The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1908-06-12
Washington, D. c., Ju.

washington, ~. w., Jul l2.-ln
language that cannot be staken,
the exact text of which was made
public by the war department yester-
day, the president and Secretary Taft
have notified the Panama govern
ment that the elections in that re-
public must be conducted fairly.
The circumstances attending this
warning were given out for publica-
tion as If in preparation for active
Intervention on the part of the Uni
ted States by the use of whatever
force shall be necessary to make it
effective.
Secretary Taft in letter delivered
to President Amador in person and
dated May 18th suggests that two
years ago, when charges of fraud
were made concerning the congress
sional election at Panama, it was
not thought best to do more than to
urge fairness in the administration
of the election laws.
Some very weighty evidence was
adduced," he continues, s'to show
that there were many who had been
deprived of their constitutional right
to vote in that election and there
was much evidence of violence and
repeating by the police in the cities
of Panama, Colon and elsewhere. No
active intervention, however, was at
tempted by the United States govern
ment. It was hoped that the irregu-
larities of the last election were due
merely to the fact that the election.
laws were new, the republic young
and that at more important cleo
tions like the presidential election to
follow, greater care would be taken
to preserve the rights of the citi-
zens.
The interest of the United States
in fairness of elections of the re-
public is manifest. The United
States guarantees the integrity of
the republic and this involves a re-
cognition by it Of lowfu1 govern
ment. If fraud is to intervene in
election, so that a dispute arises as
to who are the lawfully elected par
ties, the authorities, then it becomes
necessary for the United States in
the discharge of its treaty and con-
stltutional duty to determine who
are lawfully elected officers in order
That it may recognize them and deal
with them as such More than this,
every fraudulent election involves
force and violence in the election it
self which necessarily endangers the
peace of the canal zone, and is ex-
ceedingly likely to arouse in the par
ty defeated by fraud and violence,
disposition to resist fraudulently
elected officials and to institute re-
bellion. The United States cannot
look upon any election which is not
conducted on fair lines, and is like
ly to lead to violence, with anything
but the utmost concern and 1t has
direct interest in case OF the threat
ened fraud in the election to inter-
fere to prevent it, and in case fraud
is carried out, to intervene to pre-
vent the succession of those officials
in whose election there was not free
choice OF the people.
Since my coming to the Isthmus
1 have received petitions from the
4 committee representing the liberal
party and the committee represent
ing the conservative party, advising
me that at the coming election there
is an intention on the part of the
officials who are In the government,
to deprive the lawful voters Of the
republic OF Panama OF the opportun-
ity to express their choice OF candi-
date for the presidency and by fraud
and violence to return Its successful
candidate at that election, Senor Ar
las. the present secretary of state.
It goes without saying hat the
United States will be most reluctant
to intervene IN international affairs
OF the republic Of Panama, but for
reasons 1 have given should the oc-
casion arise j do not see how 1t can