The Presidents of Panama.

The method prescribed by the constitution of Panama for the election of a President is much the same as that in use in the United States. A popular election is held at which electors are chosen, and these meet during the first week in August and name the President. The first and second vice-presidents are chosen by the National Assembly.

There have been three elections in Panama. The first was an acclamation at which Manuel Amador Guerrero was chosen for the term, February 20, 1904, to September 30, 1908. In the second election there was danger of rioting, and the United States sent supervisors to the polls to exert moral influence for peace. The municipal elections are held the last Sunday in June, and the Presidential, two weeks later. At the suggestion of the United States Government one of the candidates, Ricardo Arias, withdrew, after his party had been defeated in the municipal elections; and the other candidate, Jose Domingo de Obaldia was chosen. Obaldia died in office, March 1, 1910, and that day the second vicepresident, (the first vice-president had died a short time before) Carlos A. Mendoza, became President until the National Assembly met and chose Pablo Arosemena to fill out the unexpired term, October 1, 1910 to September 30, 1912.

In the election of 1912, the United States Government again supervised to prevent rioting. After the municipal election of June 30th, the candidate of the Patriotic Union, Pedro A. Diaz, withdrew, and Belisario Porras was chosen without opposition. Rodolfo Chiari was acting President during a vacation taken by Dr. Arosemena, in January, 1912

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Political
Status.

Panama Today.

The position of Panama is that of a semi-sovereign state, full sovereignty having been renounced in the treaty of February 26, 1904, when Panama agreed that the United States would guarantee and maintain the independence of the isthmian state. This status is very advantageous to Panama, because it enjoys all the measure of free government it wishes, and at the same time is free from the primal duty of a sovereign state, that of self-protection. There is no military budget each year to eat up half the revenue of the Government, no temptation to some adventurer to involve the nation in war, no chance at all of Panama's being victimized by some foreign nation. After 1913, the Government of the United States will pay to Panama an annual rental of $250,000 for the Canal Zone, and this in perpetuity. Of the ten million dollars received for the sovreignty of the Canal Zone, Panama still has six millions on mortgage drawing an average of 5 per cent. So it is that the annual income of the new government from outside sources is actually about $550,000 a year, almost $2 for every person in the nation. To this may be added the regular governmental income from import and export duties, and other taxation. Panama is distinctly solvent, although her government has not been carefully administered since 1904. Up to the present time the only interference by the American Government in the internal affairs of Panama has been to insist, in the election of 1908, that the reference to the voters be as nearly as possible a true plebiscite. The idea is more or less ridiculous because there are not 3,000 men in the whole Republic capable of holding an independent idea of who should be elected. In general there are two theories on which the parties split. The Liberals are strong (in their platforms) for public education and the rights of the common man; the Conservatives are inclined to the aristocratic idea that government should be by the few who know how to govern. One of the traditional rocks upon which the

parties split was the preference of the Conservatives for the established church, and leaving education in its hands. There is now no danger of establishing a church or throwing the school system into the hands of any sect.

In form the Government is much like that of the United States. There are three branches, executive, legislative,

and judicial. The President is chosen for Government. four years and may not be reelected for the succeeding term. The national assembly is chosen for two years, and members may be reelected. The supreme court hears certain cases on appeal, and has jurisdiction over constitutional questions. The executive is divided into five departments-Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs (Fomento), Education, Law, Finance.

There are seven provinces, each with a governor who has the appointment of the alcades or mayors of the cities and towns in his province. The provinces are Panama, Colon, Veraguas, Los Santos, Cocle, Chiriqui, and Bocas del Toro. The extent and larger towns of each are shown in the map of Panama, in this book.

tures.

The greatest length of the country is east and west, a distance of 340 miles from the Atrato River to the range of mountains that separates it from Costa Rica. Area and Its greatest width is north and south through Natural Fea- Veraguas, 120 miles. The area is approximately 30,000 square miles. No accurate map of Panama has ever been made. The best so far published is that issued by the United States Government, corrected by the Panama Government. This map with its chief features shown and with some late corrections is published in this book. Reference to this will show that the streams run in general north and south, indicating the presence of the mountain range that runs the length of the country, paralleling the seacoasts. The range has peaks 7,000 feet high in Darien, and as much as 11,000 feet in Chiriqui, but there are several passes less than 1,000 feet, the lowest of these being that used by the Canal and railroad, 312 feet above mean tide. In effect the country is a mountain range with a base sloping to the sea, and this base varies in width from a few hundred yards to 40 miles. On this plain or mountain slope are the centers of population, and the agricultural districts. The climatic changes, rainfall, and similar features are referred to on page under Weather and Meteorology.