Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-06-15
Magnificent Reception
rendered to Popular Chief
Executive Of New Mexico
Hearty and Eloquent Tributes to the Sterling
Worth of Governor Ctero and to the Splendid Sue
cess OF His Administration Made by Men from
Many Parts Of the Territory.

In the old palace which has been the
official residence Of a long line Of
governors under three regimes, q dis.
tinguished gathering Of representative
men from all over New Mexico, met
last night In honor OF the eighth an.
niversary OF Governor Miguel Antonio
Otero. who, on the fourteenth Of June.
1897, took the oath OF office as chief
executive Of the territory.
The celebration was rendered the
governor and his friends by Secretary
J. w. Reynolds. Chairman II. o. Bur.
sum Of the republican central commit
tee. and Hon. Levi Hughes, and was
elaborately planned and perfectly car
ried out. The rooms OF the old pal.
ace. which were beautifully decorated
by Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Hughes.
presented brilliant appearance.
Flowers, flags and Navajo blankets
were combined in a profusion Of color
and with most artistic effect. A full
orchestra discoursed sweet music
while In the long dining room the
guests assembled around the richly
laden table. Governor Otero occupied
the post Of honor. with Chief Justice
Mills, Associate Judge Pope, Attorney
General Prichard and Hon. Solomor
Luna on his right and left. Sixty
additional guests were present reprv-
senting all sections of the territory
and both political parties. No formal
program Of toasts was arranged, but
after the banquet was well begun.
Secretary Reynolds, acting as master
Of ceremonies, opened the way for
flow Of wit and feast of good fellow
ship which continued for three full
hours. Hon. Rufus ]. Palen, president
of the First National bank OF Santa
| Fe, was called upon TO present the
governor with souvenir Of the occa.
sion in the form Of a beautiful gold
! headed cane. Mr.. Palen, in present.
! ing the gift, assured the governor that
| it carried with 1t no intimation that
the recipient had reached period OF
| life when he needed any such sup
| port In the performance Of his official
duties He commemorative efficient
administration OF the past eight years
and expressed the hope that at the
end of another such term, he might
participate in similar occasion In
recognition of still greater services
which Governor Otero would be called
/ upon to render the territory.
Governor Otero was visibly moved
Us he rose to reply and he most car.
nestly expressed his appreciation Of
/ the action of his friends In thus COM
riemorating the occasiov witt him.
His record for the past eight years
re said must speak for itself and he
was willing that 1t should. Withon.
making any other claims for himself
than the consciousness that he had
done his best for the advancement Of
the interests Of the territory, be de-
clared that he would challenge any
one to find any dishonest act which he
had himself committed or which any
member of his administration had
been guilty of. He then paid gene.
Gus tribute to those who had labored
with him In official capacity during
his eight years service and gave tc
| them large measure OF the credit TO-.
whatever success had been achieved.
The governor referred to large
number of those about him who had
been his friends from boyhood days
and expressed his appreciation Of
their loyalty, quoting Shakespeare's
admonition, Those friends thou hast
and their adoption tried, grapple to
thy soul with hooks OF steel" He
paid a tribute cf regard to Mr.. jacob
Gross, who, he said, was the frianl OF
his youth and TO whom he owei his
business training and whatever sue
cess he could claim as q business
man,
Attorney General Prichard, wht
was next called upon, reviewed n,
history of the long line Of over eight!
governors who, under the Spanish
the Mexican and the American con
troll, had occupied the very palac'
where the present anniversary OF Gov
ernor Orero was being celebrated
This spot" he said. 80 rich In II
: associations, so instructive In It's his
tory and so hallowed In its traditions
! is indeed an appropriate place for u
TO gather 10 do honor To Govern0
!. Otero, who, has without doubt hel
! office for longer consecutive teri
! Of years than any OF the eighty VIII
3 preceded him. And no one, he declaI
[ ed, has ever administered the affair
s of the territory with more favor @
more satisfaction to the people. Co
n Prichard then paid warm tribnt
4 to the father of the governor, tha
I. whom no man ever had bigge
|. heart and no man ever loved his PEI
pie with a deeper love" He conclude
with strong commendation of the o
fetal record of Governor Otero and e,
pressed high praise for the men whol
he had placed about him In the var
Gus territorial offices. He especial
dxelt upon the improvement in th
q financial condition Of the territol
q during the past eight years and til
q excellent credit New Mexico now el
4 joys.
). Chief Justice Mills, the next spea
n er, prefaced his remarks with Il
,f statement that the greatest thir
n which can be said Of any successf
SC man In any capacity is that he has Il
ability, knowledge and acumen to pi,