Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-16
HE TOOK THE KEY,
And Carter Harrison Unlocked
a Flow of ElOquence.
The ex-MayOr of Chicago Warmly
Welcomed.
He Enthuses of Southern California
Climate and Products.
Carter Harrison's Reception at the
Chamber of Commerce-Those
Who Were There.

quite large uunUoI VI AOPi OcOao"
tive citizens and their wives were pres
ent at the reception rendered to Hon.
Carter Harrison, ex-mayor OF Chicago,
at the chamber of commerce last even
ing.
The hall was especially and beautiful
ly decked for the occasion with wealth
of flowers, and these combined with the
lavish display of fruit, made a scene
typical of Southern California. AT 8
O'Clock President Wells of the chamber
of commerce arose and stated that the
reception had been arranged to do honor
to distinguished citizen of Chicago, a
city with which Los Angeles had the
closest relation. 1t was pleasure, the
speaker said, to do honor to man who
had always entertained uniform kindly
feelings for Southern California. This
Mayor Harrison had done at all times.
Mayor Hazard was introduced as the
giver of the keys to the city.
A large silver key draped with the
national colors was then handed to ex-
Mayor Harrison by Mayor Hazard, who
made a stirring speech. He said that
Los Angeles was proud to do honor to
her distinguished guest-to one who had
ever been a true and tried friend OF
Southern California, one whose name
was craven on the hearts of the people
OF the City of the Angels.
Mr.. Harrison then made felicitous
speech. After referring pleasantly to
the size of the key and jocularly refer
ring to Mr.. Spence's letter urging that
reception be rendered him, Mr.. Harrison
said: "In 1849 1 fell in love and was
Tilted and made up my mind to hazard
the dangerous journey across the plains
to California. Circumstances prevented
me from coming, but several friends took
the Journey and returned to Chicago.
They told marvellous tales of the land
bevond the Rockies and the Sierras. l
then thought they were all lies, and
the 49ers were the biggest liars on earth
1 lived to learn that they told big truths,
and didn't tell half of it either. l have
often wondered what would have be-
fallen me had / gone to California in
1849. Possibly l would have bought
great tracts of land, or not buying cheat
ed Mexicans out of it, and been today
the owner of cattle grazing on thou
sand hills. But then would not have
been Chicagoan, and would rather be
Chicagoan than Southern Califor-
nian, and that is saying great deal. :
"Los Angeles is the young Chicago of
the west. You have a great country
here, and should put it to the uses that
God Almighty intended. Millions of
years ago. when this earth was engirt
with shallow seas, in which fell untold
myriads of protoplasmic life, this mag
nificent soil was formed in the grand
alembic of nature and made ready for
the genius of man to bring the dew of
heaven from your mountain torrents
to irrigate it. 1t seems to me that
the land of California does not belong
to America. 1t is more like the
land, the soil of Asia. Perhaps millions
of years ago in some mighty cataclysm, or
gigantic typhoon that convulsed the
globe, this great land was torn away
from Asia and foated over the seas to
find resting place here. Exotic itself,
the soil welcomes the plants OF every
land. 1t is hospitable to the plants.
trees, vines, fruits and grasses grown
here as nowhere else in the world.
These are big truths that it is hard for
easterners to understand.
"In Japan 80 000, 600 people live at the
rate OF 80 persons to the acre OF land.
1Acy WdtcT 6VcIy lOOt VI CIlc oolls WuICu
is much similar to your soil. On that
basis, south of the divide you could sup
port 28, ,600, 900 people, as Japanese live.
But you want to live like Yankees and
not like Japs. You ought to easily and
luxuriantly sustain population OF
9,800,00 souls. If you take my sage
advice you will cut off from Northern
California. You cannot do it now,
though, as Democrats are not willing to
add two more Republican senators at
present. But the best thing for the
people of Southern California to do
would be to all turn Democrats. 1t
would do you good in many ways"
Mr.. Harrison then spoke OF the i'm.
portance of planting trees for fuel, and
in closing urged the necessity of estab-
fishing fine system of public parks for
Los Angeles, for Southern California
was the eanitarium of America, and re-
ferred to the magnificent parks of Chi
cago, that were benefit to the city,
not only as breathing spots, but also in
attracting outside people to the city.
This he was certain would be the result
here. In closing he said that next to
being mayor of Chicago, he would like
to be mayor of Los Angeles. This city
should be called the City de los Flores,
and If the state is divided the southern
half should be called La Flores.
u