The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-03

a stable foundation. With that object in view, they have fixed December 2S as the date for electing delegates to a conyen- tion 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 election to choose a presi- dent and members of the first republican congress.
 This very quick change in the atti- tude of the Panamaian leaders is un- doubtedly due to representations made by Dr. Amador since his return to the isth- mus after having in Washington nego- tsated the Canal Treaty. While Dr. Ann ador was in the States the junta and all other governing officials were content to let the republic drift It was declared by these people that. once the treaty was made effective, they cared little what came next; they were willing to let mat ters take their own course, and were averse to active efforts to substantially organize republican government
 Amador the Kingpin.
 pr. Amador's return has worked a com plete change in this disposition. Although he has no official connection with the gov ernment since his Canal Treaty labors were completed he is today 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, the actual direction of affairs and. while he is to all intents and pur- poses private citizen. he is administer ing the affairs of the republic as posi- lively as if he were the duly constituted head of the government.
 The government centers in him abeo- lutely. and it is stated upon authority that to him. and to hiui alone. is attrib- utable the fact that steps are being taken to construct real government. founded upon the consent of the people. He is said to have brought communications from Washington, and to have transmitt- ed them to Arrange and his associates to the. effect that, while the United States stands ready to preserve the political and territorial integrity of this new nation. it insists that a real government be es- tabltshed at once. and the present hig- gledy-pigpledy affair be permitted to pass out of existence at the earliest nome mt possible. Warned that the United States demands government made by the peo- pie of the republic, instead of an apology created by ordinance of the City Council of Panama, the junta and the cabinet and all others connected with the new, order of things on the isthmus are bestirrinR themselves. They now declare that with in 40 days from this writing the details of organization will have been disposed of. and everything will be in readiness for the inauguration of the first president and the assembling of the first represen- tative congress.
 Manipulation is Necessary.
 This is the determination of the men who control. but it must be difficult for an American at home to understand ex- actly how they propose to realize upon it. One thing they have done which will aid them in their purpose is the decision to have the delegates to the constitution al convention chosen by the various mu- nicipal councils in the several provinces instead of by a popular election. This decision is certain to be misunderstood in the States. for it bears all the ear marks of a scheme to railroad through a plan fostered by bosses" instead of en- abling the people to freely and unre- strictedly express their will. To the man on the isthmus. however. the situation is plain; and 1t may be taken as a fact that the directors of the republic have done the best and only thing possible foI them to do under the circumstances.