The age-herald., 1901-05-09
PRESIDENT NOW
 IN CALIFORNIA Nature Had Put On Her Bright
 est CoIors
DROVE OVER BED OF ROSES
As the Train Passed Through the Chinese Quarters Long Strings of Firecrackers Exploded-The
 Party Is Treated Royalty.

Los Angeles Cal, May S.-Today the President and his party had their first taste of the hospitality of California The weather was beautiful and nature seemed to have put on her brightest colors. Gov ernor Gage and the California Congress- ional delegation this morning met the President at Rediands, in the San Fer nando Valley, and welcomed him to the State. Through an avenue lined with palms and Venetian masts the President drove over beds of roses beneath triumphal arch of flowers and fruit to the 'Casaloma hotel. on the balcony of which the speaking took place. A drive through the orange groves and parks followed All along the route ladies showered the President and Mrs. Mckinley with flowers, and through the streets they bombarded him from the windows with confetti until the air was a perfect mass of color. From Rediands to Los Angeles every station was crowded, children bringing wreaths of flowers in their hands. The approach to the city of Los Angeles was heralded by cannon and whistles The noisy welcome could be heard for miles. As the train passed through the Chinese quarter of the city, long strings of fire crackers hung from awnings exploded like the continuous rat tie of musketry. The city had been beautifully decorated. The streets were avenues of masts festooned with colored bunting and crowned with palm leaves and wreaths of laurel
 Met By Citizens,
 At.the station the party was met by the citizens committee and many distin gushed people from all over California General Shafter. commander of the De pertinent of the Pacific, with his entire staff in full uniform, came down from the Presidio. Secretary of the Navy Long, who was to have met the party at San Francisco, also came here to meet the President, and was at the station. Tho party were driven in carriages to the Vannuys hotel. An escort of artillery and several companies of militia had been provided to escort them, but the military and police had to fight their way through the enormous crowds which had swarmed into the city drawn by the double attrac- tion of the Presidents visit and the car nival now going on. At the hotel the President met Governor Nash Of ohio and the Ohio Congressional delegation who arrived an hour before.
 In the rotunda of the hotel the Mayor of Los Angeles formally greeted the Cali fornia executive and extended to him the freedom of the city.
 The President responded:
 The President then held a short public reception in the parlors of the hotel. Meantime Mrs. Mckinley and the ladies of the party had been driven to the Wo- mans Club. where they met the ladies of Los Angeles.
 This evening the President and Mrs. \ Mckinley dined at "Bfvouac," the hand some residence of Gen. Harrison Grey Otis. where. after dinner, a private re- ception was held. They spent the night at Bivouac. Late in the afternoon some of the members of the Presidents party ascended Mount Low, coco feet high, whence they had a bird's-eye view of sev- enty miles of southern California and the Pacific ocean twenty miles out to sea. Tonight the members of the cabinet and other members of the party witnessed the brilliant illumination of the city streets. Tomorrow the President and party will witness the floral parade and in the after noon visit will be paid to the Soldiers Home at Santa Monica The train will leave Los Angeles Friday morning.