Arizona republican., 1905-06-09
Reception in Honor of the
 Congressional Party
AN OCCASION OF DELIGHT
Visitors Departed, Every One DeClar- ing His Loyalty to Arizona, His Op- position to the Statehood JOinture and ShOwering Compliments.

gressiOnaI committees and the ladies and gentlemen who accompanied them ended last night about midnight when the eXcursionists left for Yuma on a special train. The visit was primarily one for the inspection of the opera tions in progress under the na- tional reclamation law, but it is felt by all who have met the visitors that the incident means a big recruit ing of influences in Arizona's s aid in her desperate life struggle against the out rage of joint statehood. Some mem bers of the party were already aligned with Arizona in the controversy but several previous to their visit were either favorable to joint statehood or luke warm through a misunderstanding of the facts or through misrepresenta- tions made to them. But their attitude now is unequivocal. With his own lips every sentatOr and representative in the party pledged himself as earn estly in favor of single statehood, or at least opposed to the jointure and convinced of the territory's right to work out her own individual destiny
 The reception last night was followed by an hour or so of speechmaking which was cut short by the excursion schedule. The party will today be taken up the river from Yuma to the site of the Colorado river project. Tomor- row they will visit Imperial Sunday will be given to RedIands and River side and Los Angeles reached at 6:50 Sunday evening.
 MET AT MESA.
 The forenoon was spent by Senator Flint in a drive over that portion of the valley adjacent to Phoenix, with Hon. Isaac T. Stoddard. They went some distance northwest, thence east to the Indian school and toward the orange belt, then back to the city. At l. 80 in the afternoon a special Phoe- nix & Eastern, train was made ready, with the private cars of the congress siOnal party attached, when Senator Flint, MT. Doran. MT. Sanders and a number of the Phoenix reception com mittee went to Mesa City to meet the returning Roosevelt excursionists.
 The lawn party planned at the Chandler residence had to be given up on account of the rain and the visit ors and their hosts all retreated to the Alhambra hotel. Senator Flint saw as much as he could of the Mesa country considering the weather and was most hospitably received by the citizens at the hotel delivering a short address of similar nature to his speech in Phoenix the evening before.
 It was nearly o'clock when the
 Roosevelt excursionists reached Mesa on the return trip. They had exper- fenced @ safe and a pleasant journey both ways, notwithstanding more orI less rain was encountered on the return trip. They were well prepared for such an emergency and the storm was
 AL AH-., was warm and the rain was not chill ing The road being dry the showers improved rather than injured it,
 Their arrival in Mesa was so late they had little time for the enjoyment of the hospitality of the south siders who were anxious to be at their ser vice. They were dined at the Alham- bra and then hurried into their special train arriving here about 6:3O last evening.
 There was yet an hour of daylight and the local committees improved iti to the best possible advantage. In stead of taking the guests to the hotel they were brought to Washington street and transferred to the street cars when they were given a lightning excursion east and west and north to the Indian school after which they re- tired to their cars to dress for the re- ception.
 THE RECEPTION.
 The decoration of the Hotel Adams for the reception in the evening was one of the duties that fell naturally to the members of the Woman's club and the manner in which it was discharged was most pleasing to the visitors and therefore very complimentary to the nl,, A . made by one of the members of the re- ception committee on Tuesday morn | ing As the special train entered Mesa 1 City, several country homes were mo- ticed by the tourists as being almost buried in hedges of oleanders both red | and white. They had never before seen Oleanders, except as pOtted plants in the colder regions of the east and | north. At least one lady had not and she was delighted to see them by the | gardenfuI and said so. The Phoenix ladies therefore decided to transform the big lobby of the hotel into an "ole- | ander'' room, Confining the decorations to oleander flowers and greenery. Fish nets were hung over the archways and | Interlaced with the flowers and leaves. The railing of the balustrade was sim Ilarly adorned and in various places about the room SlOOu IdDleS WlIi huSS bouquets tastefully arranged.
 The ordinary dining room was given even more lavish attention. Large American flags were the first feature to attract and then the eye rested up- on huge bouquets of American beauty roses on numerous tables scattered around the room. There were many other beautiful flowers and behind in avery direction was a background ot palms, peppers and whatever lppealed as approriate. Every flower ,arden in the vicinity was placed at he disposal of the ladies and they made the most of their opportunities. ci-. III. .ae=I