Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-12
Citv Flashes Welcome EkS i'm Blaze OF Light and Color
CITY CAPITULATES;
KEYS SURRENDERED
ELKS GIVEN FULL FREEDOM OF
LOS ANGELES
Thousands of AntIered Herd Crowd
Streets, Hotel Lobbes and Public
5uidings-Many More Will
Arrive Today

Filling the lobbies of the hotels oc-
cupying every available automobile and
making Los Angeles a center of festiv-
tiles is what the vast herds of visiting
Elks are doing to the Angel city. Dec
orations have been completed and the
city presents an appearance which, for
| beauty and variety, has never been
equaled in its history Every room in
| the downtown hotels is engaged and
every hostelry is the headquarters for
one or more states which have sent
| representatives.
| Yesterday was the first day listed on
the program for Elks' week. the entire
day being given over to receiving the
guests and showing them the beauties
of the city. A line of Elks and their
wives 800 yards long stood in front Of
! the Alexandria hotel waiting for auto
mobiles to show them the sights in the
city Of the Angels. Nobody no matter
! how privileged or of what standing,
could venture into Fifth street between
! Spring and Broadway with an automO-
! bile OF any description without having
! it Immediately appropriated for the
| benefit of the guests. Protests were
! of no avail. The unfortunate owner
was hurried to the hotel, where his
| machine was filled with as many Elks
as it could conveniently hold and sent
away on his mission of hospitality.
! Every Elk visiting Los Angeles ex-
| pressed in some way his appreciation
and enthusiasm at the display and re-
| ception afforded the multitudes of Wis
| itors.
Henry Rothschild, prominently identi-
fled with the shipping interests at
! Puget sound, who, with his wife, has
| just reached Los Angeles in company
with the Portland delegation, expressed
d universal opinion when he said he
was astounded with the wonderful dis
| play made by the city, and that the
! local lodge of b. 2. O. L. No SO de-
| serves great credit for the efficient way
in which they have handled the entire
situation.
The same sentiments were voiced by
Robert w. Brown, past grand exalted
ruler and managing editor OF the
| Louisville Times. THE display which
meets the eye in every downtown
street." said Brown, "is magnigcent.
L have attended many Elk reunions,
but have never seen anything compar-
ing with it in either magnitude or
beauty. L believe it will be several
years before it is equaled."
Brown is one of the five members of
the Grand Forum who are in the city.
| When questioned as to his opinions
regarding the coming election for grand
exalted ruler he replied that the out
come was at best uncertain. While
many believe that J. u. Sammis ow-
ing to his ability and powerful ora
tory, will be elected, others appear
equally confident in the election Of
| Hermann to the coveted honor, but
the majority Of visiting Elks, and es-
pecially the grand lodge members, ap-
| pear to be in doubt as to the issue.
| That great carnival is at hand can
easily be seen by noting the crowds of
visitors on the main streets, the spot
| less white uniforms, and the buttons
| and badges of every size, color and
shape. Many of the badges repre-
! sent the maps of the respective states
! from which the wearers of the badges
| come. Others proclaim the candidate
| in whose favor the Elk in question will
! cast his vote, while still others merely
show an enthusiasm in the events of
the week and may be worn by any
| civilian. They vary in color from a
| brilliant orange to a dark green or the
well known purple and white, and in
! size from the dimensions of a dime to
! the proportions of a small frying pan
! The man whose entire front is be-
decked with badges, ribbons and SYM
| bols of various kinds is no longer
| looked upon with amazement. In fact,
Continued on Page Five)