The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-15
THOUSANDS WILL GATHER ON THE
 RIVER BANk.
vAe Meeting VIII Take Place On the Bed of the Rio Granae With
 Tens of Thousands Looking On.
sBY ALEX K. PARKER.

Hn the month of october the bed of the Rio Grande river. between this city and the Mexican town of Juarez will witness the greatest diplomatic event that has occurred on the wes- tern hemisphere since the federal peace commissioners met those of the Confederate States of sAmerica in Hampton roads. the personal meeting and greeting of President William Howard Taft of the United States of America and President Porfirio Diaz of Ei Estados Uniios Mexicana.
 When the idea of the meeting was first preached the international bridge connecting this city with Ciudad Jua- reg was suggested as the meeting place but as the significance. of the occasion dawned upon the city and state the idea was discarded and is no longer regarded as practicable. This meeting of the two presidents of the two greatest republics in the world Is to be no drawn-curtain affair and its objet is not specific diplo- matfe one. It is to be plainly and simply a phantasma goria of good feel ing for the peoples of the two repub- lies and the place of meeting will be where the largest number of people gan look on.
 Inasmuch as 1t is believed that Pre- sident Diaz will not leave Mexican ter- ritory and history offers no warrant for an American president leaving American soil or waters of. American Jurisdiction. the finding of such place for the big hand shake offered -obsta- cles, but Nature itself will solve the question If present plans carry.
 The month of October in West Tex as is a succession of BowelPs New England ''days in June"; the heat of summer has left off it's semi-torrid- ness and taken on the edge of autumn nal briskness. It is free from the summer dust storms that sweep the lcountry, mile-high, in summer and the sudden wintry assaults on the thermo- meter of the winter months. The cot tonwoods along the banks of the Rio Grande and still as green as box-woo hedge. By this month the Rio Grande will have drained the mountains of its last years snow and will be only a brook or perhaps perfectly arid creek bed.
 It has been decided by the commit tee on arrangements that this river bed would be the most suitable meet ing place. A large pavilion, an old time country dance affair on a large scale. will, be built in the river bed and the banks of the denatured river will be fringed with banked circus seats on both sides. so that the whole scene will appear like a natural amphithea- ire or a Roman arena and not unlike the Page de Toros of bull-hght fame.
 That this arrangement would make the meeting most public is certain and 1t is just as certain that the ar- engagement offering the most latitudin- ,ous view point will be demanded for the reception to the presidents will not be that of the city of Fl Paso or the state of Texas but 1t will be the demonstration of the great southwest, of the territory Of the Gadsden Pur- chase of new country. It will be in a sense double reception, / for the city of Juarez will vie with the Am. erican city in the splendor of its re- ceptio of Presiden Porf1rio Diaz who will come to the border with 8 large humber of minor state officers and brilliantly uniformed military aids. and the Mexican love of bril- liant coiors will no doubt be riotousiy evidenced. European nobles in all their glory are not arrayed as one of thes, sldss when dressed for. state occas. ions and the old president himself rays himself In his military and civic fnsignias. But all of the braid and brass buttons will be on the Mexican side of the. chalk line for President Taft will be accompanied only by his ontcial family and probably some of the Texas congressman and senators. And let no one suppose that Mayor STeeny of Fl Paso will not be there on the raised platform, for El Paso Is going to appropriate-San Antonio will spell 1t misappropriate-aI of 9ne, glory to herself. nShe feels herseI, sne chosen children and she intends to make the most of 1t.
 Fixing the Date.
 ( Here IS story to- instance Fl Paso's conception of the part she is to- pIay In the drama, called The Big, Glad Mitt." In the first days of the meet ing idea. the press dispatches were somewhat ambiguous as to date on which President Taft would visit El Paso and these dates did not curres- pond to the date on which El Paso had decided she wanted the big presi- dent, so meeting of the chamber of commerce was hurriedly called ana telegrams were hurridly composed and addressed to the Texas delegation in congress, asking them to see if Pre- sident Taft could not so arrange mat ters of state so as to reach Fl Pas0 on the date they had chosen. In the cold afterthought that always comes after excess, on the morning after they hurriedly sent another telegram. saying that they would be glad to have the president any old time. El Paso Is going to play the bass fiddle at the international soiree.
 Governor. Enrique Creel. formerly
 
 ernor of the State of Chihuahua, and very close friend to President Dia2 will accompany the President to the border and will be one of the most in- teresting figures at the demonstration and if 1t should turn out that the Presidents can not leave their respec- tive shores, he will probably repre- sent the Mexican President at any functions on the American side of the river, but for the first time in history down in the brown sands of the Rio Grandes bed. the two Presidents, will clasp hands in friendship while people of two republics view the grand spec tacle from the banks of the river and the Rio Grande. already famed in song and the traditions of the dons will reap fresh glory and a new stanza will be added to her song when the snows of the mountain melt and 1t sings its way to the gulf.
 East Texas, or the Texas ones mind pictures when the name Is seen in fprint has not hailed with unreserved enthusiasm the Idea of the meeting be- ling pulled Off at Fl Paso and San An konio, which considers itself the ar chive of the Texas of Bowie and Crockett, has made a bold effort to steal the honor from West Texas, Tex as red-headed step daughter, but while the San Antonio editor is Jog1 Ring on his way to Washington with a belated invitation to the President Taft has named the day" and Mayor Sweeny of Fl Paso is on his way to Mexico to formally extend an Invita-