The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-10-21
TRAVELLING WITH TAFT
Lsnecial CORRESPONDENCE

Especial Correspondence
When the long heralded meetings be-
-,yeen President Taft and President
Diaz of Mexico at Ell Paso. Tex, and
Juarez, Mexico, took place the inter
rening territory between these two
cities. which is in dispute, was for
his occasion regarded as neutral ter
ritory. and the flag of neither nation
was displayed therein.
This understanding was reached on
The part of the two nations con-
,erned as the result of considerable
The region known as
the .El Chamizar' contains about $50
acres. Ownership Of it is in question
because of the shifting of the channel
of the Rio Grande, the dividing line
between the two countries.
unwritten Law Ignored.
When President Taft crossed the
border into Mexico he ignored a Gus
tom that once was construed as I'M
written law that the president should
not leave United States territory dur
ing his term of office This time how
ever. the INCIDENT occasioned only
passing comment. President Roosevelt
having broken the ice of this conven-
tionality successfully when he made
his trip to Panama.
The meeting between the two pres
idents was the occasion for formalities
to which Americans are little accus-
toned.
Escort of Twenty Soldiers.
President Taft's escort consisted of
the headquarters band and two squad
rons of the Third United States cav
airy. Batteries A, r and c. Third field
artillery, and the Ninth infantry from
Fort Sam Houston. all under command
of Brigadier General Albert L. Myer,
commanding the department of Texas.
Secretary Of War Dickinson. accom-
panied by Brigadier General Niger with
his staff, the cavalry and artillery, pro-
ceeded to the point where President
Diaz. accompanied by an escort of
twenty men, entered the United States.
By agreement the escort was limited
to twenty men while the executives
were crossing Eel Chamizal."
Dickinson Welcomed Diaz.
Mr.. Dickinson extended a welcome
to President Diaz in the name of the
president. the governor of Texas in
the name of the state and the mayor
of Ell Paso in the name of that city.
A band played the Mexican national
air, and the artillery fred salute of
twenty-one guns. The secretary of war
sat in the carriage which conveyed
President Diaz to President Taft.
After a visit with President Taft
President Diaz returned to Mexico, ac-
companied to the boundary by the same
escort and receiving the same salutes.
At noon of the same day President
Taft went to Juarez to repay Presi-
dent Diaz's visit In crossing "El
Chamfzal' the president was accom-
panied by an escort of twenty men.
To the border the president was es-
corted by the American cavalry and
artillery The governor of Texas went
with the president to the border. The
secretary of war aud the secretary Of
commerce and labor followed in car
riages.
AT the Mexican border the president
was welcomed by personal represent
alive of the president of Mexico and
then proceeded, surrounded by a Mexi-
can escort. to the building where he
was received by President Diaz. The
president and his party returned to III
Paso after the ceremonies. In the
evening President Taft again visited
Juarez to attend the banquet given in
his honor by the president of Mexico.
At His Brothers Ranch.
The president arrived in San Antonio
on Sunday evening. The following
day he went to Fort Sam Houston to
receive the gift of the memorial chapel
given to the army post by the citizens
of San Antonio. The exercises of lay
ing the cornerstone of the chapel were
held at the fort, the largest in the
south. Here, while the troops of
every arm of the service stood at pa
rade rest, Mr.. Taft placed the deed in
its silver casket and laid the corner
stone. A grand review followed From
San Antonio the president went to his
brothers big ranch near Corpus
Christi, where Il rest of four days was
taken. The Taft ranch. which in ex-
tent Of its territory takes rank with
kingdoms and principalities, is located
three miles from the little town Of
Gregory, Tex. near Corpus Christi.
The president aud a party of invited
guests were entertained in a magnif-
cent winter villa, called La Quinta. on
the shore of Corpus Christi bay. where
the salt breeze sweeping inland from
the gulf Of Mexico may be enjoyed to
the full.
An Ideal Rest Retreat.
If 1t was absolute rest that was de-
sired by President Taft when he reach
ed Ia Quinta Il more suitable place
than the hio ranch residence eoutd not