Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-10-12
Executive Was Viewing Deep-Water
Harbor Of San Pedro.
ADDRESSES SCHOOL CHILDREN
Talks About National Flag ant
Idea of Liberty.
LONG TRIP NOW HALF COMP
Enjoys visiting sister in the
city and is Heartily Recei
by People of Golden
state.


Los ANGELES, Oct. u.-President Taft
arrived in the hospitabo flower land of
southern California today and received an
enthusiastic greeting. He visited first the
deep-water and inner harbors of San Pedro,
below the city and had sail of an hour
and a half inside the big government break
water
Much to the chagrin of the government
engineer In charge of the inner harbor
work. the presidents launch struck mud
bank in the completed section and stuck
fast for minute or two. During this time
Mr.. Taft and others had to change their
positions from the stern to the bow of the
launch The delay was only momentary
and. when the presidents boat headed for
the1Puer water flotlsGl of accompanying
crafN fell into its wake.
President Well Informed.
Mr.. Taft surprised the committee that
had set out to explain the harbor works
for him, by his intimate knowledge of the
plans OF the Los Angeles people to make
their harbor one Of the finest in the world,
The president passed in review Of the
school children and made an address to
them in which he sought to inculcate
lesson of patriotism by catechising them
as to the meaning Of the flag and their
.dea Of the liberty which 1t represented
This evening Mr TAFT was the guest
at a banquet at the Shrner auditorium,
which, In point of numbers and lavishness
OF decorations proved to be one Of the
distinctive features Of his trip.
The presidents visit to Los Angeles pri-
marily was arranged that he might spend
day or two with his sister. Mrs w. A.
Edwards. Mr.. Taft rested at his sisters
home for time during the late afternoon
and spent the night there,
LonG Trip Half over.
Tomorrow the president will be taken
for an automobile ride to Pasadena and
through the orange districts Of Riverside
He win be entertained at luncheon at Pasa-
dens and at dinner at Riverside. Late
tomorrow right ne will start for the east
on the latter half OF his long trip and,
both IN point OF time and mileage. his trip
will be half completed.
The president reached Los Angeles at I AS
a. m and his train was Immediately
switched to tracks leading to the harbor Of
San Pedro Arriving there at o'clock. the
president was taken aboard a launch for a
trip around the waterfront. He was
escorted first into the inner harbor to be
given q glimpse OF the gigantic task of
dredging out basin that will permit the
docking OF vessels within twelve miles of
The city proper. Only the presidents launch
was allowed In this harbor
Officially welcomed to Los Angeles, he
declared that his first acquaintance with
tho city dated to 1891. which, he said, amid
cheers, entitled him to take precedence
over many Of the enthusiastic residents in
the welcoming committee.
Before leaving San Pedro, Mr.. Taft was
shown the site OF the Notifications that
are TO be constructed on a high hill Of Point
Flrnin to protect the Los Angeles harbor.
He spent fully fifteen minutes on the
heights listening to q detailed explanation
the plan.
cat sight" Pioneer.
II was III the tropical park. near the Ar
cade railroad station, that the president,
allEhting from his private car, was Off
cially welcomed to the city by Mayor
Alexander and large committee Of clti-
zens. II was IN this park also that he
was made "at sight an honorary member
OF the Pioneers association. When these
brief ceremonies had ended, Mr., Taft en-
tered an automobile, a mass OF yellow
shrysAnthemums, and at the head OF
twenty-five other cars his party and the
committee OF welcome were driven
through the downtown and residence sec
Nlons OF the city.
Al the banquet IN nOnOI lOhl8nNt the
president dined beneath a Spanish pergols
laden with flowers and fruit. The entire
auditorium had been transformed into q
bower OF roses, chrysanthemums and other
blossoms OF the season. Electric bulbs
glowing In the ceiling and twinkling about
pillars in the decorative scheme, added
heir touch OF color to the scene, Eight
hundred banQueters rose to greet the presi
deht as he entered
slz MeKieans, arrested I'm this city las
niEht for public utterances in denunciatior
OF Presidents Taft and Dlaz, were held by
the authorities today and may be kept il
custody until after Mr.. Taft's visit to Z
Paso ana JuareE. Mexico, next Saturday.
Tho presidents train stopped two oi
three minutes each at Wilmington and
compton on the way from San Pedro t'
Los Angeles and Mr.. Taft spoke few
words TO The throngs at the stations
Talks 10 Juveniles.
At Wilmington he paid most OF mis- al
tentions to the children.
Il am glad" he said, TO see the schoo
children with their flags. DO you know
children, what those flags are?"
American nags." cried several boys an'
girls.
Are you sureg'
Yes, sir"
"Do you know what they represent"
No one answered
They represent your country" continued
the president, and they represent every
body that stands for your country. Now
should like TO stop and talk with you abou
The history OF the flag. DO you go through
flag exercises at sohool?"
we have salutes TO the flag" piped
Il childish voice.