The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-06-06
CAME Of GRAF |
IN REPUBLIC
OF PANAMA
United States May Have to Step
in and Take Over Country to
F0reStaII Other Nations.

There is no Disgusting. the fact
that there is. going to be some trouble
in Panama between the two factions,
the one which is in Office and their
followers, and the one which is out
OF Office and wants to get in and its
followers" said Manuel Piedra Del
gado who has just arrived from the
free and Independent Republic of
Panama. to a representative of The
New Orleans States.
Il don't know when the trouble will
come, but come it will, for the two
factions realize that while Uacle Sam
as hacker there is always going to be
plenty of money for Office holders to
SPEND and the office holding business
is by far the most lucrative in Pana
ma as it is in all the other Central
American governments.
LAS a fact l would not doubt the
stat ement l have heard that there is
also an understanding between the Of
ficials of the Canal Zone with those
of the Panama government whereby
it is already planned that the zone
shall absorb the republic and all the
present officials of the republic are
to be made officials of the zone"
81 saw so many things in Panama
to justify this impression that | can
not put it aside There may not be
anything in it but shall not be con-
WINGED there is not until after the
noisy election trouble has become a
thing of the far-forgotten past.
while / am a citizen Of Columbia
I have lived much of my life in Pan
ANA an6 ! know whereof / speak. OF
course all Americans know that it was
to get control of the money which
the United States paid for the canal
that the Republic Of Panama was set
up. And l can tell you secret just
here that will probably be of more
than local interest. The man who
planned this republic and which
perhaps prOfted most largely by it,
was that astute lawyer, Cromwell. He
made millions out of the deal and is
still drawing a very fine proportion
of the revenue of the Panama Repub-
lie and because of this fact the jeal-
ousy has arose in the breasts of the
outs" who are more than ever anxi-
Gus to get Gin" They recognize the
fact that the whole game is one of graft
and they feel that the graft is being
selfshly divided up among the favor
ed few and that in justice to a num-
Der of others who happen to have just
as much property and influence i'll
the republic, they should have just
as much percentage as come of those
now reaping the reward of political
chicanery.
Eyes. Cromwell is at the bottom
of the trouble and of all the astuJe
diplomats who ever fixed up a deal
since the beginning of time, take
my hat off to him. But while every
thing has gone so smoothly so far
with his little game, do not see how
he can very much longer defer. ths
day of reckoning. And when that
day comes, the United States will
have to step in and take a hanu.
some other nation will. As
the canal has now been begun by
Uncle Sam there will probably be no
other course open to him but that of
charging his domain on either side
of the transconttnental ditch. And
then Mr.. Cromwell will find a very
source of his revenue
cut off, which according to my way OF
serves him right"