The Sentinel=record., 1909-10-16
URGES THAT NEW MEXICO SHOULD DRAW UP A coNSTITu.
 TON AND BECOME A STATE.
Is Presented With Presents By the Indians and Watches the Weird Dance of the
 Comanches.

Albuquerque, N M., Oct. 15.-
 President Taft had another day of travel through the far southwest Ho. day and on the long reaches of tha NeI1tory of New Mexico had glimpse of the most ancient adobes in America, leaving the train at one time
 to go on to the plaza of a Pueblo to
 witness an Indian dance especially ar. ranged.
 The color of the southwest tinted his reception at aM the stops. Ar
 irving here at five o'clock the presi. dent aroused intense enthusiasm by a repetition of the declarations he made in Arizona that he favored statehood for the two adjoining ter.
 I1tories of the United States and would do all in his power to see that The long deferred hopes of the people of Arizona and New Mexico are gratifled.
 The president spoke from a plat form near the railroad station and was later entertained at banquet at
 the Alvarado Hotel by the Commer
 cial club.
 1t was at Laguna, township made
 up entirely of Indians that the presi- dent had one of the most unique entertainments fhis trip. As he sat in little canoped stand in the plaza enclosed with adobe huts and walls. the president was shower
 ed with presents. There were blan-
 kets of gaudy colors, Indian beads
 and other offerings which the red
 men had fashioned in his honor. The
 plaza itself. the walls and the ter /, raced roofs of the adobe houses were
 lined with Indians the squaws being
 attired in fantastic costumes, which
 were bright in the uncloujed sun.
 There was hardly squaw in the Pueblo that did not haee a bright
 eyed chubby-faced little papoose eitb.
 CT in her arms or swung on top of her
 back and more lsttle Indian boys and
 girls were arranged in a long row to welcome the president. Each one car
 ried an American flag.
 | As the president was leaving the plaza after the weird music of the tomtoms had died away, and the last steps of the Comache dance had been taken by the gaudily bonnefred braves. the little children sang a song of New Mexico. The president stop ped several minutes to listen. The tune was that of Maryland, My Maryland'
 Prom the plaza crowded by a curi ous throng of Indians, the president went to the church, an adobe build ing In a little speech spoken slowly and with emphasis on each syllable, in order that all who spoke English at all might understand, the presi' dent assured the Indians of the good will of the government and urged them to be good farmers and good artisans He was warmly applauue. and every Indian wanted to shake his hand These evidences of interest and it might be said enthusiasm, were unique, coming from such a stol race.
 In his address to the Indians Presi. dent Taft said
 T want to convey to the Laguna and Acoma Indians, who, |, under stand, constitute those present. the good will of the government of the United States I hope that the Indi- ans who am addressing are working industriously in the vocation which they know, agriculture, and in vviis= . branches of industry.
 T hope their flocks. their herds and an the products of the soil may be profitable to them and that they may continue to live in comforit un- der the ausnices of the government that it pledgied to look after their welfare. I hope the children are De- ing educated so they may grow up to be good men and women" The president was met this morn ing at Gallup by Governor Curry, Of New Mexico, and a committee of citizens made up largely of delega- tion from the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce.
 He was presented with an especia1- ly attractive navajo blanket for Mrs Taft. It was woven my the same Indian squaw, File of Genada, who made the blanket which was present. ed to Mrs. Roosevelt at the time ot the former presidents visit to this city