Evening journal., 1906-10-26

n RESIDENT ROOSEVELT has
penchant for doing the unique and
unusual, but nothing that he hns
done since entering the white House will
be so wholly without precedent In the
annals OF the presidency as bis forth
coming trip 10 the Isthmus OF Panama.
When Il was nrst announced that the
strenuous Chief Magistrate intended 10
visit the lsihmus ia order to see Uncle
Sans big interocennlc canal 10 the max
I Ing n large portion Of the public gaspcd
with astonishment. for there prevailed a
general impression that such a jaunt
would be contrary 70 law.
However. II Is only nm unwrltfen law
md not n legal statute that our younges.
President Is going TO smash by his scheme
FOR gaining at first hand information as
10 the nations biggest engineering under
taking. Moreover. this Is not the hrst
time President Roosevelt has disregarded
fhe tradition that Miss Columbiu's best
paid employe must remain a virtual prls-
nuer within the conhDes OF the United
states At the conclusion OF his South
rrn trip some months since the President
iame North from New Orleans on an
nrmored cruiser and this vessel was, dur
ing a considerable portion OF the voyage.
outside the three-mile limit-that imag.
mary offshore line that is supposed to con-
stitute the boundary Of the republics
Jurisdiction.
other presidents. at least couple u
them. have dlsrcgarded this three mile
limit though 10 be sure they never ven
tured 50 far from hofne as President
Roosevelt now proposes 10 do. In Octo.
Der. 1888. President Arthur visited Alex
andria Bay, Thousand Islands, and some
: OF his political enemies declared that IN
the enthusiasm OF q fishing trip be not
only ventured beyond Yankee territory.
but actually went beyond tho middle Of
the St. Lawrence River and into Cana
dian territory. President Cleveland WAS
similarly criticised when on one Of his
hunting and fishing trips TO North Caro-.
lina the vessel that carried him IN round
Ing Cape Hattrras passed beyond the
.three-mile limit fixed by iutcrnatiopai law.
There ls however. one important fact
10 be taken into consideration In connec-
ton with President Roosevelts long
ocean Journey 20 the isthmus. and that is
trat he will travel on n United states
warship. Authorities all agree that the
deck OF an American naval vessel Is
United States territory. and the Chief
Executive might consistently travel TO the
farthest end OF the earth so long as he
remained on q floating fortress flying the
Stars aud Stripes
Similarly Il is decrced that the Canal
Zone at Panama. the strip OF territory
that this government has acquired as n
right OF way for the canal Is Uncle Sam =
soil, and that the nations ruler has 4
perfect right to reside temporarily there.
on. President Roosevelt win needs have
a care, however. that he does not. by
any 'uisstep. get over the boundary line
into the Republic OF Panama proper. Tor
thot would constitute an entry INTO fer
eigu territory. Of course. the American
President will want 10 greet President
Anador and the other lpadlng mcn OF
the worlds newest republic. but hey viii
have TO either make a Journey iui9 th,
Canal Zone for such greeting. or else
the great champion Of the canal proie.'i
will be compelled to stand on the edge
OF United States territory and shake
hands across the border
An Incident somewhat similar 10 this
occurred when the late President ilnrri
son visited Texas ana walked half way
across the International bridge at ~ paso
10 a line beyond which was Mexican
territory. when President Mckinley
visited this same point some years later
II was proposed TO have Pres'd-nt Diaz
tf Mexico meet the visitor from Wash.
ington IN the middle Of the brslge and
shhke hands across the dividing ine. bnt
the plan was not carried out. and sc