CONCERT TOUR LURES HUERTA
Rebel Chief May Give Up Job for American Stage
Mexican is Known to Have Fine Tenor Voice
But Promoter Has Trouble Finding Him Just Now
BY NORMAN WALKER
[EXCLUSIVE DISPATCH]
EL PASO, Feb. 15.—Mexicans have a peculiar sense of humor. Nine months ago Adolfo de la Huerta's private car was so crowded with Mexican politicians after his arrival here that the cigarette smoke and politics could have been cut with a knife. Now these same "politicos" are poking fun at the "Tenor Singer of Sonora," and making wise cracks about his being at liberty now to accept an engagement for a concert tour of the United States.
While De la Huerta may be more temperamental than most Mexican politicians, there is no joke about his ability to sing tenor. At the same time he was receiving the ovation of the people in his private car here while the Mexican military band played in his honor, Senor De la Huerta confided in the Mexican Consul-General Enrique D. Ruiz that he was seriously considering accepting a concert engagement in the United States as soon as he retired from the position of Minister of the Treasury.
HAS SEVERAL OFFERS
He said then that he had several offers from American managers to tour the United States with his own company, and, seriously, he asked the Mexican Consul-General, who was a good friend of his at that time, if he thought it would be proper for a former Provisional President of Mexico to accept such an engagement.
Now that the De la Huerta revolution appears from this angle of the border to be on its last legs, it became known here today that a famous New York impresario had opened negotiations with De la Huerta through an agent here with a view to carrying out his suggestion for a concert tour. Just now the difficulty seems to be in locating the revolutionary leader as he changes his base as often as his countryment change their shirts and to go in search for a rebel commander-in-chief is not safe, even for a manager who has devoted his life to handling prima donnas.
PLAN OPERA COMPANY
The plan proposed for De la Huerta's tour, providing the revolution does not occupy his time for the next three months, is to organize a Mexican light opera company with Maria Conesa or some other famous Mexican artists, recruit a typical Mexican stringed orchestra and several soloists of national reputation in Mexico, and take them on tour through the East and North, concluding with a toor on the Pacific Coast. American Chautauqua was also suggested, but was vetoed by the Mexican go-between for the good reason that none of the Mexican artists could pronounce the word.
Senor De la Huerta sang in the quartets and glee clubs when he attended school in Hermosillo, capital of his native state of Sonora. When the Obregon revolution broke out he sang lead tenor with Gov. Enriquez of Chihuahua, and Wallace Smith, the author, who sang a bad baritone to De la Huerta's trained tenor. Before entering politics as a member of the Mexican House of Deputies from Sonora, De la Huerta thought seriously of following music as a career and studied for several months under a famous West Coast tenor. He often joked about the fact that in personal appearance, not voice, he resembled Caruso. And the likeness is striking. De la Huerta is the same height as Caruso, has the same well-fed appearance, and even wore button shoes with cloth tops as did Caruso.
FOLLOWS PRECEDENT
Mexican history is not without its precedents for De la Huerta's contemplated tour. Old Gen. Victoriano Huerta's Minister of State, who answered the American notes so skillfully during the flag salute incident, was a fine piano player and was said to have played at the Cafe Colon for the boys and girls to dance when the musicians took a rest.
Garibaldi sang Italian folk songs in Madero's camp, and even Pancho Villa strummed a wicked guitar.