The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-12
POrtOIa Committee Plans te
Bring DiaZ and Taft To-
gether in This City
Steps Taken to Induce Ruler of
Southern Republic to Ex-
tend His Visit
Special Representative Will Be
Sent to Escort Him if
He Consents
Suggestion Made BY Manager
Woods Now Promises to
Bear Fruit
.RESIDENT PORFIRIO DIAz

N RESlDENT PORFIR1O DIAZ
of Mexico is to meet President
William H. Taft in San Fran
cisco during the Portola festivities in
October, if the plans of the Portola
executive committee meet with sue
cess. When President Taft announced
his tentative program Friday. show
ing that he planned to greet President
Diaz at FL Paso immediately after at
tending the Portola festival in San
Francisco, the suggestion was taken
up by Manager James Woods of the
St Francis hotel that it would be a
good stroke to urge the attendance of
President Diaz at the Portola festival
and have the meeting of the presi-
dents take place in this city as one of
the most interesting events OF the
celebration, which has already taken
on an international aspect.
Diaz's Visit Appropriate
The executive committee will hold
its next meeting Wednesday night,
when plans for inducing Diaz to come
to San Francisco will be considered
at length. 1t is realized by members
Of the committee that visit by Mex
ico's president to this city during the
Portola festival would be most ap-
propriate, as he is the greatest ruler
OF today among the Spanish-American
republics, while Gaspar de Portola,
discoverer of San Francisco bay and
FIRST Spanish governor of California.
was one OF the greatest Spaniards of
the western hemisphere in his day.
A visit by Diaz would link more
closely the romantic days of Portola
with the present than anything else
that could be arranged Because OF
that fact the Portola committee has
seized most eagerly upon the proposi-
ton and will bend every effort to
have the president OF the neighboring
republic come to San Francisco when
the coming OF Portola TO this city Is
conmemorated with magnificent cele-
bration.
Will Send for Ruler
by all means we should do our ut
most TO bring President Diaz to this
city during Portola week and have
him meet President Taft here instead
of in Ell Paso." said Manager Woods
last night.
Woods returned a few days ago from
trip to New York. where he arranged
for a PortoIa special train. which will
bring to San Francisco for the festival
the leading hotel men of the United
states. car will probably be added
for the foreign ambassadors in Wash
ington who intend to come to this city
for the International fete. at which
most Of the nations Of the world viii
be represented with one or more ships
Of war.
Not only should we telegraph invi-
tations to President Diaz." continued
woods. but we should send personal
representative to the City OF Mexico
to bear the greetings OF the city OF
San Francisco and the State OF CALI
fornia to President Diaz in an effort to
have him with us in October"
Would Be Second Visit
Whether President Diaz will consent
to leave his country even for few
days is one OF the questions which the
Portola committeeman are asking
themselves The. development OF the
Mexican republic has been the life
work of President Diaz. The success
of his work lies in the fact that he
has kept steadfastly at his task. but
Dlaz has able oficials whom he can
trust. and this fact may lead to his
acceptance of the invitations of the
Portola committee.
President Diaz visited the United
states in 1888, just after his marriage.
He served one term as president. but
retired because the Mexican eonstitu-
tion would not permit the president to
serve more than one term. This was
changed later. however. when partisans
Of Diaz amended the constitution and
made It possible for him to continus
as president from 1884 to the present
time.
when Diaz visited the United States
in 1888 he had just retired after =
brilliant term in once. and he MAS r.