New-York tribune., 1908-06-19
POLITICS AT PANAMA.

Early in the controversy over the coming
Presidential election in Panama, in fact at the
very beginning of 1t, 1t was reported that Presi-
dent Amador had arbitrarily removed from Of
fee three provincial governors-Ocaha Of Co.
Gle, AngulzoIa of Chiriqui and Melendez Of
Colon-and had filed their places with parti
sans Of his own, with the evident intention Of
promoting the interests of Mr.. Arias and op-
posing those of Mr.. Obaldia, the rival candi-
dates for the Presidential succession. This
seemed remarka BILE. if not incredible, not only
because Of DR.. Amador's known character and
because Of his close friendship with both
Messrs. Arias and Obaldia, but also be
cause Mr.. Melendez was likewise one of the
Presidents closest personal and political friends
and had been one of the first to join him In
organizing the revolution Of 1903 at which time
Mr.. Melendez was alca1de of Colon. It seemed
desirable, therefore, to have further light
thrown upon the case at least, SO far as Mr.
Melendez was concerned, and this has now been
done In what we must regard as an authorlta-
tive manner
In March last, it appears, DR.. Amador and
Mr. Melendez had a personal interview in
which the political situation was discussed and
in which the President declared that while
personally he should feel constrained to support
Mr. Arias rather than Mr. Obadia. officially he
should remain perfectly neutral, and that it was
his wish that Mr.. MelendeZ should feel equally
free to support either candidate. while Of
course officially observing neutrality. That
understanding prevailed for some time with en-
tire satisfaction. Circumstances changed. how
ever, and early in May there was correspond
ence between DR.. Amador and Mr.. Meendez
of a personal and confidential nature in which
the President expressed more strongly than be
fore his interest in the election of Mr.. Arias
and his personal opposition to the candidacy of
Mr.. Obaldia-not because of the personality of
that gentleman. but because of the political
| influences arrayed in his behalf. 1t does not
appear that there the slightest attempt to
dictate to Mr.. Meendez or any departure from
the attitude of official impartiality which the
President had from the first maintained. Mr.
Meendez. however. so impressed with the
earnestness of the Presidents personal desire
to see the Constitutional party kept in power
| that he regarded it as incOngruous that he him
self should remain in an important office to
which the President had appointed him while
he was supporting the candidate whom the
President opposed He therefore wrote frankly
that he was fully committed to the support Of
Mr.. Obaldia; that if he remained in office his
official impartiality would be subject to sus-
picion, and that it seemed best for him to
resign the governorship. 81 do not perceive
any other dignified course to pursue" he wrote
which | hold" Instead of arbitrarily dismissing
the Governor, therefore, the President simply
accepted the resignation which the Governor
voluntarily offered for the sake of making him
self more free to support the candidacy of his
friend Mr.. Obaldia.
These letters were in way placed in
the hands Of Mr. Obaldias friends. and We're
used as a basis for intimations that President
Amador was improperly exerting official iniu-
ence in behalf of Mr.. Arias and against Mr..
Obaldia. and also that Mr.. Obaldia's candi-
dacy was favored by the United States govern
ment There appears to have been no ground
for such an Interpretation of them. They really
have no significance beyond that which we have
indicated. and it seems reasonable to suppose
that other tales of political intrigue and oppres
sion are similarly groundless or exaggerated.
Party feeling in Panama runs high, perhaps
almost as high we have known 1t here, and
the rival candidates and their partisans are
doubtless using all permissible expedents to
secure success. But there is no indication, SO
far as we can perceive, that the government Of
President Amador has pursued any other than
a lust impartial and honorable course