The Washington times., 1909-12-07
By WALTER ]. FAHY.


Can YOU imagine a nation refusing 70 /
keep itself clean unless some one else |
foots the bills incident to cleanliness?
That is the situation In the republic OF /
Panama. The government. as a govern |
ment. will submit to the installation OF
sanitary methods within its domain /
provided the United States furnishes the
money. Panama agreeing 10 liQuidate |
the debt at the end Of fifty years
Panamanians. as a people. do not take |
kindly TO sanitation; they abhor hy-
giene
Civilization has touched but lightly |
a great majority OF the natives Of the
baby republic They live IN squalOr
which could not be exceeded in a pig
pen; they waIlow about in the mud sur
rounding their huts with never a
thought OF lettering their condition
They resent every attempt OF the Amer
leans 10 clean up property In the Vi
cinity Of their homes Their children.
without a stitch OF clothing. play in
the public highways. Give the aver
age Panamanian a hut near a supply OF
vans and bananas an an occasional
days work 20 keep him supplied with
enough money 70 buy his native rum
ard you have given him Paradise.
These conditions are Of far greater
interest 10 Americans than appear on
the surface, especially the question OF
their Misunderstanding nun. The great
majority OF the patients IN the insane
hospital a. AnCOn are either natives Of
Panama or Jamaican negroes who have
made their home in the republic Ninety
nfue per cent Of these cases Of insanity
can BE- traced directly 20 the deadly
rtm-
At the present time there is but one
American confined in the insane hospi-
tai officials on the canal are fearful
that this American viii have the com
pauv OF many OF his countryTnen 81 the
prohfbitionists in the United States are
permitted 70 have their way in the ad-
u1faistration OF affairs in the Canal
Zone. Al Tire present tinne saloons are
permitted within the territory control
led uy this Government They are kept
under strict surveiitance OF Government
officials. Employees OF the civil govern
inert constantly visit these saloons, take
samples Of the liquor served and sub
nit II 70 a chemical examination. II IL
il found that a saloon proprietor sells
impure liquor his license IS revoked.
The canal officials are entirely satisfied
with the present system for the sole
reason that they exercise supervision
and are in z position 10 see that Amerl-
can workmen are served with pure
liquor. Incidentally the revenues from
liquor licenses are sufficient 10 defray
the expenses Of the schools.
The ". c. T. L. Of the United States
f. determined 20 make an issue Of the
Ifcuor business in the canal zone. They
are unaIterably opposed 70 #. and the
impression prevails IN Panama that the
tee
that direction this winter. The
Istknfan Canal Commission is unan-
imOus in the belief that the abolition
Of government controlled saloons in
the canal zone would be disastrous.
without attempting 20 go into the
merits Of the prohibition movement II
cannot be denied that II an American
workman wants 70 drink he will do so
regardless OF any laws that may be
passed b. Congress. II he cannot get
his beer or whisky IN saloons licensed
BY the Canal Commission he will get Il
elsewhere.
There are q score Of Panamanians
ready 90 establish Blind Tigers from
the Atlantic ocean 20 the Pacific I'm
der existing conditions few indeed are
the Americans who fail TO show IN
for work after pay day. Contrast this
regularity with the condition Of the
native and foreign workmen after
they have been paid on. On the dav
following the visit Of the pay train
from one-quarter 10 one-half Of the
natives and foreigners fail TO report
for duty.
in many instances this IS due 10 the
fact that the jamaican negroes and
Panamauiaus will not work while they
have money in their clothes. In a ma
jority or cases, however, they are un-
able 20 do so. The native rum has. 10
use the veruacular. put them out OF
business" and 10 takes many hours for
them 10 recover their senses and their
strength. Iu dealing with the subject
o. prohibition in the canal zone Con-
eress will not be experimenting. The
ah0fiffOn Of the cautceu, say the canal
officials is "a good Illustration OF what
viii happen in Panama. The old sol
diers at the various homes throuE noui
tn country are today fhe prey OF az
vicious an element as ever menaced a
community. Putting an end 10 tht
Cantoen did not prevent the Old soldiers
r,,,, Getting rum and neither VIII pro-
hfbfff0n legislation prevent the AneTl-
car uyorltman in Panama from getting
rum. o.t,,... ,,,,
Quoted under the supervision OF the Gov
eminent ne will get 70 from ne hallNeh
and Heaven help the man VITO De,o $500
an haDitual consumer OF 6 ,3Li.., /,
rum The Ancon Insane Hospital l'
full OF its victims.
Reference has been made 70 the iacI
Of cleanliness in Panama ana the rel
usaI Of the republic Up To July
1909 che United States had spent sZ,-i'"y
for sewers. water works, and other IN
prOvements. In the treaty between lI'
two countries Panama agrees 20 allow
these expenditures TO stand as a deb
against her with interest at per cent
the debt TO he iQuid8tcd IN fifty years
u Is worthy Of notice IN passing ina
the rate Of interest Is lower than IN
United States bOrroWs for.
The American officials some time age
suggested 10 the government OF Panama
tho adyisabIity or assessing owners Of
property adjoining the sections Wher'
improvements were necessary. Panama
70