Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-12
Bower of Beauty Greets
Chief Executive of
United States
HARBOR TALE TOLD
Joseph Scott Rehearses
Long Fight of City for
Fair Rates to the Ocean
President Taft Addresses Los Angeles
Men Prominent In Business, Pro-
fessional and Special Circles.
Women Throng Galleries
~ REATER development of San Pedr

~ REATER development of San Pedro
II hpsSs,' ss;s .n,.,,r
Strict adherence to the principles of gov
ernment laid down by ex-President Roose-
velt
Better understanding between the east
and the west.
These in brief were the keynOtes of Presi-
dent Tafts speech in Shrine auditorium last
night. He dwelt many things, especially
the Panama canal, but he paid particular
attention to Los Angeles and her needs. He
said he had learned many things in the few
hours he has been within the city's gates,
but the thing which has impressed him most
was the spirit of the people which has
proved with renewed force that here in Los
Ange.es at least there people who brook
no interference, even from nature.
If the president needed any proof of the
loyalty of AngelenOs, he received it many
fold last night for he was greeted with all
the vOcferOus VigOr thousands of men and
women could muster. 1t not wild
demonstration. 1t fraught with
dignity, yet sincerity, and which he him
self said would live in his memory.
Ensemble of Rarest Beauty
~ was d SlBAl never W DS lOTSOl-
ten-that banquet hall.
The verdure of the tropics, the deli
cate perfumes of the far east, the ar
chltecture of the old Spanish mission
days were mingled in an ensemble of
rarest beauty. The flower of the citys
business, professional and social life
was there to welcome and to honor the
nations chief, and it was done in a
manner known only to Angelenos, the
truest of cosmopolites.
Other cities have entertained Presi-
dent Taft, but not as he was ban
quoted last night. 1t was as though
representatives of every state-of
every city almost-had combined for
the occasion. For Los Angeles is dis
tinctive because her citizens are from
all places, and being from all places
have separate, distinct ideas which,
when combined, represent the essence
of the nations thought and hope and
desire, as a whole.
Order and careful arrangement are
the keynotes of the success of last
nights affair. OF course there was an
immense throng outside and in, but
there was no pushing, no jostling, no
attempting to get upon forbidden
ground. All that had been carefully
guarded against long in advance, and
so we'll did the arrangements carry
that every person was satisfied and
comfortable.
A Bower of Flowers
Shrine auditorium was a fairy bower
of flowers and brilliant lights. Thou
sands of carnations, roses, palms and
potted plants, miles of delicate smlaX
asparagus plumoSuS and other green
cry were woven in wondrous man
ner, dotted here and there with tiny
electric globes, half hidden in their
green settings.
The entire room was garlnded, but
the most striking effect was The stage,
where sat the president and his I'M
mediate party, with some o. the local
celebrities.
1t took Eugene Roth of the Roth
Raymond Floral company many a day
to gather the decorations, and cost him
many a sleepless night TO plan them,
but he attained his ideal.
The stage floor was more a green
hillock than a thing of wood, for the
rough boards were hidden beneath 4
carpet of moss and ferns, and a bank
of palms, rising gradually from the
main floor. Glinting and sparkling al
most at the presidents feet played an
electric fountain, which sent forth
violet-scented water. Vari-colored
lights played through the water. CIV
ing it the appearance of Kaleidoscope
rainbow. The proscenium arch was
solid mass of greenery, ferns and
palm branches, relieved from the tull-
ness of it's shade by red AMI white
carnations and dotted with hundreds
of frosted electric lights.
Grape Arbor on Stage
Upon the stage itself a real Spanish
patio was built. From the beams of
the pergola hung lanterns and huge
punches of grapes The grape vines
in their native state had been gathered
from far and near and so deXterously
had they been wound about the per-
gola that they seemed almost to be
growing. At the back of the stage
a painted drop representing a Spanish
garden was seen. Palms and flowers
were so arranged as to make the vista
with it's half-opened gate and its white
painted fence seem real. Floral bas-
kets swung gently to and fro, sus-
pended apparently, by ribbon stream
ers.
Beneath the pergola, at a crescent
shaped table, sat President Taft. Cap
tain A. W. Butt. his aide, Governor
tcontinued Page zight)