Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-12

bard, w. Ii. humphreys, II. W. ~ 0i4t
gold, e. A. Clampitt, w, J. Wren, A. D.
Wallace. II. II. Yonkin, c. f. Guth-
ridge, Henry Lyon, Bernard HealY ~
L. Blanchard Joseph Scott, w. u
Stephens, z. Q. Story, Waiter Ray
mond, G.. e. Bittinger James A. toshay
and Carl McStay.
Launch DC. H. Burnett, Roy Jones'
Mr.. Hatch, Mr.. Eakins,, w. II; JogcGii
l.. M. Cole, J. V. Vickers, Marshali
Stimson, II. r. Calender, M. McF1e' A.
w. Kinney, DIR. w. A, Weldon f. u
Seward and f. S. Cary.
Launch Representatives of Los
Angeles newspapers and e. OPP OF
Wilmington.
From the moment the presidents
launch left the landing at Fifth street
until it passed again we'll around the
outer harbor there was continuous
salute sounded by the whistles of every
vessel anchored there. AS the Pedrlto
passed alongside of the United states
revenue cutter McCulloch the presiden-
tial salute of twenty-one guns was
fired. And again as the launch passed
from the inner harbor the salute was
sounded. Several police boats, with
armed men standing on either SIDE, Kept
a constant patrol of the waters. Dozens
of launches and other craft followed
in the procession as the trip around the
outer harbor was made. Two large
SnlDS lOdueu Win ClllHCllS NUN A@O+'S
Beach stood we'll outside of Dead Mans
island and saluted the president by
dipping flags, cheering and waving
hats, hands and handkerchiefs as the
Pedrito passed by. To every salute the
president gracefully responded by rals-
ing his hat and bowing.
President Enjoys Trip
The harbor trip was one of delight
for President Taft. He expressed hlfn-
self we'll pleased with everything, ana
several times marveled at the amount
of work accomplished. One particular
thing he mentioned, and 1t indicates
his belief in San Pedro harbor ano mis-
| desire to see it completed. waving
his hand in the direction of Long
Beach, President Taft said: "One
thing you should do. Complete that
breakwater. That will make one OF
the finest harbors in the world"
One of the bright little incidents OF
the harbor trip was the jesting of the
president, directed chiefly at General
! Chaffee, the man whom he knew most
Intimately. On one occasion President
Taft told a story of General Chaffee
and a certain general whose presence
in the army was not greatly desired
by the then Secretary Taft.
"Chaffee," said the president, lis a
fine executive. but as diplomat he is
sad, sad failure. | called him into
my office one day and told him about
General X, we will call him for the
purposes of the story. We decided that
the only way to do was to ask General
X. to make application for retirement.
General Chaffee volunteered to speak
to General X. / told Chaffee to be
very diplomatic about the matter and
not to hurt General ks feelings.
Chaffee agreed, and left my office.
LOFT fMnnnr1l
rushed into my office. His hair was
disheveled. his collar upbuttoned and
his vest and coat minus some but
tons. In some alarm, l asked what
the trouble was.
"'Why Mr.. Secretary said General
X, I have just been called upon by
General Chaffee, and I have never
been talked to in such manner in all
my life. / cannot understand it.
"'What did he say? 1 asked.
"'He told me- replied General x,
that | was too damned lazy for any
use, and that I'd better get out of the
army as quick as I could or I'd be
thrown out. That's an outrage, Mr.,
Secretary
'I looked at poor General X" COM
tinued the president, land softly told
him 1 would look into the matter. Yes,
Chaffee is a good executive, but he is
a sad failure as a diplomat"
There were dozens of little personal
"reminiscences told by the president
and every one gained hearty laughter
from his party. In fact he was the life
of the whole trip.
Fortifications Visited
After landing again at the Fifth
street wharf autos We're taken imme-
diately for a parade through the
streets of San Pedro, ending at the
fortifcations site on Point Firmin hill,
In this party were the following:
First auto. President Taft, Captain
Butt, Secret Service Operative Sloan,
Senator Flint and William Pryor; Sec
ond auto, secret service operatives;
third auto, DIR. ]. ]. Richardson, Niles
Pease president city counciD, w w.
Mischler (secretary). Gen. A. r, Chat
fee president board of public worl1s)
and Gov. J. N. Gillett; fourth, r. Il.
Small j. O. Koephi and Harry Chand-
ler commissioners for purchasing for
tification site) Robert FL. Hazard and
Willis Booth president chamber of
commerce); fifth, e. A. Fowler, j. G.
Mott, j. B. Elliott and William Hos
ter; sixth, Sherman p. Allen, Douglas
White, Guy Barham and Harry L.
Dunlop; seventh, j. T. Gaffey (San Pc
dro), DR.. W. A Edwards and John
Hays Hammond; eight and ninth, rep
resentatives of Los Angeles news
papers.
The line of march was as follows:
West on Fifth to Beacon, south on
Beacon to Sixth, west on Sixth to Pa
clfic avenue, south on Pacific avenue
to Point Firmin and fertilization site.
When he stepped into his auto
President Taft asked the driver, Will
liam Pryor, Are you sure the springs
are strong enough? You know my
falling"
All along the streets the president
was greeted with cheers. Several
times he remarked on how pleased he
was too see so many school children so
we'll dressed 1t indicated to him, he
said, that the southwest is a most pros
porous territory and a fine place to
live, judging from the samples seen
along the line of march.
AS Lieut.. Leeds pointed out to the
president from the brow of Firmfn hill
the prospective fortifications, the pres
ident said: "You must have fortifca-
tions. This is a wonderful site. What
a fine base of supplies it will make.
did not believe such a site existed in
this neighborhood."
Makes Speech at Compton
After viewing the fortifcations Site
the party returned to the Fifth street
station and Immediately boarded the
train, which, however, did not start on
the Journey to Los Angeles for fully
half an hour.
At Wilmington a stop of one minute
was made Again at Compton a stop
uvas 1nada for three minutes. PreSi-