The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-10-16
PANAMA'S
FREEDOM"
IS A MYTH
Rip Veil of
Independence"
BY MANUEL GOMEZ, sse'y-
AntI-lmperiaIlst League
ARTICL


AIl-Ameriean AntI-lmperiaIIst League
ARTICLE 1.
II there was ever an act Of inter
national politics that tore the dover
from a carefully nurtured Action Of
international relationships, It is the in
curslon of American troops into the
Republic Of Panama" Panama 10 sup
posed to be a free country. Actually,
it's only freedom consists in that its
minister plenipotentIary at Washing
ton has the privilege Of importing all
the brandy, wine and beer that he
wants. The real status OF Panama, and
of the other little republics" of Cen
trail America and the Caribbean, has
now been exposed 80 plainly that even
the readers of capitalist newspapers
can see it.
coolIe Conditions in Panama
The workers Of Panama labor under
conditions which approach in wretch
edness those of the oppressed colonial
countries of Asia. Wages are pitifully
low, while living costs have been
mounting steadily. The great major
ity live in little oneroom novels. for
which the landlords have been chsrg-
ing more and more extortionate rents.
Rent profiteering became so fragrant
that a month ago the worker-ten-
ants in the city of Panama went on
strike, refusing to pay rent until an
agreement should be reached limiting
the earnings of landlords to IL per
cent annually. The strike spread
rapidly; it became a mass movement
of aroused worker-tenants. Where
upon, General Lassiter, in command
Of the Canal Zone department Of the
United States army. sent three bat
talions of the 33rd infantry into the
city ito put down the rioting"
Appropriate Time Picked
The moment selected for the inva-
sion was a fitting one. II was in the
midst of a funeral procession which
the strikers had arranged for two OF
their comrades who had been brutally
murdered by the police. The American
soldiers broke up the demonstration,
occupied the strikers headquarters
and proceeded to restore law and
order" for the Panaman landlords. II
was nice, quiet domestic" affair.
Senior Rodolfo CHAR. the dummy
president Of the republic called for
and obtained the service Of q. S. gov
eminent troops, just as a governor OF
the state of Pennsylvania or Kansas
might request and receive federal
troops TO put down a strike there. Il
is a recognized business Of the o. s.
army to break strikes. American trade
unionists know this from bitter ex.
perience,
Panaman workers know II too. This
is not the first time that American
soldiers have invaded their territory.
1t has happened time and again. The
United States government has inter-
vened in the affairs Of every country
in Central America, and never once
on the side OF the workers.
A Spanish Proverb
II was como Pedro por su casa" as
the Spanish say, that the infantrymen
Of the 3Srd regiment entered the city
Of Panama ("like Pedro going into his
homeD.
And this is the country that boasts
Itself the defender OF the rights OF
small nations, and talks about moral
claimsl"
All, but there is treaty giving us
the right to intervenel say the re.
sourceful apologists of American i'm.
perialism Article OF the treaty pro
vides that the military forces of the
United States may take over the
Confined on page 81