The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-25

and needs of: Col. and Mrs. Richard
Lieber, indianapolis, Ind; Mr.. and
Mrs. Henry G. Hogan, Fort Wayne,
Ind; James s. Black, managing editor
OF the Ell Paso. Tex, Times; and sew
era1 other guests picked up along the
as scar chief was the first point
scored by Kansas in pushing itself to
the fore.
Ninety-seven men and women were
passengers on the inaugural special,
ernors reached Mexico City 1t was
found that the Chambers of Commerce
from half a dozen western cities had
sent delegations of their own which
sweIled the American delegations in
the City of Mexico to a total of 5000
persons.
Being constantly thrown together
and having the same interests at heart,
the men and women from the United
States soon found themselves becoming
close friends. The conditions were
ripe for such relationships. The out
growth of the whole matter was that
before returning to the United States
an Association OF American Delegates
to the Obregon Inauguration" was
formed pIedging its members to per-
petuation of personal friendships, to
the telling of true story of Mexico,
and to future dissemination of ideas
regarding Mexico and the United
States Officers of this association
elected by unanimous vote are:
Col. Charles L. Mitchell, Kansas,
president.
Col. Richard Lisber, Indiana, and e.
W. Hoyt, treasurer of iowa, vice presi-
dents.
Henry G. Hogan, Indiana, treasurer.
William D. Wolfe. Kansas. secretary.
Official Mexico thought enough OF
this organization to send four page
telegram concerning. 1t to the Mexican
minister of foreign relations. Doctor
Hidalgo, the foreign minister. replied
with a two page message of congratula-
ton which promised his cooperation
in carrying out the purposes of the
Association.
OF the six governors, lieutenant gov
errors, and governors-elect of states
of the United States present at the in
Iauguration, just two remembered to
pay the courtesy call due the Ameri-
can charge d'afffaires in Mexico. Lieu
tenant Governor Huffman was one of
the two who remembered. He was
rewarded by meeting several friends
whom he had known IN the Philippine
war. The American charge is a for
mer member of the famous Twentieth
Kansas and his military attache is a
Major Burr, who was born near Co.
lumbus, Kan.
Knowing full well that Colonel
Mitchell will avidly seize the first op-
portunity to tell a tale on me, I
grasp the present chance to beat him
to it. In Mexico City the party from
Kansas discovered itself to be devoid
of certain necessary parts of ones
dress. In short we were lacking that
thing which in Mexico differentiates
the carrier of burdens from those who
do not carry burdens At least Lieu
~
self found ourselves in this state OF
nakedness. Colonel Mitchell being a
colonel in uniform did not need one.
BUT getting right into the stick of
the story, the governor and de-
cided our persons should be properly
| arrayed. SO after due advertising we
went out and bought ourselves pair
of canes, one cane apiece. We carried
EN- too, and have pictures to prove it.
Social functions rendered the
American delegates by the government
officials and business men of Mexico
were odd mixtures of stiffest formality
| and most cordial and courteous hos
pitality. At all stag affairs-the
single exception to this rule being a
/ papermen of the two nations
ming dress was the proper apparel.
At the banquets where the ladies were
| included the Americans were hard put
| to Guido or even keep up with the
| gowns of the Mexican women.
Hardly was the Kansas delegation
settled in its rooms in what was once
| the famous Cordova Hotel when an
officer of the Mexican army appeared
saying he was attached to the Kansas
| delegation during its stay in Mexico.
| His duties were to do anything asked
| of him, to act as guide, interpreter.
pocketbook, porter, and everything
| else. But before he came Colonel
Mitchell already had been elected Of
/ fetal interpreter for the Kansas, Indi-
! ana. Alabama. and Oklahoma delega-
tons and was acting as go-between
| for all other Americans who desired
| to find out anything at all from their
I hosts.
l. Meals in Mexico are always affairs