Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-12
Taft Will, Start
HOmeWard Today,

Los Angeles, Cal, Oct. 11.-President
Taft arrived in the hospitable 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 half
inside the hig government breakwa ter.
Returning to Los Angeles at l O'Clock
he was taken for an automobile ride of
two hours through crowded streets.
This evening Mr.. Taft was the guest
of honor at a banquet at the Shriners'
Auditorium, which in point of num-
bers and in lavishness and decoration
proved to be one Of the distinctive fea-
lures of his trip.
The Presidents visit to Los Angeles
primarily was arranged that he might
spend a day or two with his sister,
Mrs. w. A. Edward. He rested at his
sisters home for time late this af-
ternoon and spent the night there.
Tomorrow the President will be TAX
ELI for an automobile ride to Pasadena
and through the orange districts of
Riverside. Late tomorrow night he will
start for the East on the later half of
his long trip, and both in point of time
and in mileage his journey will be hal!
completed.
The President reached Los Angeles
at ia A. NJ and his train was imme-
diately switched to tracks leading to
the harbor of San Pedro. On arriving
there at 9 o'clock. the President was
token aboard a launch for trip
arour! the water front. He was es-
corted first into the inner harbor, t"
be given a glimpse of the gigantic task
of dredging out basin which will per
nit the docking of vessels within l.
miles of the city proper. Only the
Presidents launch was allowed in this
harbor.
Much to the chagrin of the govern
ment 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
the others had to change their posi-
tons from the stern to the bow of the
launch. The delay was slight and when
the Presidents boat headed for the
outer water, a fiotilla of accompany
ing craft fell into its wake.
Mr.. Taft surprised the committee
which set out to explain the harbor
works for him. by his intimate kncwl-
edge OF the plans of the people of Los
Angeles to make their harbor one of
the 1nest IN the world.
Later in the day when he was made
member of the Los Angeles Associa-
ton of California Pioneers and was
officially welcomed to Los Angeles he
declared that his first acquaintance
H.. -.;% },,
which he said. amid cheers, entitled
him to precedence over many of the
enthusiastic residents in the welcom-
ing committee.
Before leaving San Pedro, Mr.. TAFT
was shown the site of the Notifications
which are to be constructed on high
hill on Point F'irmin to protect Los
Angeles harbor.
When these brief ceremonies had
been ended, Mr.. Taft entered an au-
tOmObile, a mass of yellow chrysanthc-
NUNS. and at the head of % other cars
his party and the committee of well
come were driven through the down
town and residence sections of the
city.
Six Mexieans, arrested in this city
last night for public utterances in de-
nunciation of Presidents Taft and
DiaZ. We're held by the authorities to-
day and may be kept in custody until
Mr.. Tafts visit to FL Paso and Juarez,
Mex, next Saturday.
The Presidents train stopped two
or three minutes each at Wilmington
and Compton on the way from San
Pedro to Los Angeles and Mr.. Taft
spoke few words to the throngs at
the stations.