Arizona republican., 1918-09-16
START TWO DAYS
 CELEBRATION IF. MEXICO FREEDOM
Big Meeting Last Night at Empress Theater Will Be
 Followed By Parade This
 Afternoon and Rally

Afternoon and Rally Amid cheers and shouts of Viva La MeXlco, a twO-days' celebration of tho lOSth anniversary of the independencn or Mexico started last night at a gath erlng at the Empress theater. The .he- ater was packed, there being over 1 QUO present, including Governor George W. r. Hunt. who delivered stirring ad- dress Tn English and which was inter preted for the Mexican people.
 The celebration will be continued to- day with parade starting at o'clock. and concluding with another program at the Empress theatcr tonight. The celebration is being held under lie auspices of la Sociedad Mexicana dc Beneficencio.
 Governor Speaks
 In his address last night Governor Hunt called attention to the, war in r,u rope and said that he was pleased to say that there were hundreds of Mexi- cans now fighting side by side with the white Americans in the struggle for liberty.
 Tt has been my pleasure" said the governor. ito have known many of the Mexican people since I have been gov- ernor of this state. I can say with all sincerity that they are lovers of justice. are true friends and good people. We in Arizona are closely associated with Mexico and are always interested in the sister republic to the south And those of her people who come to Ari- zona to live have learned that these bonds are close. My desire is to see peace and harmony continue between the two nations for it means so much to Arizona as well as to the Republic of Mexico
 Doing Their Share Tn the great war now being fought for democracy the Mexican people are doing their share. The Mexican ,s q brave man and he is sincere man. He is a good worker and he is a good soldier.
 | While the Republic of Mexico i.; neutral, many of her sons and many more who have gone from Arizona are | fighting now in France for this grca: cause of democracy. It is the cause ol Mexico as well as the cause of other nations of the world who are dete.- mined to stamp out autocracy.
 T am gratified at having the pl laas- ure of being with you here tonight to uO lhN part U OtiGDIdllnS NltIl YOU the freedom of Mexico and to do honor to the memory of General Hidalgo. the General Washington of Mexico Ir closing, I wish to thank you one and all, and I say that as long as.I am governor of this state, anyone of VOL who needs advise or help may come tC my office at any time and I will do the best I can to assist you"
 Other Speakers
 The governor was applauded at al most every period, as his address was interpreted to the Mexican people He was introduced by el senor YndaleciC Estrada. chairman of the meeting Among other speakers last night we~, the consul of Mexico at Phoenix. N | Perado. and Mateo Rodriguez. Music was furnished by a Mexican band ont of the principal numbers on the musi- cal program being the National hymr of Mexico. The Senoritas Enriquctf Polanco and Adelina Mendivil gay. readings and poems upon the patrio Hidalgo.
 The independence of Mexico and th, struggles leading up to it were re | viewed by all the speakers in Spanish With handful of men it was showi where Hidalgo succeeded in finally en listing great forces against the Spanisl viceroys. The struggle to be free iron monarchial rule was described as on that did not last for only day or week, but that it took years: that th people, like the people of the Americal states, had grown tired of the king and wished to govern themselves.
 Theater is Crowded
 Many were the "vivas" during tn reviews of the struggle for indepen dence. Empress theater had never be fore witnessed such applause. Refer ence was frequently made to n United States and many were the com pliments bestowed upon the great re public to the north.
 Because of the numbers who hav come from MeXito recently to work i the cotton fields. there was more O the "old country" Mexico seen at tn celebration last night than ever seer i such celebrations in the past On ac count of the strangers there was a ten dency among the speakers to bring in , to all that was said sense of harmon, and fellowship as existing between th two nations and the sincere hope tha nothing would ever arise between tn two that would cause ill feeling O [ trouble.
 l Parade This Afternoon The parade will start at o'clock thi ; afternoon from the Empress theate and move west to Third avenue mort to the Mexican consulate at 359 Nort , Third avenue. thence south to Va Buren, west to Seventh avenue. sout to Washington, West on Washington { the capitol, returning east on Wash ington street to Seventh avenue thence north to Adams. east on Adam to the Empress theater where theg will be band concert at S:30 o'clocl The regular evening celebration. con sisting of addresses and music. will be gin at 9:30 o'clock.