Evening star., 1932-06-05

| A3C bCSdiAC d lldIlOIldl 6VSI
since the day he left the governmental
palace his name was mentioned for the
presidential elections which the consti-
tuition scheduled for the following year.
While he was representing his country
before the White House the popularity
OF his candidacy grew to such an extent
that he was forced to resign his diplo-
matte post and respond to the insistent
calls of his followers.
Back in Panama, he was given an un-
usually enthusiastic welcome and in
! the convention of the Doctrinal Liberal
party last November was overwhelming
ly nominated for the presidency
His opponent in tOday's elections, DR..
Paroles, has also been prominently con-
nected with the revolutionary move
ment which started with the ousting of
the AroSemena regime. He was given
cabinet portfolio in the government of
President Alfaro and took a leading
role in the task of reorganization made
necessary by the breakdown of the old
system and its long standing privileges.
A few months ago, when his fol-
! lowers 1alled to reach an agreement
with those Of Harmodio Arias, they cut
loose from the regular Liberal lines and
established new organization the
Liberal Reform party, which nominated
| Senor Francisco Arias Paroles for the
presidential post. Later on his candi-
dacy received the support of the
Chiarista party, the one overthrown by
the 1881 revolution, which was left
without candidate few weeks ago by
the resignation of Senor Boyd
Both Have Clean Records.
Thus the Panaman people have
been placed in the position of choosing
between two men of the same political
background, of similar principles and
ideals. of equally clean political records,
and both of them have had an out
standing part in the establishment of
the new order Of things, under which
Panama is enjoying greater freedom
and administrative honesty than it had
known before.
Although the support of the Liberal
Reform candidate by the Chiarista
group has made this one of the closest
presidential races ever run. the figures
concerning registration of voters. given
out few days ago by the secretary of
government, seem to prognosticate the
victory of DR.. Harmodio Arias.
Up to this writing his followers had
a majority of over 5000 "cedulas," or
voting certificates, over the combined
Panchista Liberal Reform) and Chi
arista parties. Though this is only a
preliminary and uncertain index, Pan
sman residents of Washington insist
that the registration figures should be
taken as pretty fair indication of how
public opinion will express itself at the
polls today.
According to press dispatches, the
cardinal point in DR.. Arias' platform is
to take away from the chief executive
the autocratic power that has resulted
in the country being ruled by small
clique OF politicians. He wants the
people to have a larger participation
in the administration of public affairs,
and to this effect advocates the reform
OF the present electoral laws, and the
curtailment of the appointive authority
Of the president.
Seeks to Preserve Credit.
As for econmic matters, DR.. Arias'
chief endeavors will be devoted, if
elected, to the preservation of the
national credit. No matter how diff
cult financial conditions become in
Panama, there will be no moratorium
and the government will keep on Serv-
icing its external debt.
If l should become President. and it
became necessary" DR.. Arias declared
| in recent interview, Il would go out
on the street with my hat in my hand
begging for the money to keep up the
interest and service on the public debt,
rather than permit default" But he
added thoughtfully: However, under
stand, Panama must not borrow any
more money; not now at least, and the
country must stop living on the future,
as it has been, with borrowed money"
DR.. AriaS plans severe budget econ
omies. He has already told his followers
that he will not reward them with
government positions in case he is
elected, for in his administration there
would be less jobs than in the present
one.
The relations with the United States
occupy an important place in DR.. Arias'
presidential platform. In advocating
an Improvement based on equity and
| justice and more sympathetic under
standing" he declares:
Il opposed the treaty of 1926 openly
and frankly because I believed and
still believe, that if it had been ap-
proved it would have caused more
trouble and misunderstanding than it
was intended to correct"
This treaty, designed to take the
place of the original canal treaty of
1903, and to cure the friction caused
by the latter, was denied approval by
the Panaman Congress.
The platform of Francisco Arias
Paredes is not different from that of
DR.. Arias' in its fundamental principles.
Distinctive features of it are the pro-
posed six-year term for the President
of the republic, the restriction of COM
mercial activities in the Canal Zone,
the halting of immigration, the pro-
posed government assistance to the ma
tive Indian. and the stern denunciation
of Intervention by any foreign power,
! especially at the polls
1t only remains now to be hoped that
violence will not cast blot upon to-
days elections, which have so far set
new precedent of fair play and open
mindedness in Panaman politics.