The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1909-08-25
TWILL Be UNIQUE BANQUET
WHEN TAFT AND DIAZ MEET AT
Ell PASO IN OCTOBER.
Two Presidents, Each on Own Terri
tory, Will Dine Together on
international Bridge.


International Bridge.
Ell PASO, Tex.-Standing in the
center of the international bridge at
Ell Paso, the muddy waters of the
Rio Grande, the international boun-
Diary stream, flowing beneath them,
Porfrio Diaz, President of Mexico,
and William Howard Taft, President
of the United States, will meet and
shake hands on October 18th, and
both executives will remain on their
own territory.
This meeting will take place in the
presence of at least four Mexican
governors and three American gov
errors. and as many of the cabinet
officers of the two republics as can
get here at the time
For years it has been the dream
of the people of Ell Paso to have the
rulers of the two great North Amer
lean republics meet at this point,
and when Benjamin Harrison visited
Ell Paso in his first term, and Will
liam Mckinley paid a visit to the
city in 1900 efforts were made to
have Gen. Diaz as a guest also; but
he was unable to get here either
time. However, no American presi-
dent has ever before extended
formal invitation to the president of
Mexico to meet him here until the
present, when Mr.. Taft sent per-
sonal letter to Gen Diaz expressing
the pleasure that such a meeting
would give him. Gen. DiaZ has for
mally accepted and will be here to
meet Mr.. Taft, travelling in his own
special train, accompanied by cabinet
officers, a battalion of the Chapul-
tepec Castle Guard, the Presidential
Band and a retinue of military, naval
and other aides.
A Unique Banquet.
FL Paso has already begun prep
arations for the meeting of the two
presidents. The center of the bridge
marking the boundary line will be
marked by a line of roses, on either
side of which the two presidents will
stand as they clasp hands and eX-
change greetings. Afterward they
will be seated at a unique banquet.
The table will run lengthwse on the
bridge President Taft will occupy
a seat on the American side of the
line, while Gen. Diaz will sit on his
right, facing east, on the Mexican
side of the boundary, the two touch
ing elbows, yet each remaining in
his own country.
The international bridge will be
decorated in the coloTs of the two
nations, American colors reaching to
the center from this side and Mexi-
can colors reaching to the center
from the other. In the center of the
structure there will be canopy COM
posed of the flags of the two ma
tions. On the Mexican end of the
bridge as the two presidents advance
to shake hands the Mexican troops
and rurales will be lined up and
present arms" while the Mexican
band will render the national air of
Mexico. On the American side of
the river American troops will form
line and the Nineteenth Infantry
band, now stationed at Fort Bliss,
near Ell Paso, will play The Star
Spangled Banner. AS the banquet
progresses the two bands will alter
nate in playing American and MeXi-
can airs.
Seated to the left of President
Taft at the banquet will be Ameri-
can cabinet ministers and members
of the official party, while on the
right of Gen. Diaz will be the mem
bers of his own official party. Fac
ing the two men on the opposite
-ia Nf ",
on the international boundary line
will be Joseph Z. sweeney, mayor
of Ell Paso, with interpreters by his
side. The banquet will consist of
American and Mexican dishes.
Indians Will Take Part.
Many features have been arranged
for the celebration. Indians will be
present from West Texas, New Mex
leo and Arizona to greet President
Taft, and 1000 Mexican voters OF
Ell Paso who comprise the United
Mexican societies of the city will
march in line as a token of their
esteem for the executive of their
adopted country.
Another interesting feature of the
welcome to Mr.. Taft will be that
from the first settlers in the United
States" the Pueblo Indians of Ysleta
Ysleta is small village II miles
below Ell Paso. 1t traces the date
of its foundation back beyond that
of the jamestown or Plymouth Rock
settlements. Ysleta was founded as
a mission by the Jesuit Fathers, ant
the records show it to be the oldest
town in the present boundaries o.
the United States. The Ysleta In
dams are direct descendants of the
original settlers whom the priests
came to convert and reform, and, de-
claring that they represent the frs
real settlers in the United States
they deem it their right to have {
prominent part in the celebration
attending the visit of the Grea
White Father. They will have {