The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-10-17

FL Paso. Texas, Oct. 16.-Thc long
expected meeting between President
Taft and President DiaZ of the repub-
lie of Mexico occurred today. out
wardlv il was attended with u display
of soldicry, IA flare of trumpetS.
boom of cannon and IA pomp of cere-
mony suggestive of supreme authority.
but in the actual handclasp of the
two executives and in the exchange
of courteous words which passed from
lip to lip. there was simple. but cor
dial informality.
President Taft was the first to
speak. He assured President DiaZ
of his warm personal regard. Presi-
dent Diaz assured President Taft OF
his high esteem of the man who had
accomplished SO much i'm the Philip
pines. in Cuba and elsewhere and who
had now the honor to be the chief ex-
ecutive of so great Il nation rs the
United States.
President Taft, in simple fashion.
declared he was glad to meet Prcsi-
dent Dia2. He was glad to know the
president of such great nation;
especially glad to know the present
president who had made the nation
great. Both presidents dwelt on the
cordiaiity of the relations existing be-
tween the United States and Mexico.
President Taft declared that today's
meeting was not necessary to make
stronger the bonds of friendship; ii
merely typified the strength of the
bonds as they already exist. There
We're less than II score of persons
permitted to witness the meeting of
the two executives. Even these were
excluded later when President Tart
and President Dia2 withdrew into an
inner room of the chamber of com
mcrCe building. where the historic
meeting occurred. and were only at
tended by Governor Creel of the state
of Chihuahua, former ambassador to-
the United states. who acted as in
terprcter.
Scene Shifts.
The scene of the days ceremonies
shifted from time To time from this
thriving little American city across the
shallow. wandering Rio Grande river
to the typical little Mexican settle
ment of Ciudad JuareZ. In the Gus
toms house there President Diaz re-
ceivcd return call from President
Taft. and again late this afternoon en-
tertained the American president and
a large dinner party ut a state ban
quet which in all its surroundings OF
lavish decorations. of brilliancy in
color. of wealth of silver plate hand
ed down from the time of the emperor.
Maximilian. and in every carefully
considered detail probably was the
most notable feast ever served on the
American continent.
At this banquet more formal and
public expressions of regard between
the tWn executives as the represent
ativcs of the people of United States
and Mexico We're exchanged. The ban
quet also marked the end of the day
of international pasentry-a day of
CloudlesS skies.
The day was marred by but one
untoward incident. \ lad OF Is years
was stabbed to death by Il school
companion just as President Taft
stepping from his special train upon
its arrival in the center of the city
at $50 this morning, The boys We're
in the crush of people gathered in
the plaza and in pushing forward TO
catch glimpse of the president. be-
came involved in a fight. Noil Nor
gan. IA. pulled a knife and before by
ISLANDERS could realize what was hap
pening, Lawrence Wimber. II. was ly
ing mortally wounded at their feet,
blood flowing from his heart marking
the ebb tide of his life. Before an
ambulance could reach the scene the
boy Was dead.
Hearthroken Boy.
The crowd about the place was SO
great that even the wagon from the
morgue could not make its way
through and during most of the time
President Taft Was at breakfast the
body lay on the pavement not 40 rods
away. Some thoughtful person fin
ally tore down two American flags
from the decorations about the plaza
and spread them over the dead boys
form. Morgan was arrested and il
held in the county Jail tonight. He
is utterly crushed an! u heartbroken
boy.
An interesting incident of the day
WAS the declaration of neutrality over
the FL Chamisal territory. Il part of
the city OF FL Paso. over which Mex
leo is contending for sovereignty. The
Chamisal territory MAS formed when
the Rio Grande river took one of its
periodical spells Of cOntrarinesS and
changed its course mile or two To
the westward. The contention of the
American authorities is that this