The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-06-02
American Marines VIII Watch
Elections In Panama
TROUBLE FAST LOOMING UP
Political Affairs on the Isthmus Are
Very Much Mixed and Revolution
Is Threatened BY the op-
posing Factions.

Washington, June 1.-The Panama pres
idential campaign which is to culminate
in an election the first week in July has
recently developed Revolutionary ten
dencies'' to such an extent as to cause
grave concern and the serious intention
to employ severe measures on the part
of the American government to insure q
fair and honest election, probably the first
in the history of Central American poll
tics. The 500 American marines stationed
on the isthmus will be detailed on tho
two election days to the 100 polling places.
Both by treaty and special agreement
the Panama government has opened the
way and made it the duty of the United
States to insure a fair and honest cleo
ton, and until these more recent develop
ments it was believed this could be ac-
complished by the presence of civilian
American commissioner at the polling
places.
The plan to detail the marines has not
been formally announced, but it is said
to be inevitable by those familiar with
the situation.
The contest is between Vice President
Obaldia and Secretary of States Arias. At
that time Obaldia was vice president
and Amador president the latter favored
the aspirations of Obaldia, who had pre-
viously been minister to the United
States. The only function of vice pres
idency of Panama is to act as president
during the absence of the chief executive
and shortly after his last election ANA
n civ G. frin IN
and obaldia went to the head of the gov
ernment.
Amador and Obaldia had been elected
by the conservative or constitutional
party, but the first act of Obalda as
president was to appoint Senor Daz
brother of the leader of the liberal or
defeated party, governor of the province
of Panama. He then compelled Ossia,
the deposed governor and brother of the
wife of President Amador, to turn over
to the government a large revenue he Is
alleged to have been turning into other
channels. He next compelled his present
political opponent, Arias, to put up 900
as required by the concession, just ex-
pired, through which Arias had con-
trolled the market of Panama.
Incidentally it is explained here that
ness men on the isthmus, has control
cf the electric light concession of the
ice and meat business and other paying
monopoies. These evidences of reform
in politics won to Obaldia the support Of
! the liberal or progressive party, COM
monlyIl1nown as the party Of the negro
| and Indian but 1t alienated the president
| and the vice president and upon the
| return of Amador this alienation became
| decidedly apparent. But in the meantime,
| Obaldia had been indorsed also by the
| conservative or constitutional party for
| president.
| Arias entered the race as a conserva-
| tive, and from his entry the ministry
! of the government has been operating
! busily in his behalf. The last move was
| the dismissal of three governors of prov
! inces, all of them known to be friends
| of Obaldia. The administration has. since
| the departure of Secretary Taft for the
| isthmus, reduced the number of pres-
| dental electors from the provinces of Co.
| Ion where Obaldia Is conceded to have
| rnade friends, and increased the number
| in several provinces known to be favor
! able to the election of Aras.
The call for a personal report from
Minister Squiers is the result, 1t Is ex-
J planned, of these new developments. At
| the same time Mr.. Squiers may be asked
| to explain certain newspaper comment
| to the effect that he was allowed himself
] to become enthusiastic in favor of one
! of the candidates Minister Suuiers will
sail for the United States tomorrow.