The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-04-06
panama IS FAST BEING AMERICANIZED

PANAMA, March ~. uU may 'N
press it as YOU please. either thar the
American owned Canal Zone is goiug
TO be- bigger than the Republic Of
Panama or that American influence
will spread Throughout Panama, but
the big Impressive fac. is that the
domination OF ,he United States over
this youngest OF Central American re-.
publics is as yet in It's infancy strong
as that domination already u.s.
Inquiries made during the two days
visit of Secretary Knox to Panama
lead to the conviction that the Pana-
mans who are in control of public
affairs IN the republic are already re.
couciled to this fact There are
traces, even in this city, of the anti
American feeling, yet those whose in
nuence is strongest in local affairs
have settled down to course of max
ing the best Of the situation. The
most advanced go so far as to say
that Panama must place all her hopes
for the future in the United States;
that she must cooperate with the
Americans to the limit of her ability
From the reception that has been
given Secretary Knox one might be-
lieve that all Panama took this eX-
treme pro-Amercan attitude. Certain
ly the Panama Government has left
nothing undone to give the Secretary
of State, his family and all members
of his party a cordial welcome. The
hours have been filled with all the
formalities and functions between ma
tions. In these functions representa-
tives of all factions in local politics
have Joined, and there has not been
| the slightest indication that the cor
diality exhibited is anything but sin
cere.
Secretary Knox has made one set
speech and has spoken eXtempor-
aneously on several occasions. In
these speeches he has set forth the
interest of the United States in Pa
mama, laid STREET upon the increase
of this interest with the opening of
| the canal and referred with signi-
| ficance not lost upon the Panamans,
to the obligations and privileges of the
Monroe Doctrine. The Panama Off
Gals on the other hand have express
ed the greatest appreciation of the
visit of the American Secretary of
State
/ Acting President CHAR declared
that the Government and people of
| Panama, knowing the interest of the
| United States in this republic, will
! know how to reciprocate. Any one
may interpret these phrases Of inter
national exchange as he pleases, but
/ the Interpretation most in harmony
with what is heard in informal con-
versation is that Panama is looking
to the United States for progress and
prosperity And whatever the merits
of the charges made against the Unit
ed States of unfair treatment of Co,
lombia, the American coming to Pa
mama is certain to be convinced that
/ however the little republic may have
been born it was a mighty good thing
! for American interests that it came
| into being when it did. The Ameri-
can is here bag and baggage, and not
even the most anti-American Pana-
man believes that the American will
ever leave.
1t doesn't take long to see how thor
oughly the American is established
here. Take the Canal Zone, which of
course the United States owns. 1t is
so cleaned up and so covered with the
marks of American habitation that
were it not for the tropical Vegetation
the settled portions of it would pass
for scenes in the United States.
Reminds me of McKeesport," re-
marked Secretary Knox as his special
/ train passed through some Of the rail
road yards, shops, works and towns
incidental to the canal construction.
OF course Americanization of the
Canal Zone was to be expected. But
the fact is that the American influence
has spread far beyond the territorial
1 limits of the Canal Zone into the city
| of Panama and out into the rural dis
trict The American system has de-
termined the type of houses, the man
ner of sanitation, the means of water
/ supply, the methods of road building
not only in Panama but outside the
city American manufacturers are
furnishing the houses of Panamans OF
all classes and descriptions; they are
clothing the people, rich and poor,
and American houses are even supply
ing q large part of the food of the
/ people of this republic and city.
These marks of Americanization are
most marked in a business way in the
| city Of Panama Here one sees walls
of old Spanish American houses plast-
cred with the advertisements Of Amer
] Ia