber COM
bine. with the following result that re-
minds one painfully of the old embalm-
ed beef days.
There is a new canal railroad, or,
more properly, a siding, to be built
from the Bas Matachin shops to Pan
anna. The ties to be used on this road
have just arrived from the Alger-
Shafter company and prove to be ut
terly worthless. If used in this climate
they would last scarcely any time.
Clifford Smyth,
X-United States Consul TO Cartagena-