The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-10-17
Taft and Diaz, as Chiefs of Two
Great Republics, Meet and
Exchange Visits and Most
Cordial Congratulations.
FLARE OF TRUMPETS
AND BOOM OF CANNON
Reception Of the Mexican Ex-
eCutive at Ell PaSO and His
American Brother at Ciudad
JuareZ Followed by Banquet
ONE UNT0WARD INCIDENT

Ell Paso, Tex, Oct. 16.-The long
expected meeting between President
Taft and President Diaz Of the repub-
lie Of Mexico occurred here today.
0utwardly it was attended with a
display Of soldiery, a flare of trum-
pets, boom of cannon and pomp
Of ceremony suggestive of supreme
authority, but in the actual hand
clasp of the two executives and in
the exchange of courteous words
which passed from lip to lip, there
was simple but cordial informality.
President Taft was the first to speak
, He assured President Diaz Of his warm
personal regard. President Diaz assured
President Taft Of his high esteem Of the
man who had accomplished so much IN
the Philippines, in Cuba and elsewhere,
and who had now the honor TO be the
chief executive Of so great nation as the
United States.
President Taft, in simple fashion, de-
clared he was glad to meet President
| Diaz. He was glad to know the presi-
dent of such a great nation; especially
SldQ TO Know IIe present pteSlueuLs WIN
had made the nation great Both Presi-
/ dents dwelt upon the cordiality Of the re
| latiols existing between the United
States and Mexico.
Bonds of Friendship.
President Taft declared that today's
meeting was not necessary to make
stronger the bonds Of friendship; II mere
/ ly typified the strength of the bonds as
/ they already exist. There were less than
| a score Of persons permitted to witness
/ the meeting Of the two executives. Even
! these were excluded later, when President
/ Taft and President DiaZ withdrew into
/ an inner room of the chamber Of COM
/ meTce building, where the historic meet
/ ing occurred, and were only attended by
! Governor Creel of the state OF Chihuahua.
! former ambassador to the United States
who acted as interpreter.
On Both Sides of River.
The scene of the days ceremonies shift
| ed from time to time from this thriving
| little American city across the shallow
/ wandering Rio Grande river to the typical
| little Mexican settlement Of Ciudad
| Juarez In the customs house there
| President Diaz received a return call from
] President Taft and again late this even
| ing entertained the American President
and large dinner party at a state ban
| Quet. which in all its surroundings Of
| lavish decorations, Of brillancy in color
| of wealth of silver plate handed down
| from the time of the Emperor Maximil-
ian. and in every carefully considered de-
| tail was probably the most notable feast
| ever served on the American continent
! There were at this banquet more formal
| and public expressions Of regard between
| the two executives as the representatives
of the people Of the United States and
| Mexico were EXCHANGED The banquet
also marked the end Of the day Of inter
national pageantry-a day Of ClOudless
| skies.
One Unhappy Incident.
The day was married by but one I'M
I toward incident. lad of - years was
! stabbed to death by a school companion
Just as President Taft was stepping from
his special train upon its arrival in the
center of the city at $3.50 o'clock this
| The boys were in the crush of people
! gathered in the plaza, and in pushing for
| ward to catch glimpse of the President,
became involved in a fight. Non Nor
gan, H. pulled a knife, and before by
| ISLANDERS could realize what was nap
/ DoDipg Lawrence Wimber 10. was lying
| mortally wounded at their feet, a red
! flow from his heart marking the ebb-
tide of his life. Before an ambulance
| could reach the scene, the boy was dead.
The crowd about the place was SO great
that even the wagon from the morgue
could not make its way through, and
during most Of the time President Taft
was at breakfast the body lay on the
| paVamant not forty rods away. some
thoughtful person finally tore down two
American flags from the decorations
about the plaza and spread them over the
dead boys form. Morgan was arrested
and is held in the county Jail tonight. He
is utterly crushed and a heartbrOken boy
Neutral Territory.
An interesting incident Of the day was
the declaration of neutrality over the Fl
\ ChamiZaI territory, a part Of the city OF
II Ell Paso, over which Mexico is cOntendtng
for sovereignty. The Chamizal territory
was formed when the Rio Grande river
took one of its periodical spells OF con
II trariness and changed its course mile
or two to the westward.
II The contention of the American aUthOFi-
II ties is that this change was gradual 81
was due 10 natural accretiOn from the
| American side The Mexican authorities
L contend that the change was due to an
Il avulsion or sudden change of course and
1 that the United States gained no addi-
4 tionaI territory by the shifting of the
\ natural boundary line. The matter still
/ is i'm dispute. 1t was agreed between the
/ governments Of Mexico and thu United
II States today that this territory which lies
/ on this side of the international bridge
\ should be regarded neutral and that
! neither the American nor the NJ axican
flag should anywhere be displayed there
on.