PAN AMERICAN ROUND TABLE of LAREDO

According to our Table's History Book, the date of the State Organization was February 22, 1922. The first Constitution and by-laws were printed in November, 1924. I have a flat of all State meetings from February 14, 1922 to 1947 if you would be interested in the flat.

Mrs. J. C. Griswold of San Antonio came to Laredo in June, 1921 to organize the Pan American Round Table. This was either the second or third such table established. The E1 Paso Table was also organized during this particular time.

The following have served as our directors:

Laredo Under Seven Flags

A short history of Laredo compiled for the Laredo Historical Society, Mary H. Cook, 1970

We all know the story of the six flags that have flown over Texas--Spanish, French, Mexican, Republic of Texas, Confederate, and the United States of America. The story of the seventh flag, which flew over Laredo, is not so well known. It is the flag of the short-lived Republic of the Rio Grande, of which Laredo was the capital. This organization lasted about a year and a half.

When Christopher Columbus reached the shores of the American Continents in the late years of the 15th century, he claimed that vast territory for the Spanish crown. Later, in the 16th century, a group of Frenchmen, searching for the mouth of the Mississippi, landed on what is now the Texas Gulf Coast, and planted the flag of France. The French, however, never had a strong hold in this area, and were driven out by Spaniards and hostile Indians.

In 1746, Don Jose Escandon, a high-ranking officer of the Royal Spanish Army of Mexico, was given the title of "Conde de La Sierra Gorda and Governor of the Province of Nuevo Santander" by the King of Spain. Don Jose de Escandon was an efficient colonizer and intrepid leader, who directed the exploration and settlement of the area between Tampico, Mexico, and the San Antonio River in Texas. It was during this period that the Villa San Agustin de Laredo was founded and settled by Don Tomas Sanches, on May 15, 1755. Don Tomas had been given permission by Don Jose de Escandon to settle on the north bank of the Rio Grande River. San Augustin Plaza is the original site of the city of Laredo. Clustered around the plaza and along the nearby streets are historic San Augustine Church and many homes still occupied by descendants of the early Spanish settlers, who built them over a century ago. The plaza has been witness to momentous occasions. During her early days, Laredo was frequently harassed by hostile Indians. After one such attack, the Indians celebrated with a war dance on the plaza. Across this plaza was also seen the frequent comings and goings of Royal Spanish troops, and later Mexican soldiers. In 1885, the plaza was the scene of a post-election battle between rival political groups, Las Botas and Los Guaraches.

Mexico gained her independence from Spain in 1821, and the Mexican flag flew over Laredo. During this period, Mexico allowed non-Mexican colonists to settle in Texas. Thousands of families from the United States and from Europe came to make their homes in Texas. In 1822, one of the great colonizers of Texas, Stephen F. Austin, visited in Laredo on his way to Mexico City, where he obtained permission to bring settlers into Texas.

In 1836, Texas gained her independence from Mexico, and became the Republic of Texas. In theory, because of its location on the north bank of the Rio Grande, Laredo became part of the Republic of Texas. Mexico, however, claimed that the border between Mexico and Texas was located on the Nueces River, 75 miles further north. Effectively, the area continued under Mexican control until 1848, when the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo settled the boundary along the course of the Rio Grande.

During the unsettled years after the Texas revolution, southwest Texas became the scene of hostilities and attacks by lawless elements -- Indians, smugglers, brigands and fortune seekers. In response to the need for authority and order in the area, as well as resentment against the despotic rule of General Santa Ana, leaders from both sides of the Rio Grande met and formed the Republic of the Rio Grande, and named Laredo as its capital. Although the Republic of the Rio Grande lasted only from early 1939 until the late summer of 1840, its capital building still stands. Facing north across San Augustin Plaza, the old capital building, now a museum, is a lasting memorial to the brave men who dreamed and fought for an independence, which was not to be.

In the thirty years from 1836 to 1866, Texas was to experience great changes. Laredo, of course, felt these changes too -- Independence from Mexico, formation of the Republic of the Rio Grande, the admission of Texas as the 28th state in the Union of the United States of America, the war between the states when Texas entered the Confederacy, and the re‑entry of Texas into the Union of the United States.

With the passing of the years, Laredo has known great growth and development, but although Laredo is now a bustling city, she still retains a distinctive charm and warmth -- a blend of a unique heritage with the new and modern.

There is an old saying here in Laredo -- "Once you have tasted the waters of the Rio Grande, your steps will bring you back." We hope you feel this urge and will return. Laredo welcomes you!

Bibliography
K. DaCamara. Laredo on the Rio Grande
Joseph M. Nance. After San Jacinto
David Vigness. The Republic of the Rio Grande
J. W. Wilkinson. Laredo and the Rio Grande Frontier

History II: from Marchbanks' Book

What follows is an excerpt from The Pan American Round Table, Lois Terry Marchbanks, Avon Behren Press, 1983, (pp. 106-108).

The second Pan American Round Table was founded in Laredo in June, 1921. Because our city is a gateway not only to Mexico but to all South and Central America, it was the logical center for this particular kind of organization. The late Mrs. C.S. McKinney became the first director, a post she held for five years.

Our founders were veritable beavers when it came to building up the foundation of Laredo's PART. I became a member of the Table in 1929, when it was firmly established as the foremost women's organization in Laredo, and I take pride in the knowledge that my name was presented for membership by Mrs. C.C. Burr, the first of our historians and the righthand of Mrs. McKinney. For me, these two women and Miss Alma Pierce symbolize Pan Americanism.

From its very beginning we find the Table working closely with the state organization, our members frequently being elected to state office and our delegates reporting brilliantly on the meetings they attended.

Five times our Table has hosted the State Convention, in 1925, 1931, 1935, 1947, and 1973. An outstanding event was the placing of the goodwill marker on the bridge during the 1935 convention. The most important event during the 1931 meet was the celebration of the first Pan American Day. In 1947 the State decreed that all members be considered active and that each Table be allowed to decide on the limit for representatives of each country. Up until this time only one active member could represent a country, and each active member had an auxiliary who had no vote. Since 1947 our Table permits three representatives for each country, all being active members.

Examining the history of our Table was a rewarding experience and I wish I could share with you all the knowledge I have gained. But merely to tabulate the events that have occurred and the worthwhile projects undertaken would require much more time than I have been allotted. For a capsule treatment, I refer you to the resume written by our second historian, Hattie Mae Garnett, and published in THE LAREDO TIMES during the week we celebrated our fiftieth anniversary, May, 1971.

The most important event came in 1940 when our Table sponsored a public lecture by Eleanor Roosevelt in Martin High School Auditorium. For this occasion, Nuevo Laredo officials joined local officials in paying their respects to the first wife of a United States president ever to visit Laredo. Every federal, state, district, county, city, and military official of Laredo and Nuevo Laredo was present, plus a considerable number of envoys from both United States and Mexico.

In 1943, the Washington's Birthday Celebration chose a Pan American theme, and our Table asked permission to entertain the distinguished guests at our regular February meeting at the Plaza Hotel, a request granted but one which almost backfired - all because of a question of protocol. To be present were six ranking generals of the United States and Mexico, three governors, one admiral, several consuls, representative from seventeen American countries and a member of the Inter-American Affairs of the Rockefeller Institute. United States Consul Winter of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, Matias de Llano, head of the welcoming 'committee, and Prescott Allen, president of the Washington's Birthday Celebration, could not decide on an arrangement that would be satisfactory to everyone. About 6:00 o'clock Friday afternoon, Mr. De Llano phoned to say the only solution was to cancel the luncheon, the luncheon that was scheduled to be the crowning glory of our club year. I must say the hotel was very cooperative and agreed to the cancellation. Then at 3:00 a.m., Mr. de Llano called again to say I should re-schedule the luncheon but there would be no place cards, no introductions, and no display at all of rank. Again the Plaza cooperated beautifully; so Saturday morning, Mrs. Stone J. Robinson, our State Director who was to be the guest speaker for the luncheon, and I watched the parade from the rcyiewing stand, then went to the Plaza, where after the luncheon I presented Mrs. Robinson, who gave a magnificent talk on Pan Americanism. As fas as I know, there were no repercussions from any of the guests.

Also, that year, 1943, at the request of Mr. Hornby, Collector of Customs, we delivered to him one of our yearbooks, dedicated to our charter members, and it was placed in the cornerstone of the new port building on May 19.

One of the most worthy achievements in furthering our Pan American aims was the essay contest sponsored during Glen Richter's administration. The purpose of the contest was to stimulate the interest of the newspaper-reading public in the value of education as one of the chief media of Inter-American understanding. One stipulation for all essays entered in the final competition was that they must have been published in some newspaper. The contest was state-wide, and the prizes were war bonds.

Other means of stimulating public interest were the radio programs we sponsored. Pan American subjects and music were featured.

The celebration of Pan American Day, April 14, during these years was especially impressive because of the splendid programs presented by the Martin High P.A.SF. under the direction of Miss Aminta Gonzalez and Miss Evangelina Cerda and by Christen Junior High under Mrs. D. P. Barrow's supervision. Over a thousand students and teachers were involved. Our Table presented prizes.

In 1945, we presented a $100 scholarship to a young lady from Honduras, who was a student at Texas University. Her beautiful letter of thanks is preserved.

Bessie F. Lindheirn
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