The Washington herald., 1908-06-12
UNITED STATES MAY
RULE IN PANAMA
Continued from Page One.

Continued from Page One.
Amador is where he says that the United
States could not recognize in Panama a
government Established by force and vio-
lence. and being at 4 loss to understand
the will Of the people. would have to
intervene. Having gone that far the
prognosticators see nothing else that
could be done but the establishment of a
United States provisional government at
once.
Roosevelt Far-sightcd.
Mr.. Roosevelt is given credit for far
sight in seeing what was next 10 be eX-
pected and which is 10 follow when the
United States assumes government con
troll Of the Isthmus OF Panama.
The letter Of the War Secretary is dated
at Culebra, Canal Zone. May u. Parts Of
IL are as follows:
Weighty evidence was adduccd to show that there
were many who had been deprived Of their cousti-
mtional night 10 vote and there was much evidence
Of violence and Of repeating hy the police IN the
cities oi Panama. Colon, and elsewhere
The United states guarantees tho integrity Of the
republic. and this involves a recognition hy Il Ot
the lawful government II fraud is 10 intervene 10
the election. that 1ispute arises 90 who are
the lawfully elected authorities it becomes neCeS-
sary Tor the United States % determine who they
are More than this. every fraudulent election en-
dangers the Ieacc Of the Canal Zone aud rs exceed
ngy likely 20 in the party defeated by fraud
and violence disposition n resist the frauducntly
elected officials and 20 institute rebellion.
since my coming 20 the isthms / have received
petitions from committee reprasenting the Liberal
party and a committee representing the COnsgrva-
tive party. advising that az the coming election
there Is an intention the part of ofici1ls who
are IN the government 20 deprive the lawful voters
Of the opportunity % v',IIcss their choice ot
candidate FOR the prcsdrncv. and hy fraud and
violence 20 return the successful candidate at
that election. ScnOr ATias. the present secretary Of
state.
Police Use Fraudulent Methods.
Il Is asserted that the same police officers who
were guilty Of fraud and violence at the last Con
grcssonal elections have been put in control Of the
elections al this time.
I ought 20 add that evidence from the American
police force and other sources tends ClrrOboratc
the statements Of these petitions
II goes without saving that the United States
viii he most reluctant 10 intervene In the IN
terual Affairs Of the republic u Panama. buJ for
the reasons have given. should the occasion arise.
do not see how II be avoided.
In order that YOU may understand the news oi
President Roosevelt. I OuEht 20 say that ] have
transmitted 20 him in substance the petitions which
have been fled with me. and The other evidence
IN respect 90 the coming election. and IN response
10 my dispatch I received yesterday afternoon the
following:
You are authorized 10 say 10 President
Amador that the government Of the
United States will consider any attempt
at the election Of a successor by fraudu-
lent methods constitutes a disturbance
OF public order which under Panam. s
constitution requires Intervention. and
this government will not permit Panama
10 pass into the hands OF any one so
elected.
The failure which you describe TO
comply with the laws assuring 10 the
people OF Panama the opportunity 20
have their names entered In the registry
OF voters appears in advance 10 be suti-
cient 10 invalidate the election. and IL
the facts are as they have been repre-
sented TO you. wrong already done must
be redressed and fair registry lists made
up.
In case we find occasion for in
tervention, it will be necessary for this
government to consider what steps it viii
take for redress of the wrong done. and
to prevent repetition in future
Asks Early Answer.
I have awaited the bringing Of this matter to your
exccllsncys attention until I should hear from the
President I assume that your eNcellency would de-
sire 10 have conference Of the Cabinet in respect
% the matter. and beg that I may hear from
YOU at the earliest opportunity.
I submit this memorandum 20 your eVcellency IN
the presence Of the American Minister. Mr. Squers
and Commissioner Blackburn, the one representing
the State Department and the other the commission
In a statement accompanying the let
ter which was given out at the White
House yesterday, these observations are
made:
THE first answer to this communica-
tion was denial Of any fraud in the cleo
lion. and a refusal to take any of the
steps suggested. Subsequently. an agree
ment was reached between the Pana-
manian authorities and the American Min
lister and Commissioners Goethals and
together with general counsel
of the commission. Mr.. Rogers, by which
Panama agreed to create a commission
of electoral inquiry to investigate the
Of all parties. and under the
United States, was TO join in the inquiry
through any persons appointed by IT, A
provision was that If the United States
came to the conclusion that. because of
material errors or defects in the cleo
toral proceedings, suffrage had been lost
to citizens. then Panama would cause
the same to be remedied.
Registration Promised.
'On May IS the commissioners were ap-
pointed and went to the various places
Of registration in the districts The
authorities consented that
registration should proceed for ten days
from May 10 10 o. and this was tele-
graphed officially all over the country.
three governors known 10
be In favor Of Obaldia. the opponent Of
Secretary Arias. were removed from Office
by the President because. as he informed
Gov. Blackburn, he did not propose to
have anybody in office opposed to the
government. The other four governors
are Arias men.
AT the same time. the government has
the electoral votes which, un-
der the law, may be cast by Colon for the
President. by eleven. Colon being under
stood 10 be an Obaldia district and has
Increased by five the electoral repre-
sentation from the province OF Los San
tos, understood TO be a province likely
TO vote in favor Of Arias"