The San Francisco call., 1909-10-12
TAFT VISITS
, SAN PEDRO'S
FINE HARBOR
Presidents launch Is Stuck in
the Mud During the
Inspection
Later the Residents of Los AM
geles Welcome the Chief
Executive

Los ANGELES. oct 1l.-President
Taft arrived in the hospitable flower
land Of southern California today and
received a greeting characteristic of
its enthusiastic citizens. He visited
first the deep water and inner har-
bors Of San Pedro. below the city, and
had q sail Of an hour and a half in
side the big government breakwater.
Returning to Los Angeles at !
O'Clock he was taken for an automo-
bile ride Of two hours. during which
lime he passed through crowded streets
and had his hat continually in hand
acknowledging the cheers and plaudits
Of the people.
The president passed in review of
The school children and made an ad-
dress TO them in which he sought TO
inculcate lesson in patriotism by cate
Cling them as To the meaning of the
? AZ and their idea of the liberty which
u represents.
This evening Taft was the guest of
honor at a banquet al the Shriner au-
ditOrium.
RESTS AT SISTERS HOME
The president visit to Los Angeles
primarily was arranged with d view to
spend day or two with his sister, Mrs.
w A. Edwards. wife of DR. w A. Ed
wards of this city. He rested there for
time during the late afternoon and
retired at the Edwards home tonight.
Tomorrow Taft viii be taken for an
automobile ride TO Pasadena and
through the famous orange districts OF
riverside He viii be entertained II
luncheon at Pasadena and at dinner at
riverside. Late tomorrow night he will
start for the east on the latter half of
hls long trip. and both in point of time
and in the disposition of railroad miles
his journey VIII be half complete
VISITS THE HARBOR
The president reached Los Angeles
AT about a. m. and his train was i'm
mediately switched 10 the tracks lead
ing TO the harbor Of san Pedro. Arriv-
ing there at 9 o'clock the president
was taken on board launch for a
trip around the water front He was
escorted first into the inner harbor to
Doe given glimpse of the gigantic task
which has been undertaken by the
city of dredging out basin which
VIII permit Of the docking of vessels
within y miles of the city proper. Only
the presidents launch was allowed in
this harbOr. the other members of
his party being kept in waiting at the
san Pedro docks TO join in the excur-
sion TO the outer waters protected by
The two miles of breakwater.
Much 10 the chagrin of the govern
ment engineer in charge OF The inner
harbor work the presidents launch
k q mud bank IN the incompleted
sA On and stuck fast for a minute
or Two, during which time Taft and
the others had TO change their posi-
tion from the stern to the bow of the
launch.
OFFICIALLY WELCOMED
lac president later in the day, when
he was made a member OF the Los
Angeles Association of California Pio-
neers and was officially welcomed to
Los Angeles, declared that his first ac-
quaintance with this city dated back to
1891. which he said amid cheers. en-
titled him 10 take precedence over
many Of the enthusiastic residents in
the welcoming committee.
At the banquet in his honor tonight
the president dined beneath a Spanish
pergola laden with flowers and fruit.
The entire auditorium had been trans
formed into a veritable bower of roses
Prepare for Meeting
EL PASO. Tex, Oct. 1L-Troops be-
gan arriving today on the Mexican
side in preparation for the meeting be-
tween Presidents Taft and Diaz. A
regiment Of Mexican Zapadores ar
rived at Juarez this morning. General
Albert Meyer. who will command the
American troops also arrived this
morning President Diaz viii reach
Juarcz Friday morning and President
Taft viii arrive IN El PasO Saturday