Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-02
TAFT-O|Az MEETING
Banquet Is to Be Spread on
FL Paso Bridge.
EACH IN OWN COUNTRY
Two Presidents to Shake Hands
Across Bar of Roses.
NOVEL CELEBRATION PLANNED
Two Cabinets to Sit Down at Dinner
on Table Spread Over
Boundary Line.
NOVEL CELEBRATION PLANNED

Ell PASO. Tex, August 2.-Standing in
the center of the international bridge
at Ell Paso, the muddy waters of the
Rio Grande. the international boundary
stream. flowing beneath them, Porf1rio
Diaz President of the United States of
Mexico, and William Howard Taft, Presi-
dent of the United States of America.
will meet and shake hands October Is.
and both rulers will remain on their own
territory.
This meeting will take place in the
presence of at least four Mexican gov
ernors and three American governors and
as many of the cabinet officers of the
two republics as can get here at the time.
Long Desired by Ell Paso.
For years it has been the dream of
the people of FL Paso to have the rulers
of the two great North American repub-
lies meet at this point, and when Ben
jamin Harrison visited FL Paso in his first
term and William Mckinley paid visit
to the city In 1900 efforts were made to
have Gen. DiaZ a guest also: but he
was unable to get here either time.
However, no American President has
ever before extended formal invitation to
the President OF Mexico to meet him here
until the present, when Mr.. Taft sent a
personal letter to Gen. Diaz expressing
the pleasure that such a meeting would
give him. Gen. DiaZ has formally ac-
copied and will be here to meet Mr.. Taft.
travelling in his own special train, accom-
panied by cabinet officers, a battalion of
the Chapultepec castle guard, the presi-
Dental band and a retinue of military,
naval and other aids.
Each on His Own Side.
Ell Paso has already begun preparations
for the meeting of the two rulers. The
center Of the bridge. marking the boun-
Diary line, will be marked by a line Of
roses, on either side of which the two
presidents will stand as they clasp hands
and exchange greetings
Afterward they will be seated at a
unique banquet. The table will run
lengthwise on the bridge. President Taft
will occupy seat on the American side
of the line, while Gen. Diaz will sit on
his right. facing east, On the Mexican
side Of the boundary. the two touching ell
bows yet each remaining in his own
country.
The International bridge will be deco
rated in the colors of the two nations.
American colors reaching to the center
from this side and the Mexican colors
reaching to the center from the other. In
the center of the structure there will be
a canopy composed of the flags of the
two nations.
On the Mexican end of the bridge as
the two presidents advance to shake
hands the Mexican troops and rurales will
he lined up at present arms while the
Mexican band will render the national air
OF Mexico. On the American side Of the
river. American troops will form line
and the 10th Infantry Band. now station
ed at Fort Bliss. near Ell Paso, Will play
THE Star Spangled Banner"
bands will alternate in playing American
and Mexican airs.
Two Cabinets at Dinner.
Seated to the left of President Taft at
the banquet will be the American cabi-
net ministers and members OF the official
party. while on the right of Gen. Diaz
will be the members Of his own oficial
party Facing the two rulers on the op-
posite side of the table and sitting direct
~ on the international boundary line will
be Joseph L. Sweeney, mayor of Ell Paso,
with interpreters by his side.
The banquet will consist of American
and Mexican dishes.
Accompanying Gen Diaz will he Gen.
Landa Escandon, Governor of the Fed
eral district of Mexico: Gen. Miguel
Ahumada. Governor of Jalisco: Gen. Luis
Enrique Creel Of the State of Chihuahua.
former Mexican ambassador to the Unit
ed States
Accompanying President Taft will he
Gov. Sloan of Arizona. Gov. George Gu
ry of Mex Mexico and Gov Thomas NJ.
Campbell of Texas.
II the wives of the two rulers accom-
pany them arrangements will be made
for their proper entertainment The
bride of Mayor Sweeney will have charge
taken to Ciudad Juarez. the Mexican city
opposite FL Paso, for a Mexican lunch
con in the same house where Mrs. Will
liam Mckinley d!ned when she was here
with the President in 1900.
II Mrs. Diaz Is in Juarez she will be
present at the luncheon and If time will
permit will later be brought back to Ell
Paso with Mrs Taft, and the two will
he entertained at the Ell Paso Country
Club.
Many Features Provided.
Many features have been arranged for
the celebration. Indians will be presen,
from west Texas. New Mexico and Ari-
IONA to greet President Taft. and the
loo Mexican voters of FL Paso, who
comprise the United Mexican societies
of the city, will march in line as a token
Of their esteem for the ruler of their
adopted country. Isaac Alderete. Mex
lean born In FL Paso and clerk of the
district courts of the county, will com
mand the Mexican contingent.
Another interesting feature of the vel
come to Mr.. Taft will be that from 1.-THE
first settlers in the United States" the
Pueblo Indians OF Ysleta. Yselta is a
small village twelve miles below Ell Pasc
in this county. 1t traces the date OF its
foundation back beyond that OF the
jamestown or Plymouth Rock settle
ments.
Ysleta was founded as a mission by the
Jesuit fathers. and the records show II
to be the oldest town in the presen,
boundaries of the United States. The
Ysleta Indians are direct descendants oil
the original settlers whom the priests
came to convert and reform. and, de-
ciaring that they represent the first rea
settlers OF the United States they deem
IL their right to have prominent part
in the celebration attending the visit OF
1.-The Great White Father
They will have a prominent place in
line, and their chief will have a seat al
the banquet board when President Taft