Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-17
TAFT AND DIAZ
MEET IN BORDER
CITY OF TEXAS
TWO PRESIDENTS EXCHANGE
GREETINGS AT Ell PAS0
U. S. CHIEF EXECUTIVE AFTER
WARD GOES INTO MEXICO
American Ruler Clad in Simple Attire,
While Head of Sister Republic
Is Resplendent in Gilt
and Decorations
IBy Associated Press. ]

LBy Associated Press1
MI PASO, Texas, oct. 16.-The long
n expected meeting between Prest-
Il dent Taft and President Diaz of
the Republic of Mexico occurred here
today, outwardly attended with dis
play of soldiery, a flare of trumpets,
a boom of cannon and pomp of cere-
mony suggestive of supreme author
ity, but in the actual hand clasp of
the two executives and in the ex-
change of courteous words that passed
from lip to lip there was simple but
cordial informality.
President Taft was the first to speak.
He assured President Diaz of his warm
personal regard. President Diaz as
sured President Taft of his high esteem
of the man who had accomplished SO
much in the Philippines, in Cuba and
elsewhere and who had now the honor
to be the chief executive of so great
a nation as the United States.
President Taft in simple American
fashion, declared he was glad to meet
President Diaz. He was glad to know
the president of such a great nation,
especially glad to knoY the president
who had made the nation great. Both
presidents dwelt on the cordiality of
the relations between the United States
and Mexico.
Strength of Friendship Shown
President Taft declared that today's
meeting was not necessary to make
stronger the bonds of friendship; it
merely typif1ed the strength of the
bonds as they already exist. Less than
a score of persons were permitted to
witness the meeting of the two eXecu-
tives.
Even these were excluded later when
President Taft and President Diaz
Withdrew into an inner room of the
Chamber of Commerce building, where
the historic meeting occurred, and
were only attended by Governor Creel
of the state of Chihuahua, former am
bassador to the United States, who
acted as interpreter.
The scene of the days ceremony
shifted from time to time from this
thriving little American city, across the
shallow, wandering Rio Grande to the
typical little Mexican settlement or
Ciudad Juarez. In the customs house
there President DiaZ received return
call from President Taft, and again late
this evening he entertained the Amerl-
can president at a large dinner party
at a state banquet which in all its sur
roundings of lavish decoration. of bril-
liant color of wealth of silver plate
handed down from the time of Maxi
milan, probably was the most notable
feast ever served on the American con-
tinent.
1t was at this banquet the more for
NAL and public expressions of regard
between the executives as the repre-
sentatives of the people of the United
nd NTpyinn exchanged.
One Accident Occurs
The day was marred by but one un-
toward incident. A boy 10 years old
was stabbed to death by school com-
panion lust as President Taft was step
ping from his special train on its ar
rival in the center of the city at $3.50
o'clock this morning. The two boys
were in the crush of people gathered
in the plaza. and in pushing forward
to catch a glimpse of the president be-
came involved in a fight. Noll Morgan
IA year old, pulled a knife, and before
bystanders could realize what was hap
penfng Lawrence Wimber, 10 years old,
was lying mortally wounded at thelr
feet. Before an ambulance could reach
the scene the boy was dead.
The crowd about the place was so
great even the wagon from the morgue
could not make its way through, ana
during most of the time President TART
was at breakfast the body lay on the
pavement not forty rods away. Some
thoughtful person finally took down
two American flags from the decora-
tions about the plaza and spread them
over the dead boys form. Morgan was
arrested and is held in the county jan
tonight. He is an utterly crushed ana
heartbroken boy.
An interesting incident Of the day
was the declaration of neutrality over
Ell Chamizal territory, a part of the
CITY of Fl Paso over which Mexico was
contending for sovereignty.
The Chamizal territory was formed
when the Rio Grande river took one OF
it's periodical spells of contrariness and
changed its course a mile or two to the
westward.
Territory Regarded Neutral
The matter still is in dispute. 1t was
agreed between the governments OF
Mexico and of the United states today
that this territory which lies on TINS
side of the international bridge. should
he regarded as neutral, and that neither
the American nor the Mexican flag
should anywhere be displayed thereon
The days ceremonies began this
morning when President Diaz in state
carriage, with gold hubs, gold mounted
doors, black horses and gay cockades
crossed the 1nternat1Ondl prluSe Win al
escort of soldiers. President Diaz was
driven at a smart pace through the
Chamizal territory to be met at the
boundary by the American troops ana
Secretary of War Dickinson
A salute of twenty-one guns was fired
and President Diaz stepped from his
own carriage into one provided by the
American authorities. With an escort
of two squadrons and three batteries or
American field artillery, the visiting
president was taken through the streets
of the city at double-quick time, to the
Chamber of Commerce building, where
President Taft awaited him.
President Diaz was attired in fun
dress uniform. Gold lace was at his
throat and his cuffs and a broad. gold
sash was around his waist. The presl-
dents left breast was mass of glitter
ing decorations All along the line of
march President Diaz was cheered by
the crowds. With plumed chapeau in
hand, he acknowledged the greetings
with bows to left and right Secretary
of War Dickinson rode beside him and