Cary T. Grayson Diary
Title
Cary T. Grayson Diary
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP17230
Date
1919 September 20
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
SATURDAY
Los Angeles was reached at 9:00 oclock in the morning. It had originally been intended that the party would not get there until noon but a big crowd was assmembled at the station to greet the President. He was not yet awake when the train pulled into the station, so I had the railway authorities pull his car back down into the yard so that he could finish his rest and breakfast before leaving the train. Shortly after 10:00 oclock the President proceeded to Alexandria Hotel, where he rested until noon. In order that the original program might be carried out as closely as possible, we proceeded back to the station and the automobile procession started from there.Los Angeles did itsself proud in its reception to the President. It was estimated that more than 200,000 people were congregated along the principal streets to see and to hear him. The cheering was deafening, and it required all of the energy of the police guard to keep the crowd from overwhelming the automobile in an effort to shake the President by the hand. Returning to the hotel after the procession through the streets, the President was given an opportunity to rest until 6:00 oclock, when he was the guest of honor at a dinner arranged by the Commercial Club of the City. The President took advantage of the dinner to deliver an address directed to the business interests of the country. He declared that under no circumstance would it be possible for the business men of the country to expect normal conditions until after the Treaty had been disposed of. He pointed out that until the Treaty was ratified by the Senate, the business interests of the United States would be handicapped while their rivals in England and Farance would have a distinct advantage. England and France were already endeavoring to capture the trade of the Central Empires, the President said, and America could do nothing to meet this situation until a state of peace had been restored between it and those countries.The President went directly from the dinner to the Mystic Shrine Temple, the largest auditorium in Los Angeles, where he addressed a night meeting. This meeting was another enthusiastic one. The crowd was very friendly and cheered his remarks to the echo. He reviewed the League compact, again pointing out that the United States had surrendered one none of its prerogatives to Great Britain or any other nation, and he also went back over the ground of the Shantung settlement to show that throughout the United States had acted as Chinas true friend. He called attention to the fact that President McKinley had not interposed any objection while President to the partition of certain portions of China between France and Great Britain and Germany, and explained that this was because the President had no authority under international law to do so at the time. Ratification of the Treaty and the creation of the League of Nations, however, would allow the United States to act as the friend of all small nations in the future, the President said. He returned to the hotel late at night and went right to bed. He was still suffering from headaches and was very tired.
Los Angeles was reached at 9:00 oclock in the morning. It had originally been intended that the party would not get there until noon but a big crowd was assmembled at the station to greet the President. He was not yet awake when the train pulled into the station, so I had the railway authorities pull his car back down into the yard so that he could finish his rest and breakfast before leaving the train. Shortly after 10:00 oclock the President proceeded to Alexandria Hotel, where he rested until noon. In order that the original program might be carried out as closely as possible, we proceeded back to the station and the automobile procession started from there.Los Angeles did itsself proud in its reception to the President. It was estimated that more than 200,000 people were congregated along the principal streets to see and to hear him. The cheering was deafening, and it required all of the energy of the police guard to keep the crowd from overwhelming the automobile in an effort to shake the President by the hand. Returning to the hotel after the procession through the streets, the President was given an opportunity to rest until 6:00 oclock, when he was the guest of honor at a dinner arranged by the Commercial Club of the City. The President took advantage of the dinner to deliver an address directed to the business interests of the country. He declared that under no circumstance would it be possible for the business men of the country to expect normal conditions until after the Treaty had been disposed of. He pointed out that until the Treaty was ratified by the Senate, the business interests of the United States would be handicapped while their rivals in England and Farance would have a distinct advantage. England and France were already endeavoring to capture the trade of the Central Empires, the President said, and America could do nothing to meet this situation until a state of peace had been restored between it and those countries.The President went directly from the dinner to the Mystic Shrine Temple, the largest auditorium in Los Angeles, where he addressed a night meeting. This meeting was another enthusiastic one. The crowd was very friendly and cheered his remarks to the echo. He reviewed the League compact, again pointing out that the United States had surrendered one none of its prerogatives to Great Britain or any other nation, and he also went back over the ground of the Shantung settlement to show that throughout the United States had acted as Chinas true friend. He called attention to the fact that President McKinley had not interposed any objection while President to the partition of certain portions of China between France and Great Britain and Germany, and explained that this was because the President had no authority under international law to do so at the time. Ratification of the Treaty and the creation of the League of Nations, however, would allow the United States to act as the friend of all small nations in the future, the President said. He returned to the hotel late at night and went right to bed. He was still suffering from headaches and was very tired.
Original Format
Diary
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1919 September 20, WWP17230, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.