The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-06-29
j. S. TROOPS TAKE
CH RGE OF 7 WO
CANAL ZONE CITIES
WILSON ORDERS COLON AND
PAVONA OCCUPIED BY
ARMED FORCES.
QUARREL OVER ELECTION
President of Country Postpones
Date for Tests at Polls and Op-
position Parties Appeal to Wash
ington-Executive Sends Protest.

position Parties Appeal to Wash
ington-Executive Sends Protest
Panama, June 29.-Upon orders
from Washington American troops
began policing the cities of Pana-
ma and Colon at 2 o'clock yester-
day afternoon. The action was TAX
en- under the treaty of 1904 author
izing the United States to assume
this police duty whenever it was
necessary to maintain order. The
Panama government has protested
to Washington against the meas
ure.
Because the former administra-
ton had refused to correct condi-
tions in the two cities, soldiers III
the canal zone were forbidden to
enter them and the civilian en-
ployeS boycotted Colon and Pana-
ma until the mandate of the mill
tary authorities was carried out by
the Panama government.
Postpone Elections.
The new administration, under
President Urriola, began to clean up
the cities, but i'll connection with
this work, announced that the cleo
tions fixed tor une 80 and July /
would be postponed for six months
because of the fear that serious dis
orders might occur il held on the
dates set by law.
The opposition party protested
to Washington against the defend
ant OF the elections, claiming that
such move would serve no purpose
except to favor the candidates sup
ported by the new administration.
The American state department ad.
vised President Urriola to hold the
elections, but he replied that fair
election could not be held now, and
he suggested that American com
missioners supervise the making dp
OF poll books and assume charge OF
an election TO be held late in July
or early in August, which, the Pan
anna president said, could be held III
an open and fair manner.
No disorders have been reported
since 1t was announced that the de-
cree forbidding the election would
be enforced by the police.
Opposition Appeals to U. S.
The opposition party again pro-
tested to Washington, and yester-
day the American state department
notified President Orriola that be-
caues OF disorders American troops
would police the cities until further
notice. No time limit being se',
there is no one in Panama who
knows how long the occupation will
continue.
President Urriola yesterday issued
a statement on the situation:
Foreign Secretary LaFreyrc
states that at II o'clock the charge
d 'afiaires OF the United States sent
a note informing him that the Unit
ed States by virtue OF article I of
the treaty OF 1904 has ordered that
its armed forces at 2 o'clock this
afternoon would enter the cities of
Panama and Colon TO maintain pub
lie order in them and on the waters
adjacent TO them.
AT that hour in the midst OF pro-
found tranquility the armed Ameri-
can forces entered without the least
resistance on the part OF our police
or OF authorities, Notwithstanding
that the Panama government did
not have time 10 inform the officials
that the government would exer-
else their action because OF the
covering this feature
was not handed TO me until after
| O'Clock in the afternoon.
Some Peppery Language.
Il do not wish 10 characterize
now as unjus,ifiable this act OF the
government OF the United States,
but the fact should be understood
that my government, with the force
at its disposal. Is able to maintain
public order in the whole nation,
and without doubt in the cities oi
Panama and Colon. True. it is, that
there is considerable political eS-
citement of the approaching cleo
tions. but this is characteristic of
all democracies.
lit also is true that although
there were fears of disturbances in
some parts OF the republic, nothing
has taken place, nor could take
place. which would give rise TO a
doubt that the government IS impo-
tent to put down with a strong
hand the leas; attemp a public dis
order.
''lt is also pertinent that the politi
cal problem which siirs the country
could have been solved satisfactorily
by the United States. whose friend