Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-11

remaining two years of the Arosemena
regime. ST.. Duque had been Provi-
sional President for a few days during
Charts term Of Office and this dis
qualified him to be elected now, as the
constitution provides that no one hav-
ing held that post can be elected first
designate during the two years follow
ing the period in which he served The
adroit friends of Duque evaded the law
by pOStponing the election until after
the LIST of October, when the two-year
term finished. This act was severely crit
icized even by impartial observers and
by prominent jurists in Panama, who
realized the purpose of the maneuver
and held that Duque's election, not
having taken place at the time stipu-
lated by law, was unconstitutional
This opposition, intensified by the
economic crisis, by renewed abuses of
the government and the uncovering of
new frauds, soon resulted in open dis
affection, at the head of which ap-
peared active the Accion Communal, an
organization formed by prominent and
honorable young people in the land
The cable reports have already given
account of the armed uprising which
took place several days sgo in Panama
City and forced President AroSemena
to hand in his resignation. Before do
ing this, however, he was committed to
appoint Senior Arias, the leader of the
movement, secretary of government. In
accordance with the constitution, when
the presidency is vacant and the Desig-
nate or Vice President is absent the sec
rotary of government must be recog-
nized as temporary Chief Executive.
This was done, and Senior AriaS, q
man of great ability and unquestioned
honesty, who never before sought or
held public ONCE, was sworn in by the
chief justice.
BETTER DAYS AHEAD.
And here it is time to point out this
original characteristic of the Panaman
revolt: That 1t has been performed In
what we might describe 81 a "legalistic
way" If revolutions can be such. Senior
Arias was appointed secretary of gov
eminent by the constitutional Presi-
dent himself, and when the former re-
signed he assumed office according to
the law of the nation, and with the ap-
proval of its highest magistrate, who
swore him in.
1t is also following the same consti-
tutional procedure that the Supreme
Court of Panama, holding that Duuue's
election as First Designate was illegal
for the reasons explained before, has
now called Senior Ricardo Alfaro to
hands OF Provisional President Arias
The constitution provides that when a
new First Designate has not been ap-
pointed by the time stipulated by the
law. the term of the one then holding
this title is automatically extended.
Senior Alfaro was, therefore, the legal
First Designate or Vice President of the
republic, and as such the Supreme
Court of Panama has asked him to
nm I'D Hl.R&s
washington and take charge of his
country's government.
That the successful movement in
Panama has the support of the great
majority OF the population is clearly
eVlnced by the enthusiasm with which
1t has been hailed by elements of all
parties and classes. Order has been
Immediately restored, and the country
as whole Is preparing to cooperate
with the new government in the task
OF national reconstruction A Signifi-
cant telegram received by Senior Alfaro
from a group of prominent Pana-
mans expresses eloquently this SEN
timent OF public approval. It reads
more or less: we congratulate you on
the day Of our second independence"
That the. new regime counts upon
the collaboration Of the best people in
the country is shown by the fact that
PCAoOAAo PAOAAAIlcL1b III SOClal, lub6l6CIuAl,
commercial and other circles alien to
politics are being placed in the highest
administrative positions. The case of
the new chief of the national police
forces, an eminent and wealthy Scien-
list, who has abandoned his position of
director of hospitals to help In the
establishment Of the new order of
things, Is only one case among many
others which prove that the best Of
Panama is behind the movement
This unanimous support of the Pan
aman people and the recalling Of
Senior Alfaro. to head the new govern
ment are two circumstances of happy
portent for the latest Latin American
upheaval The prestige of Senior Alfaro,
his tradition Of political honesty and
uprightness, his reputation as a mod
ern statesman and brilliant diplomat
are guarantees Of better times for
Panama.
AS for the cause Of American
ism, there is also reason to rejoice at
Senior Alfaro's accession TO the presi-