New-York tribune., 1908-06-02
THE PANAMA ELECTION
" S. TO KEEP ORDER.
Io Marines To Be Employed at
Polls-Judgc Magoon' Task.
rFrorn The Tribuna Bureau ]

.s,r.on June IA somewhat sensational
- rs;ued circulation here to-day TO the effect
t0-' --,-a6 States marines guard the polls
N ,o-,ing election in Panama, but this is dis
,s,ance6 by the authorities The facts are
-. .be Secretary Of the Navy has ordered $50
lives to the isthnnus &c replace like number
-oee term of two years in the tropics has eN-
- Ninety will sail for the isthmus On
- and another ninety June 1e but a like
,bsr will be relieved and brought hack, probably
= ,se same transports which tcGe the new men to
a. is.bn,us The marines who go TO the isthmus
-, not take with them any ammunition or equip
~. for special service. II has been the practice
q the administration for a considerable time to
ei,tain a force of approximately $50 marines on
-. isth.nus aad this policy will be pursued
.h-opshout the construction Of the canal. Ordi-
ely she sending OF additional ninety one
,undred men relieve those who have completed
mir tour OF duty in she tropics would attract no
.t.ention but in view OF the somewhat unsettled
conditions which have prevailed in expectation of
,be election every movement OF the military forces
,,--shes material for sensational stories
-an,ed by the facts OF course it is almost need
less 10 say that this country viii insist the
maintenance Of order in the republic of Panama.
bat j; is confidently hoped that there viii he no
occasion for the of a military force to compel
q fair and proper election.
Reports from The isthmus indicate that the re-
cert visit or Secretary Taft Will produce good re-
s,1s The Secretary made a careful study Of
nautical conditions while on the isthmus. and il is
believed toop steps which Will insure the fairness
IF the coming elections iii which Sefor Obadia.
r,e-v Minister ;he United States. is the Liberal
candidate and Senor Arias. Secretary of State is
.ba Conservative standard bearer. Some the con-
6i-ions which fhe Secretary found on the isthmus
-,o,,,6 90 credit - Tammany Hall In its pamiest
da.s and lis pet districts For instance. in one
,,,ah hlv strong Obadia province the books for
registration had not been opened in the entire legal
-e-5od designated for registration Through the in
eYeDce Of Secretary Taft these books were opened
g. later period. but sooner had that been done
.bsn i, was announced that 1t would be Illegal to
,.r,7i, arv new registrations but that the voting
is-s might be scrutinized TO thai any Illegal
,ot.rsial voters name stricken OF. Under the
.-,e of ,le -rea;v with Panama the United States
= obliged 10 maintain constitutional form Of gov
s-rn7ar- on the isthmus. and il was because sit
,,.-.,n was threatens there similar 10 that which
-ra5e the reoccupation of Cuba necessary that the
T-asi6elr asked Secretary Taft to go to the 18TH
- I'D take The steps needed 10 promote a fair
Ieo-io, and 10 give such advice as the infant re
-,,rlic seemed IL need. Il is now hoped that the
persn,sn authorities. whatever may be their con-
,,io- If civic rrobity. will appreciate the neces-
+v o< so conducting their election as TO avoid the
necessity of any disciplinary methods on the part
:. - T-nt-ed States Incidentally. Secretary Taft.
while on the isthmus, took certain steps whlch IL
tx bsezed will bring about greater harmony In the
7s-hr7isn Canal Commission and which, while plac-
d. r-ea-e- responsibility Colonel Goethals. will
c7rn-
-, er5 s,,bordnation which has in some slight
- Unfortunately growing degree initiated against
-. ,e-fect discipline and harmony Of his organi-
cation.
r. task which will confront Judge Magoon. Pro-
.-o-s1 Governor Of Cuba. when he undertakes
- a. as referee in the arbitration Of claims in
Fs-a7ra against the United States is by no means
a. ..s,- one The two American arbitrators-Rep-
.se,-a-,ye Denbv Of Michigan. and Judge Bum
rs ~ Rnston-sailed for Panama to-day IheE
.ra 10 meet two Panamans- and 10 these iouF'
s,. Governor Nazoon as referee, the settlement
~ *he claims growing out Of the hoodns OF laflo
=, -bs creation Of the Gatun Lake will be conf1deo
This lake and the ChagTes spillway VIII cover an
e-sa o< srnroximately 225 square miles me nay
varfna treaty. provides that ths United states
shall srprorr1ate such land as may he necessary
,or he construction and completion Of the canal
- h.11 ,o-,,-e-,ea-e the owners for the land so
-.te- When Governor Maeoon was before the
Committee on Interoceanic Canals senator hnoh
laid down the proposition that the hay-N arliiA
--es-v gave formal notice the owners o. Such
land that they could net expect their holclhss ~
s7preotare in value. Governor Magoon nllolE ofs-
s.,.a5 f-or7 This proposition and indicated his be
Bef that The land TO be taken by the United states
had become '-ery valuable" The sum at "hlch
he canal commission appraises this land IS no"
something under $4,000 The owners ask some
thing more than 81 oe9."o 1t is this Wide dls-
ore2anc,, which the arbitrators must adjust and
10 ore er,ies Governor Magoon, whose sy1npathies
with the Panamans are strong, the difficult task
which has been set for him by the Secretary OF
VA
Colon June The faction which favors the elec-
tim ~ Senior Arjas and that which supports Senior
Obsdia for President have begun a series OF dem
onstrations and there are signs OF coming lroupiN
General Santiago de Ia Guardls- formerly oecIe
ta-y q War and Minister of Foreign Afalrs' ar
rived here this afternoon from Panama TO assume
T-sp7N.. = :