El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-02-18
Testimonial to Ell PasO Com
missioner Is Given at
Dinner In His
Honor.

PREDICTING that the opening Of the
Panama canal viii start a flood of
4 friendly invasion from the United
States into South Americas wonderful
industrial field. and mark the beginning
of the downfall Of Europe's commercial
supremacy In the southern half of the
western hemisphere, Felix Martinez
neiQ more Jnan 40 FL FasO business
ana professional men interested for $50
minutes at the banquet given in his
honor Tuesday night at the hotel
Paso del NOrte to show apprecia-
ton OF the successful outcome Of his
trip to South America as United States
commissioner general Of the Pan-Amer-
lean exposition.
Ills voice, at times, nearly breaking
from emotion, Mr.. Martinez expressed
his gratitude fO- the mark Of respect
paid him and declared that had it not
been Tor the encouragement given him
by his friends, he would never have
been able to accomplish his taSk-thaL
of persuading every country in South
America to take part in the exposition
TO be held at San Francisco in 1915.
Recltes Incidents of Journey.
Beginning with the time he sailed
for South America on an American
manofwar last October, Mr.. Martinez
told In clear and expressive language,
the incidents Of his journey, inter
SperSlng his address with humorous
recitation of unusual incidents and
raising now and then the curtain of
international diplomacy to give his
hearers an inside" glimpse of the atti-
ruQe of the different southern republics
to the United States. No moving pic
ture film could convey to the eve a
clearer picture Of South American cOun-
tries, customs, natiOnalities, influences
opportunities and feelings than Mr.
Mariners address carried to the mind.
Is Introduced by Burgess.
Richard F. Burgess introduced the
honor guest, at the conclusion Of the
dinner, meal that brought comments
of approval from those who partook Of
It, Said the POSTMASTER: I'VE have
met to do honor to a fellow citizen who
has accomplished a peaceful victory the
effects Of which viii be felt for sew
eral generations to come Several of
the distinguished invited guests we're
unable to be here, but all sent letters
or kilograms of regret and cOngratu-
lations for the honor guest Of the
evening"
He read communications from GOV
ernOr o. B. COlquitt, Of Texas; governor
W P Hunt of Arizona; governor W. c.
Mcdonald, OF New Mexico, and Louis c.
Hill, supervisor Of the southern district
of the United States reclamation serv-
ice. A letter from the United States Ie-
cation at Caracas, Venezuela, was also
read. 1t was full Of approval Of Mr.
Martinez and his work and told of the
deep impression FL PasO's citizen had
made on the Venezuelan president /
After a Few more minutes of talk
in which he paid homage to the part
Mr. Martinez has played in the upbuild-
ing or FL Paso, Mr. Burgess gave way
to the commissioner general
When Martinez rose, his voice trem-
bled for moment or two as he began
his speech and there seemed to be a /
suggestion Of tears in his eyes. His /
rising was followed by several minutes
Of applause.
Is Touched By Demonstration.
Americans he began. This remark ]
able demonstration Of your approval of |
my services demands a confession on
my part 1t demands the opening of 1
my heart to the fullest extreme to (
sentiment that may be fully under
stood With me, as perhaps all of Won !
who know me realize. everything is
serious Everything has a cause and /
every cause has an effect. 1 want to !
confess that to me no honor is due
1t is you who deserve that, for it was
you your encouragement and help that I
gave me what success I may have had (
81 could not be cOnceited enough to .
think my efforts are responsible for the
accomplishment of the mission en-
trusted to me by the president of the
United States. / know YOU will want
some observations on my trip, and I
hope when / have finished that I will
have instilled a desire in all of Won to
visit those countries where my mission
took me"
Goes First to Panama.
After sailing from New York on
October 3, said Mr.. Martinez, the com
mission went to the isthmus of Panama
TO see the canal construction works.
Mr.. Mariners description Of the pass
Ing Of the first boat through the Mira
flores lock was a vivid one. The com
missi toner's met Col. GOethaIs. cOnstruc
ton engineer Of the canal zone, and Mr.
Martinez pays high tribute to the man
and his work. He is a rare combine
ton Of autOcrat and democrat" said
the speaker He told how GOethals is
The supreme ruler of the 81. 600 nar-
ions in the canal zone; how tbe