Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-09-25
BY CASTOR NERvAL.

e; 8: =: :: -; s.
last few years, a presiden-
tial Inauguration should not be news
on the other side of the Rio Grande
But when such an Inauguration comes
as the result of an orderly contested
electoral process when it has been
brought about by ballots instead OF bull
lets. it can but make the front page.
Next Saturday new President will
be inaugursted In the Republic of
Panama. He will be the man chosen
at the polls by large majority of the
Panama people, four months ago. in
the freest and most democratic cleo
tions ever held in the small but prog
ressive Southern republic.
The presidential elections Of last
June In Panama gave the Panamanian
people the first opportunity in their
short history as an Independent nation
to decide who was to rule them for the
next four years
Electoral Machine Used.
In all previous elections, since Pan
ANA was established as a republic some
30 years ago. the influence of the United
States had been deciding factor.
The electoral machinery had been
completely controlled by the men in
the government Thus, government
candidates, or those who had official
support, could be considered virtually
elected when nominated. The opposi-
ton candidates had been helpless
against the pressure and political ma
neuvering Of the class in power
The only chance for candidates op-
posed to the government had rested.
therefore. 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. interviewed and controlled the cleo
tons. had the Panamanians been GER
tain that government influences could
be overcome.
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 had been. truly, a most impor-
tant factor in all previous presidential
contests in Panama.
Depended on @. S. Stand.
II this country refused to supervise
the elections. the success of the gov
eminent forces was assured If It
agreed to supervise them, it lent its
moral prestige to the opposition and
deprived the official clique Of an other
wise certain victory Thus. the weight
Of the United States inclined the scales
one way or another. Some one even
said that, due to this peculiar circum-
stance. all presidential elections in Pam
ANA had been decided at the State De-
partment
Last June. however. the situation was
a different one. A revolution success
fully carried out a year and half
earlier. had ended the traditional gov
eminent control of popular elections
and, generally, of internal politics in
Panama.
The revolution Of January, 1881
which overthrew an inefficient admin
lstration. had inaugurated period OF
legitimacy and freedom in political &C.
tiviAes Heretofore unknown to the
great bulk of the Panamanian popula-
ton
Furthermore. 1t had given Panama its
first impartial. nonpartisan and ma
IlOQdQS
which was only interested in the reor-
ganization of the country and not in
the perpetuation in power OF any par
ticular group Of men.
AS a result. the last few months pre-
vious to the elections had witnessed an
open. fair electoral campaign, during
which neither party had even men
toned the desira bility of foreign super
vision.
Two Candidates Named
Instead of a government candidate
and an opposition candidate. there
were. this time, two popular candidates
nominated by two equally large and
influential sectors of Panama public
opinion. Instead of an administration
endeavoring to prevent the interven-
ton of the United States to assure the
victory of its friends. there was an
impartial one. not interested In the
triumph of any one man.
Thus, when the Pananaanians went
to the polls on June 5 they could feel
confident that, whoever was elected. It
would be the exclusive choice of the
Panama people. This was. really,
something new in the annals Of Pana-
manian politics.
The fairness which characterized
the elections also was surprising TO
students of Panamanian politics and
to observers of present Latin American
conditions. Instead Of the riots and
agitation which everybody expected
the Panamanian electorate gave an
example of calmness and liberation
which spoke very highly of its Demo-
cratic maturity
In an orderly fashion the majority
of the voters assured the victory Of
tn Observation-Disclosures candidate. DR..
Harmodio Arias, over his only rival.
Senior Francisco Arias Paroles. And
to complete this picture of democratic
development. to which Panamanlans
we're witnesses for the first time, the
defeated candidate also departed from
tradition. Instead of condemning the
accuracy of the vote. swearing revenge
and starting plans for an armed op-
position. he sent congratulatory mes
sape IN his orDonent concerning de-