The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-08-16
PORRAS AGAIN
WILL CONTROL
THE ASSEMBLY
REPUBLIC OF PANAMA WILL BE
RULED BY THE GOVERNMENT
FACTION OF LIBERAL PARTY.
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Panama, Aug. 15.-The result OF the
recent election of members of the Ma
tional Assembly apparently assures
President Belisario Porras the support
OF nineteen out of the thirty three
members who will qualify when the
next session convenes in September.
While this is a rather small work
Ing majority for the government fac
ton of the Liberal party, the preSi
dent and his followers are looking for
ward to the control of the assembly.
On the other hand the fourteen non
Porras members who are followers of
DR.. Carlos A. Mendoza, who styles
himself as the real leader of the Lib
eral party, in that he is the duly elect
ed chairman, or president of the Lib
eral National Committee, believe they
Will be able, when the time comes, to
swing the votes of enough POrras fol-
lowers to do as they like in the way
of legislation. 1t is pointed out that
there is much dissatisfaction with the
Porras administration, even among it's
closest adherents.
The Importance of the control of the
National law making body is appar-
ent when it is remembered that this
body elects the five "designadoS," or
vice-presidents, Of the republic. They
are not elected when the president is
chosen by popular ballot, but by the
assembly Immediately after the presi-
Dental election, when it holds its first
session under the new administration.
1t is of still greater Importance this
year for the reason that the present
administration is said to have evolved
plan whereby it may perpetuate it
self in power for another term of four
years. A president may not succeed
himself within six months after leav
ing the office. The control of the as
sembly permits him TO say who shall
be the first vice president. 1t Is said
the scheme is to attempt the election
two years hence of DR.. Ramon NJ. VAL
dez. a friend of President Porras, to
the presidency with the understanding
that he shall resign at the end of his
first six months in office In the mean
time DR.. Porras would have been elect
ed first vice president and he thus be-
come president again. he having been
out of the presidential office for six
months as the law provides.
WOULD RETIRE PORRAS.
Such a result. however. is Compat
able neither with the desires nor the
plans of the political leaders of the
republic. They have heretofore made
it a rule to see that no man shall be
president for more than four years
and therefore the leaders in his own
party are opposing President Porras
and attempting to wrest from him the
control of the National Assembly.
The factional differences date back
to the convention of the Liberal Party
at Chitre in January. 1t was there de-
cided to place the political destinies of
the party in the hands of "Directorio
Nacional" or National Liberal Com
mittee with DR.. Mendoza at it's head.
The plan met the approval of Pre,si-
dent Porras, but. according to DR.. Men
doza, not for long.
The time came for selecting candi-
dates who should make the race for
the National Assembly which was to
he elected in July. The, committee pre-
pared a list Of candidates and obtained
their consent to stand for election. AS