Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-08-29
CHICAGO COMMITTEE
After Visiting President.":Diaz One
Calls On Governor 0tero.
A GENEROUS HOST
Desires to Do the Handsome Thing For the
President and Also For the Western
Governors The New Mexico Gov
ernor Is Urgently Invited.

Last evening there passed east a Spe-
cial car, carrying the citizens commit
tee appointed by the city of Chicago to
visit the City of Mexico for the our
pose of officially inviting President Por-
firio Diaz, of the Republic of Mexico, to
attend the ceremonies connected with
the laying of the cornerstone Of the
new federal building at Chicago, Octo-
Der 8 next, the twenty eighth anniver-
sary of the great Chicago fire. The
committee consisted of the following
prominent Chicago citizens: Charles U.
Gordon, postmaster, chairman; Col.
w. B. Roberts, Walter c. Hateley,
Edwin f. Getchell, W. D. Washburne,
John Ward Amber and Josiah Styles.
The committee reached the City Of Mex
leo Friday, the 18th inst, and on Sat
urday were presented by United States
Minister Powell Clayton to President
DiaZ, who received them in the most
cordial manner The special invitation,
which is a very gorgeous affair, and the
book accompanying it, which is a mar
vel of the printers and binders art,
were then presented to the president by
the chairman of the committee, with
appropriate remarks.
General Diaz made a speech in Span
ish, acknowledging the courtesy, ex-
pressing himself in the most friendly
terms toward this country and it's peo-
pie, stating that he very much desired
to attend the celebration, and would
ask the Mexican congress for permits
sion to visit this country. His speech
was received with much applause and
qualification.
At the conclusion of the remarks,
General Powell Clayton, United States
minister, stated that he was directed by
the department of state to say to Presi-
dent Diaz that if he accepted the in
vitation and became the guest of the
city Of Chicago, that while in the United
States a military escort would attend
him and his special train anywhere, to
which the committee added that the
governors of the several states and ter
~ritories through which he might pass
would also furnish special escorts.
During the weeks stay in Mexico the
committee were the guests of President
Diaz. They were furnished with his
carriages, and used his private railway
and street cars to visit all local points
of interest, and on a trip to the ancient
city of G~uadalajara, and, indeed, were
asked to use the presidents private
cars on their return to Chicago. This,
of course, they declined with thanks.
The president gave a special dinner
party in their honor, in person went
with them to the Chapultepec military
academy, had his son and wife, daugh-
ter and s%on-in-laW and the cabinet min
listers call on them, had them serenaded
by military bands, and, indeed, showed
them the utmost courtesy and kindness.
The committee believe that if possible
President Diaz will accept the invita-
ton.
Mr.. w. D. Washburne, a member of
the committee, is in the city to-day as a
special committee, having been deputed
to call on Governor Otero to extend to
him, in addition to the official invita-
ton already received, a special urgent
invitation on behalf of the committee to
be present in Chicago on October 9. Mr..
Washburne called on the governor this
forenoon for that purpose, and it is be-
lieved that Governor Otero will attend
if possible, especially should President
Diaz attend, on account Of the proxim-
ity Of this territory to the republic Of
Mexico, and the fact that New Mexico
would be the first United States terri
tory over which President Diaz would
travel for about 900 miles.
Governor Otero assured the represent
alive of the committee that if President
Diaz accepts the invitation to go to
Chicago, New Mexico will furnish him
an official escort and show him every
courtesy while he is within the borders
of the territory.
The Chicago committee, which is re-
markably well pleased with it's trip and
manner of treatment, will reach Chica-
go Wednesday night. Had it not been
that the stay in Mexico was longer than
expected, the entire committee would
have visited this city and paid it's re-
spects to Governor Otero. Mr.. Wash
burne leaves for Chicago this evening,