The Sentinel=record., 1914-08-16
LIBERALS CONTROL
 PANAMA COUNTRY
HAVE ie OF THE 33 ASSEMBLY. MEN WHO WILL QUALIFY AT
 THE SEPTEMBER SESSION
Arrangements Made For 4 Rotation In Office Though There Is Prece- dent and Law Against Succession to Presidency.

Panama, Aug. 15.-The result of the recent election of members of the Nationai Assembly apparently as. sures President Belisario Porras the support of nineteen out of the thirty three members who will qualify when the next session convenes in Sep tember
 While this is rather small work ing majority for the government fac ton of the Liberal Party, the presi- dent and his followers are looking forward to the control of the assem- bly,.
 On the other hand the fourteen non-Porras members who are follow CTS of pr. Carlos A. Mendoza. wno styles himself as the real leader of the Liberal Party. in that he is the duly elected chairman, or president. of the Liberal Nationl Committee, 5e- lieve they will be abe, when the time comes, to swing the votes of enough Porras followers to do as they like in the way of legislation. It is point. ed out that there is much dissaIisfac- tion with the Porras Administration even among it's closest adherents.
 The importance of the control of the National law making body is ap- parent when it is remembered that this body elects the five "designados' or vice-presidents, of the repubic. They are not elected when the presi- dent is chosen by popular ballot, but by the assembly immediately after the presidential election, when 1t holds it's first session under the new administration.
 It is Of still greater importance this year for the reason that the present administration is said to have evolved a plan whereby it may per petuate itself in power for another term Of four years. A president may not succeed himself within six months after leaving the office. The control of the assembly permits him to say who shall be the first vice president. It is said the scheme is to attempt the election two years hence of Dr. Ramon M. Valdez, a friend of President Por. ras, to the presidency with the under. standing that he shall resign at the end of his first six months in office. in the meantime pr. Porras would have been elected first vice-presiden. and he thus become president again he having been out of the presidential. office for six months as the law pro yides.
 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 1t rule to see that no man shall be president for more than four years and therefore the leaders of his own party are opposing President Porras and attempting to rest from him the control of the Nationai Assembly
 The factional differences date back to the convention of the Liberal Party at Chitre in January. It was there decided to place the political destinies of the party in the hands of "Directorio Nacional.F or National Liberal Committee with Dr. Mendoza at its head The plan met the approy- al Of President Porras. but, according to Dr. Mendoza, not for long.
 The time came for selecting candi- dates who should make the race for the National Assembly which was to be elected in July The Committee prepared list of candidates and ob- tained their consent to stand for cleo. ton. As matter of courtesy-the