Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-27
BABY AMONG NATIONS
Position Occupied by the
Panama Republic.
COUNTRY'S RESOURCES
BY PRESIDENT MAN
UEL AMADoR-GUERRER
A Land of Undeveloped Plantations
and Mines-Its Political Parties
and Revolutions.
Copyright, 1905. by Frank G. Carpenter

pubic is Hght blue 1t is large two
story building, situated not far from the
offices of the canal with a fine outlook over
Panama bay and Uncle Sans new islands.
Its official title is ''the Palaco de Gobierno."
and it forms both the offices and residence
of President Manuel Acknowledgement, the
George Washington of this new republic
squad of policemen armed with rifles
marching up and down In front of it
when | called there not long ago with Min
lister Barret. AS we approached they saluted
us, but the minister raised his hand and the
guns dropped and we passed through.
Entering the door we came into a patio
or hollow court, surrounded by the living
the center of the court palms were grow
ing. Its floor was of tiles and balconies
ran about it at the second story. We
crossed the patio and went ups airs to the
state reception room, and hence on into
the presidents private Darlors, where Mr.
j. +. Lefevre, the executive secretary. met
us and told us that his eXcellency was eX-
pecting our visit.
President Anador in 1905.
A moment later the president entered and
Mr.. Barrel formally presented me, and we
arranged an appointment for today. when
he should give me a talk for my American
readers l called and the result is the in
terview which follows:
But first let me introduce you to this
president of the worlds baby republic and
the father of its independence. l have
given his name as Manuel Amador-Guer-
rera. In America he would be known as
President Amador, but here the Guerrero
is added. after the Spanish fashion, for that
was the name of his mother. He is the
son of Jose Maria Amador and Mercedes
Guerrero. On his mothers side he is the
grandson of colonel who fought for the
independence of Colombia. The preside
was born in Colombia, and was educated
at the University of Cartagena.
He was just about of age when he gradu-
ated there a doctor and came to Panama
to practice medicine. This was more than
fifty years ago, and from then until now
Doctor Amador has been one of the leading
citizens of the isthmus. AS far back as
during our civil war he was vice presi-
dent of Panama State, and when General
Grant was beginning his first term in the
White House Dr. Amador had been elected
its president. There was a revolution, how
ever, which prevented his holding the office,
and which resulted in his Punishment to
Cartagena. Later on he was pardoned and
came back to Panama. He again took an
interest in politics. which he has kept up
to this day. Indeed, it is largely due to
him that Panama is now republic. He
went to New York just before the revolu
ton and secured the assistance which aided
in making the cause success. He returned
on the 9th of October one year ago prom
anna before the 9TH of the month following.
This he did on November 3, and after the
constitution was adopted he was elected the
first president, which position he has now
held for more than one year.
How the President Looks.
The president of Panama Is one of the
fne-looking rulers of this age. He IS more
than six feet tall and is straight and well
formed. His forehead is high and full, his
complexion rosy, and although he is sew
enty-one his dark hair and mustache are
only sprnkled with gray. | asked him for
a photograph. In reply he brought me one
of President Roosevelt which he had just
received, saying that he was having a pho
tograph taken to send back to him, and
that he would have a copy of the same
struck off for this letter. This he has
since done.
The president is the picture Of health.
He IS living evidence that here on the
keep young. His life has been a strenuous
one. In addition to his political work he
has carried on the practice of medicine for
fifty years. He long the physician of
the Panama railroad and also of the Pacific
Mail and Equitable Life Insurance compa-
MES and he therefore knows well the
health conditions of this part of the world.
Health at Panama.
One of my first questions was whether
Americans could safely live at Panama
The president replied:
There is no reason why your people
nay not be as healthy here as in the
states if they will conform to the ordi-
nary customs of life in the tropics. few
may have malarial fever at the start, but
this danger Will diminish as time goes
and after Il while they will become i'm
muue. Our malarial fevers attack for
eigners more readily than natives. This
is also the case with yellow fever. The
man who has been on the isthmus for ten
or fifteen years is apparently out of
danger
How about the mosquitoes, doctor? Do
you think they cause fevers?"
Yes, | believe In the mosquito theory