The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-02
Already Administering the Affairs
OF Government, Though He Has
No Official Position.
STIRRING THE PEOPLE
Impressing on Them the Impor-
tance of Putting the Republic
on Stable Foundation.
NEEDS OF NEW NATION
Constitutional Convention to Meet
This Month and Fix Basis of
Future Government.


PANAMA, X. p. Dec. D.-With the re-
turn Of DR. Manuel Amador from Washing
ton n more Lively interest than has hitherto
been manifested in the future of this fresh
IL hatched republic IS being shown by those
IN positions OF power The great body of
the populace-that nondescript mass Of hu-
manity which peoples the isthmus In its
few inhabited spOts-remains callous and
Indifferent 10 its suddenly acquired political
freedom. The leaders OF this mass-the men
who incubated the republic-are, however,
moving with unwonted energy and purpose.
They are exhibiting a determination not be-
fore displayed by them toward getting the
government they called into being upon
stable foundation. With that object in
view. they have fixed Dec. 2s the date for
electing delegates 10 a convention which
shall assemble here the middle of January
TO frame a constitution for the new nation
and TO fix a date for the holding of an cleo
ton to choose a President and members OF
the first republican Congress.
This very quick change in the attitude OF
the Panamaian leaders is undoubtedly due
TO representations made by DIR. Amador
since his return 10 the isthmus after having
in Washington negotiated the canal treaty
While DR.. Amador was in the States the
Junta and all other governing officials were
content TO let the republic dris. 1t was de-
clared by these people that, ooEe the treaty
was made effective. they carei little what
came next: they were willing to let matters
take their own course, and were averse TO
active efforts to substantially organize re-
publican government.
Dr. Amador's return has worked a COM
plete change in this disposition. Although
he has no official connection with the gov
eminent since his canal treaty labors were
completed. he is to-day practically the
whole government. The certainty that he
will be the first President of the republic
has caused the junta to turn over TO him
phe actual direction OF affairs. and, while
ne is to all intents and purposes a private
citizens. he is administering the affairs of
the republic as positively as if he were the
duly constituted head of the government
AMADOR is REAL LEADER.
The government centers in him absolute
II. and IL is stated upon authority that TO
him. and to him alone. is attributable the
fact that steps are being taken to construct
a real government. founded upon the con-
sent OF the people He is said to have
brought communications from Washington,
and to have transmitted them TO Arrange
and his associates 10 the effect that while
the United States stands ready to preserve
the political and territorial integrity of this
new nation, IL insists that real govern
ment be established at once, and the pres
ent hggledy- -piggledy affair be permitted
20 pass out OF existence at the earliest mo-
me1t possible. Warned that the United
States demands government made by the
people of the republic instead of an apollo
gy created by ordinance of the City Coun-
Gil or Panama, the junta and the Cabinet
and all others connected with the new or
der OF things on the isthmus bestirring
themselves. They now declare that within
forty days from this writing the details of
organization Will have been disposed OF,
and everything VIII be in readiness for the
Inauguration Of the first President and the
assembling OF the first representative Con-
gress.
This is the determination Of the men who
control. but IL must be difficult for an Amer
lean at home to understand exactly how
they propose 10 realize upon il. One thing
they have done which will aid them in their
purpose is the decision TO have the dele
gates TO the constitutional convention
chosen by the various municipal councils in
the several provinces instead of by pOpu-
lar election. This decision is certain to be
misunderstood in the States, for il bears
ell the earmarks of a scheme to railroad
through a plan fOstered by bosses, in
stead of enabling the people to freely and
unrestrictedly express their will. To the
man on the isthmus, however, the situation
Is plain. and II may be taken as fact that
the directors OF the republic have done the
best and only thing possible for them to do
under the circumstances.
The explanation fer this seemingly anom-
alous procedure In what pretends 10 be
republic lies in the fact that the masses of
the Panamaian populace are wholly untitled
20 WELD the ballot. Panama is peopled by
Indians. native COlOmbfans negroes Chi
nese and foreigners Of all races and classes
The population, save among the very lin
ited number OF "upper-class people" is es-
eentially a tatterdemalion aggregation-a
no-name people, uaceable 10 prOmiscu-
Gus and lOng-continued intermarriage of the
races. 1t is no uncommon thing to see six
or seven shades of color in one family
while brothers and sisters play together
obliviOus OF the incOngruity offered by the
presence OF one child with slant eyes. an
still another OF yellow skin and kinky hair
grated on one family tree.
BALLOT AND SEMI MISREPRESENTATION
To ask this population to vote on so i'm
portsnt question choosing delegates to
frame constitution would be like commit
ting the decision on a question Of paramount
Importance 10 a body OF imbeciles. The
males in this aggregation voted during the
Colombian regime. but elections then were
held with the polls manned by armed SOL
ciers. the only duty OF the voter being TO
take ballot FROM q soldier and deposit il in
a box Ihat method is to be abolished un-
der the republic, hence il is impossible to
intrust vital issue TO an uneducated, un-
trained and inexperienced rabhle
ANotIcI IcdSyu IOT this decision is that
the population Is almost entirely conceu-
trnted Ia the cities and towns Thus in the
province OF Panama, Panama is the chief
city and embraces the great ma ioritv of
the people in the province. In the province
OF Colon. Colon occupies the same relation
In BOcas del TOrO is the city of Bocas del
Toro. in Chiriqui. the cities Of Chiriqui and
David; in Los Santos. the city OF Los San
tos, etc. 1t follows, therefore. that II the
municipal councils. of these several cities
We're properly chosen in the first instance
and they were chosen according TO the CO.
lombian rule OF selection in elections-that
they are practically representative bodies
They stand for the people of these cities
and consequently for the people in the
provinces in which they are located.
hut even more potential than these cOndi-
lions IN determining the controlling factors
10 nave delegates chosen by the municipal
councils + the fact that the more intelligent
men OF each city sit la these councils: that
these men are heartily in accord with the
objects OF the revolution of Nov g. and
that they can be relied upon 10 send as dele
gates 10 the constitutional convention men
Who can be relied upon hot 10 Obstruct the
wishes and ideas of those who brought the
Republic into existence.
Every condition the isthmus warrants
those IN control IN taking these steps. There
CONTINUED on PAGE 8. col. 81