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

banquet which was the one ''undress''
affair Of the visit.
The Mexican writers proved tot be
men of striking intelligence and
knowledge. But they were too modest
as to their exploits and adventures.
They told of the rigors of censorship,
limited at prison terms enjoyed by
them, spoke of firing squads as mat
ter of course, and ended up by con-
demning the "rumor factories of the
border" as one of the reasons why the
people of Mexico are SO little under
stood north of the Rio Grande. These
"rumor factories are made up OF
American writers, not newspaper men,
who infest the dance halls and saloons
of the border towns and think they
have been in Mexico. 1t was admit
ted by both parties at the table that
the border towns of either nation are
no criterion for the nation itself, espe-
cially at this time when the rough
Enecks and riff-raff of both countries
are congregated at the spots on the
line. The thousand and one stories OF
outlawry unbridled, of sudden revolu-
ton and uprisings, of dissent and dis
content in Mexico, are mostly prod
ucts of these "rumor factories of the
border" according to the Mexico City
correspondents of the New York Times
and the Associated Press, both of them
old timers in Mexico.
The Kansas representatives at the
inauguration of President Obregon
the United States who received the
salute of a full regiment of horse
guards on parade. The Kansans left
the inaugural banquet in the National
Palace about IL o'clock in the eve
ming expecting to go to-the Chamber
away to witness the inaugural cere-
mony In some way the chauffeur
misunderstood the order given and the
Kansas car, with flags flying from
the radiator cap, dashed around the
square, penetrated a regiment of horse
guards. the officers of which flashed
sabres in salute, and swiried into the
patio of big building just in time to
escape collision with a wonderful
horse-drawn equfpage in the entrance
arch. Officers in glittering uniforms
helped the KanSans from their car.
and pointed them up flight of stairs.
Putting and painting from the climb
the party passed thru series of rooms
and halls where serried ranks of Mex
lean officers kept Col. MitchelPs sa-
luting hand going like a pump handle.
Finally Mitchell got tired of saluting
and decided to find out where the
party was. It was in the ante-room
of President Obregon's private cham
| bers at that time. On the way out the
entire program was repeated, even to
/
guards Since then the Kansans have
| felt that If the colonel could only have
[ forgotten his few words of Spanish for
a. while they might have penetrated
even to the bed chamber of Oregon
Taken altogether Col. Charles L..
Mitchell had quite a series of exploits
in Mexico. He was POSTMASTER at an
/ important luncheon at Aochimilco Inn,
presided over the dinner of the news
paper men, was official elected leader
of the delegations of two states and
part of a third and fourth; was Off
| ciaI interpreter for Kansas. Indiana.
| Alabama, Oklahoma. part Of Texas.
and a lot of other places; acted as
| personal aide and introducer extraor-
binary for Mrs. A1varo Obregon at an
| official tea: was elected president of
/ the Association of American Dele
gates to the Obregon Inauguration"
was one of the very few men whose
| names resounded several times a day
| in the corridors of the hotels: and
was the beau ideal of the officers of
the Mexican army.