The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-11-07

I DOth 20 tng Unlteu states Tor S4Oi
100000, but. the franchise for their
canal was not salabie. All they
could offer was. the disused nachin-
cry, the abandoned digging and the
railroad. TO make these Of any
particular value a treaty with Colon
b.a was necessary. One was ,negot-
lated, Offering 10000. 600 for the
franchise, and q rental OF $780, 900
annually for the Canal Zone. But
the treaty failed Of ratification In tho
Colombia Senate.
In WASHINGTON was President
Theodore Roosevelt, keenly DESTROYS.
that work ON the canal should be be-
gun under his administration. In
Washington, too, were Representa-
tiyes OF the French owners, very de-
sirous OF making that $4,000, 900.
In Panama City and Colon, were
divers gentlemen eager to see canal
hntld'ng begun once more, bring
ing flush times to the 1Sthmus Pam
a4lA was province OF COLOMBIA.
What was easier than a revolution
It's people had revolted time and
again, but the feyoits were always
put down by Columbia, which sent
Itroops by sea into the rebelliousl
province. There was no possible
communication by land. s-1f only the
sea route could be clokedi
There were Panama secret agents
in Washington. There. too were
skilled diplomats In the pay Of the
French company. President gRoos-
eyelt was Just eager to dig that
canal. Rumors of revolution were
heard in Panama. The COLOMBIA.
envoy at Washington telegraphed
warning to Bogota. The Colombia
authorities, doubling the loyalty Of
the garrison at Panama City, tele.
graphed the Commanders of two gun
boats in Panama Bay to come homo
and get fresh troops, The gunpoAte
were. out or coal. There was plenty
Oh. coal at Colon. at the Atlantic end
of the Panama Railroad, but the
road-not so very busy-could not
ind cars to carry 1t over for the gun
boats use. You see the F,rnch owns
ers of the road wanted to sell to the
United States. So the preparations
armed Colombia sent 400 men down
by the Atlantic route and landed at
Colon. President Roosevelt had
photographed the captain OF the Nash.
vile to prevent the landing of any
armed force, either government or
insurgent." lat the time the order
was issued there was no.insurrection'
but, Washington was only tr4iie
premature. But what right the
President had to prohibit Colombia
from landing. her own troops on. her
own coast Is a fquestiop. Still they
were landed, as the orders were re-
ceiyed too late.
The revolutionary headquarters
were at Panama, forty-saven miles
away. The railroad refused to carry
The loops except for cash-despite
the inyariable responsible officers.
The Colombia custom Of accepting
the warrents of officers probobH
threatened force. The United Stat
es navy Immediately backed up. the
railroad. and the Colombians gave
up. Thesreyolution was s'nccess-
full without al shot having been fired;
The United States effectualIy closed
both the sea and the Isthtnus to the
iColombian. authorities. Within ten
| days the Republic -of Panama had
negotiated with the United States the
treaty BY virtue OF which the canal
has been dug. The revolving pro-
vince got 81 100000 cash and Is to
get $250,00b year in perpetuity.
Colombia got nothing.
But there has been an uneasy feel
Ing in the United States ever since.
Somehow, It stands In the light OF
receivers OF stolen goods, More
than that, 1t aided in the steal. So
there have been efforts by the State
Departmental find out what Colom-
bia will accept as an indemnity. we
are virtually admitting our guilt, but
are little bothered about the size
of the conscience fund. Ten mill
ions are suggested, but Colombia
holds aloof, She Host that, her rich
est province, The railroad. the fran
chise of which was about to revert
to the State, and rental in perpei-
ulty OF S250.000 year. She does
/ MT think Sl0.00O,000 a sufficient in
I demnitR Who would?