Evening star., 1932-06-05
PANAMA is HOLDING FIRST
ENTIRELY FREE ELECTION
Votes for President, Free From Both U. S.
Supervision and Local Government
Domination.
BY GASTON NERVAL.

BY GASTON NERVAL.
TOR THE first time in their short
II history as an independent ma
ton, the Panamans will decide
i today by themselves who Is to
rule them for the next four years.
The statement may seem too radical,
but it is true. In all the previous presi-
dental elections, since Panama was
established as republic some 80 years
ago, the influence Of the United States
was deciding factor.
The electoral machinery was COM
pletely controlled by the men in the
government. Thus, government candi-
dates, or those who had official support,
were virtually elected when nominated.
The opposition candidates were help
less against the pressure and political
maneuvering Of the class in power.
The only chance for candidates op-
posed to the government rested, there
fore, on the supervision of the elections
by the United States. Only when the
country which had helped Panama to
gain independence, and which was
bound by treaty to preserve it, inter-
vened and controlled the elections, were
the Panamans certain that government
influences could be overcome.
Was Important Factor.
But in this case the followers of
government candidates charged the
United States with discrimination
against them. Under such circum-
stances, the attitude of the United
States was, truly, a most important
factor in all previous presidential con-
tests in Panama
If this country refused to supervise
the elections, the success Of the govern
ment forces was assured. If it agreed
to supervise them, it lent its moral
prestige to the opposition and deprived
the official clique Of an otherwise cer-
tain victory. Thus the weight of the
United States inclined the scales one
way or another. Some one even said
that, due to this peculiar circumstance,
presidential elections in Panama were
decided at the State Department.
This time, however, the situation Is
different one. A revolution which was
successfully carried out a year and
half ago has ended the traditional gov
ernment control of popular elections
and generally of internal politics in
Panama.
The revolution of January, 1881,
which overthreW an inefficient admin
istration, inaugurated period of
legitimacy and freedom in political ac-
tivities heretofore unknown to the
great bulk of the Panaman population.
First Impartial Government.
Furthermore. it gave Panama its first
impartial bipartisan and nationalistic
government; a government which was
only interested in the reorganization OF
the country and not in the perpetual
ton in power Of any particular group
of men.
As result, the last few months have
witnessed an open, fair electoral cam
paign, during which neither party has
even mentioned the desirability of for
eign supervision.
Instead of a government candidate
and an opposition candidate there are
this time two popular candidates nomi-
mated by two equally large and inf1uen-
tial sectors of Panaman public opin-
ion. Instead of an administration in
terested in preventing the intervention
Of the United States to assure the vic
tory of its friends, there is an i'm
partial one which is not interested in
the triumph of any one man. Presi-
dent Alfaro deserves special credit for
the fair and strictly neutral attitude of
the government in this connection.
And thus today when the Panamans
go to the polls, they may feel con-
fdent that whoever is elected it will be
the exclusive choice of the Panaman
people. This IS, really, something new
in the annals of Panaman politics.
Alike In Many Respects.
In more than one respect, the two
men who will contend today for the
presidency of Panama are alike. To
start with. their names are similar.
One of them is Dr. Harmodio AriaS,
whom Washingtonians knew last year
as the diplomatic representative of his
country. The other is Dr. Francisco
Arias Paredes. former secretary of the
interior who also was in Washington
some time last year in an unofficial
capacity.
Both of them were in sympathy with
the revolutionary movement of Janu-
ary. 1881. and became closely connected
with it when it succeeded in other
throwing the unpopular administration
of President Arosemena.
A man of stainless public record and
great energy was needed when Pam
anna, as a consequence of that move
ment, was left without chief eXecu-
tive. DR.. Harmodio AriaS was that
man. The resigning President him.
self, obeying the command of public
opinion, asked DR.. Arias to join his
cabinet, SO that. in accordance with
the Panama constitution. he might be
chosen by the other members of the
cabinet to head the provisional govern
ment, preserve order and lead in the
task of reconstruction until the elected
Vice President C'primer designado'O,
absent at the time, could return and
take charge of the administration.
Served as Minister to U. S.
When DR.. Alfaro returned to Panama
and was inaugurated President by the
Supreme Court. DR.. Arias handed to
him the reins Of government and was
subsequently appointed Minister to
Washington. The activity and states
manship he displayed during the short
but trying period in which he was at
the helm Of the Panaman ship of state
gained many admirers for DR.. Arias.