Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-16
tBv Associated Press.1 ]


N President Taft had another day
- of travel through the southwest
today, and traversing the long reaches
of the territory of New Mexico had a
glimpse of some of the most ancient
adobes in America, leaving the train
at one time to go into the plaza of
pueblo to witness an Indian dance es-
pecially arranged.
The color of the southwest tinted his
reception at all the various stops along
the way
Arriving here at o'clock, the presi-
dent was greeted by one of the largest
audiences of his territorial travels of
the past three days. The president
spoke from a platform near the rail-
road station and was later entertained
at a banquet at the Alvarado hotel by
the Commercial club Following the
banquet the president stopped half an
hour at the Montezuma ball, an an
nual function rivaling fete of Mardi
Gras.
1t was at Laguna, township made
up entirely of Indians, that the presi-
dent was met by local committee of
Indians, and where he had one of the
most unique entertainments of his trip.
AS he sat in a little canopied stand
in the plaza inclosed with adobe huts
and walls the president was showered
with presents. There were blankets of
gaudy color, Indian bread and other
offerings which the red men had fash
ioned in his honor.
Children Greet Him
Little Indian boys and girls were
arranged in long row to welcome the
president, and each one carried an
American flag.
AS the president was leaving the
plaza after the weird music of the TOM
toms had died away and the last steps
- oh do had hnpn taken
by the gaudily bonneted braves, the
little children sang a song OF New
Mexico to the tune of Maryland MY
Maryland"
From the plaza, crowded by curious
throng of Indians, the president went
to the church, an adobe building.
In a little speech, spoken slowly and
with emphasis on each syllable in or
der that all who spoke English at all
might understand, the president as
sured the Indians of the good will of
the government and urged them to be
good farmers and good artisans.
He was warmly applauded and every
Indian wanted to shake his hand.
In his address to the Indians the
president said:
"I want to convey to the Laguna
and Acoma Indians the good will OF
the government Of the United States.
1 hope that the Indians whom 1 am
addressing are working industriously
in agriculture and in other branches
of industry.
''I hope that their focks, their herds
and all the products of the soil may
be profitable to them, and that they
may continue to live in comfort under
the auspices of the government that
is pledged to look after their welfare.
Hope for Children
at hope the children are being edu-
Gated so they may grow up to be good
men and women, and good citizens of
the United States"
The president was met this morn
ing at Gallup by Governor Curry of
New Mexico and committee Of cit
liens made up largely of a delegation
from the Albuquerque chamber of
commerce.
He was cordially welcomed into tho
territory and assured the committee
that he was glad to be there. He was
presented with an especially attractive
Navajo blanket for Mrs. Taft. 1t was
woven by the same Indian squaw, Ellie
of Genado, who made the blanket which
was presented to Mrs. Roosevelt at the
time of the former presidents visit to
this city.
In all of his speeches today the presi-
dent again urged the people of Ari-
zona and New Mexico to take the
time and deliberate in the formation
of their new state constitutions once
they have been admitted to the Union.
The president seems to take it for
granted that statehood is soon to come
to the territories, although he is care
full to say that his authority is only
of the executive and that the first
action must come from the legislative
branch of the government.
Postmaster General Hitchcock. who Is
accompanying the president through
the southwest. in an address at Grand
Canyon last night paid a striking COM
rliment to sthe people of this section,
and said that he hoped their ambi-
tions for statehood soon would be real
lied.
In his address to the people of New
Mexico the president said:
Presidents Address
'T am glad to see that you are ortho-
dox in this community and believe in a
future state. I might have had some
other impression if / had not come
through a territory yesterday tnat inti-
mated to me that there were people on
this side of the line that had the same
views that they had with reference to
becoming a state, but that they pre-
ferred to have each community work
out it's own salvation.
''You are looking forward to state
hood as If it were heaven. Well, ven
ture to think that there villa Se a con-
Continued on Page Threw