The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-11-15
KENNEDY
Talks About His Recent
Visit to the Republic
Of Panama
PEOPLE ARE PECULIAR

the people of Panama and the bank
ers there are willing to take chance
One of the latest attempts was that
of the big banking house Of the Bhr-
mines in Panama.
The disappointment when the
scheme failed was keen one of the
head of the bank, who controls the
destinies OF the country. Ehrmine
by the way, has In his hands the ell
Getting of the president the congress
the mayors of the different cities,
the way in which various other sine
cures are distributed outside of the
canal zone. In fact he is 1T.
Congressman James Kennedy. who
made the trip there as a member of
the congressional committee, tells
something about the way things are
done down In the
PROUD LITTLE REPUBLIC.
"Ehrmine, when the republic was
organized and he became a power in
It's operation saw the possibilities OF
making an enormous fortune for the
government" said Mr.. Kennedy. He
was told that the United States dollar
was worth but 80 cents intrinsically
and there the happy thought struck
him. II was the worthy thought OF a
man In high finance. IL the dollar OF
the United States passed current for
one dollar, why should not that OF the
sovereign state of Panama. was his
thought.
%Ehrrnine Is not a man given to
hasty actions. He investigated the
United States mints. The amount OF
silver and the amount OF alloy was
looked into. They entered into nego-
tiations with the United states gov
ernment on behalf OF the Panama
government.
"Of course Uncle Sam would be de-
Lighted to help along the newly or
ganized republic and
WOULD COIN THE BALBOA
at the |. yyernment mints. The balboa,
by the way. is supposed to be the
equivalent OF our dollar.
The silver began to come in and
the baiboas were struck on with rap
idlty--each with 80 cents worth OF
silver in them; the same amount OF
alloy as in a dollar, shaped exactly
similar to It as was requested. Then
the dollars went back to Panama to
be circulated on a par with the I'm
tied States dollar. But they didn't
circulate on a parity.
"Ehrmine was still scratching his
head and wondering why the balboa
circulated but for 50 per cent OF the
dollar when I was down there. He
admitted that his visions OF the enor-
nous income for the government had
been rudely shattered but he wanted
It explained to him.
"Mr. Kennedy he would say to
me, why doesn't our coin with the
same amount OF silver that you have
circulate for the same as yours?
can't understand It,
"But the government there-it is a
wonderful thing. The president is
some relation OF Ehrmine. the hun
ired or two members OF
CONGRESS WHO RECEIVED $500
/ month in American money. are
lephewy or cousins or something, the |
llcalde OF Panama and for all I know
II the other cities are sonS-in-law or
,retty close OF kin In order to keep
good thing In the family. Besides,
here is $4,000 900 which the United
States paid Panama for the canal
lights besides the revenue duties and
,ther taxes that have to be spent.
that ten million is invested some
where up In the United states at
,retty good rate OF interest.
II noticed along the streets or
Pan ANA, policemen strung as close to-
Iether as the telephone poles on Fed
raj street I asked why they had 80
nany men on the force. II was. In
ruth, q regiment by itself. knew
hat they don't need SO many police
men for the Panamas are peaceful
,eople and would not cause enough
rouble for a handful OF police TO keep
own. The reply which the alcalde
nade was typical OF the aga: We
ave to do something so We can be
lected again
Talk about duties and taxes. They
re something awful. The Panama
orses are about as large as a good
lied Newfoundland dog and weigh
bout 400 pounds. The native cab
rivers have a little wagon and with
he horse II
WOULDN'T BRING s26
4 the United States. Yet the gov
rnment OF the city OF Panama
harges each a license OF SIS a year
ye saw a good herd OF cattle in ono
I the corralls. Those will be butch.
red tomorrow said one OF the men
no was with us. and It will cost
10 for each head for a license from
le government to do so.'
'"The streets OF Panama are narrow
q account Of It having been wall
1 city. There Is scarcely room en-
Igh for two OF those little carts to i
ass and they would hardly take up
ore than three feet each. The side
alks are small and fat man has to
Iueeze against the walls TO keep
a them. The houses are built with