Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-01-04

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events that attended the fourteenth an
nual meeting of the association. 1t was
a perfectly appointed affair, an event TO
be remembered for years, a banquet
which set the standard for similar oc.
currences of the future. The forty or
more guests who enjoyed the splendid
feast of viands and wit gathered in the
lobby and parlors of the hotel and at 9
o'clock, to the inspiring strains of Perez
orchestra marched into the superbly
decorated dining room, The long walls
of the banquet hall were draped with
large American flags and bunting. Pinon
trees and greens nestled against the
folds of the banners and gave a touch
Of nature to the scene. The banquet
table, which was in the shape of an
elongated horseshoe was a vision Of
beauty. Along the whole length of the
table on both sides a wide, dark, scarlet
ribbon seemed to cut the snowy white
linen into three long In the
center of the banquet board green smi-
lax in sinuous curves made a fresh,
green trail which circled around beauti-
ful vases holding long-stemmed. dark
carnations and at the head of the table
o splendid bouquet of dark red beauty
roses. From each side of the table, the
entire length, hung garlands of smilax
Topped to the linen at each seat with a
dark, red ribbon. From the table to the
center of the space between the two
ends of the horseshoe wide, crimson,
silk ribbons were draped, coming to-
gether in the shape of a baldachin or
the point Of an imaginary May pole.
The rolls served TO each guest were also
tied with red ribbon in accordance with
the color scheme Of the decorations,
which was red and green. Artistic
silver candelabra with red candles shed
u soft glow over the table. The decora-
tions, which were truly a work of art
were the creation of District Clerk A. NJ.
Bergere, ably assisted by Mrs. Otero,
Supreme Court Clerk Sena and a few
others who lent willing aid yesterday
afternoon.
At the head of the table sat Colonel K.
e. Twitchell, the retiring president of
the association. To his right, In the
following order, were: Governor Otero,
Hon. 81. D. Estabrook, Chief Justice
Mills, Judge Parker, Solicitor General
E. L.. Bartlett, District Clerk A. M.
Bergere and Hon. T. B. Catron. On his
left sat Judge A. A. Freeman, the new
president of the association, Secretary
Wallace, Judge McFie, District Attor-
ney r. ?. Barnes, Colonel George w.
Knaebel, Ex-Governor L. B. Prince, Hon.
Frank Springer and Il. w. Clancy. The
other guests were Colonel E. w. Dobson,
District Attorney C. A. Spices, Adjutant
General Whiteman, E. A. Fiske, A. A.
Jones, A. C. Good, G.. w. Johnston, A.
N. Jordan, T. E. Curtin, w. H. Winter,
A. B. Mcmillan, District Clerk Secun-
dino Romero, j. d. w. Veeder, w. J.
Mcpherson, A. B. Renehan, w. H. Pope,
J. P. Victory, Fl. s. Clancy, W. M.
Berger, E. H. Neal, H. 3. Holt, 7. s.
Hefiin, T. C. Matteson, Supreme Court
Clerk j. D. Sena, N. B. Field and J. M.
Hawkins.
The menu of the affair was a choice
one. 1t was well balanced and the
viands were of the most select kind and
exquisitely prepared by Caterer VIM.
Vaughn.
1t was 10 o'clock when the toastmas-
ter, Colonel R. E. Twitchell, proposed a
toast to the president of the United
States, in which all joined, standing.
He then introduced Governor Otero as
the best governor that New Mexico has
had since the signing of the treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo.
"THE TERRITORY"
The governor responded to the toast
of 1.-THE Territory of New Mexico" He
said that he would rather respond to the
toast of the state of New Mexico than
that of the territory of New Mexico,
though 1t would take a week to do JUS
tice to such a subject. He successfully
combated the prevalent idea that the
people of New Mexico are illlterate, for
while in 1890 the territory had more
illiteracy than any other commonwealth
excepting South Carolina, it today has
but 20 per cent OF illiterates whore ten
years ago it lad AN per cent. Not un-
til 1898 did the territory receive any
government aid for its schools. The
general government has been spending
millions of money in supporting the In
dams in Incidence. Had New Mexico
received one-tenth of the money thus
expended, the showing would be vastly
different today. The governor pointed
out the difficulties in New Mexico in the
way of maintaining a successful public
school system. He referred to a sour
rilous article printed about a year ago in
the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin which
cast aspersions upon the loyalty of the
people of New Mexico, and referred to
the ideas prevalent in the east
about the inhabitants of the territory.
He made a brilliant defense Of the loyal
ty and patriotism Of the people of the
territory. New Mexico responded to the
first call Of the president for volunteers.
1t furnished a greater percentage, with
Arizona, Of the soldiers who enlisted
against Spain than any other common
wealth In the Union. In the war with
the Filipinos New Mexico and Arizona
furnished more volunteers than a group
of states represented in congress by IL
senator's and 16 congressman. New
Mexico alone furnished in the Spanish
wal and the war in the Philippines over
1,4OO men. The official assessment of
taxable property Of the territory Is re-
turned at $40, 900, 900; it should be at
least, were taxable property assessed
more In proportion to Its real value,
$50, 600, 900. But as it Is, the valuation of
$40. OOO, 600 Is In excess Of that Of the
valuation of several Of the states. Gov
ernor Otero then paid tribute to the work
that the bar has done for the territory. |
New Mexico has a bar that is second
70 none in the United States" said he,
.sthe courts are equal to the best and the
juries are as good II not better than can
Be found anywhere, and yet there are
nome who say that New Mexico is unfit
Tor statehood"
Before closing Governor Otero came
% the earnest defense of Col. r. E
Twftchell against a criticism made on
him by a Silver City paper because he
statehood. But I say tina!
". TwftcheQl IL absolutely correct in