Mayor Loupe introduced the President, who made one of his briefest speeches. He said:
My Friends—It gives me great pleasure to see you for a moment, and thank you for your kindness in coming out on this occasion. In all my travels I have never seen a more intelligent and happy people than I have met in California. Let me introduce you to Mr. Wanamaker.
[WATSONVILLE, CALIFORNIA, APRIL 29.]
At Pajaro Station the presidential party was welcomed by the Board of Trustees and 2,000 residents of the thriving city of Watsonville, in the beautiful Pajaro Valley. Six hundred school children and a young ladies' zouave company participated in the greeting. The Committee of Reception comprised the Board of Trustees, E. H. Madden, T. J. Horgan, James A. Linscott, H. P. Brassell, and the following prominent citizens of Watsonville: W. A. Sanborn, A. B. Hawkins, Geo. A. Shearer, Geo. W. Peckham, W. R. Radcliff, J. A. Hetherington, James Waters, Mark Hudson, Geo. A. Trafton, John T. Porter, John F. Kane, and F. E. Mauk; also, Wm. Wilson and C. E. Bowman, representing the town of Corralitos, and C. R. Whitcher, Jr., representing Castroville. Chairman Madden made the welcoming address.
The President said:
My Friends—I am very glad to see you this evening. I am sorry that the fatigues of the past few days have left us all in a state not quite so fresh and blooming as your fields and gardens. We are a little dusty and a little worn, but you quite rekindle our spirits by this demonstration. We have ridden with great delight through this beautiful valley to-day. It seems to me, as we pass each ridge or backbone and come into a new valley, that we see something that still more resembles the Garden of Eden. It is a constant succession of surprises, but most of all I delight to see such convincing evidence of the contentment and happiness of your people. I am sure that those I see here to-day must come from happy and prosperous homes. I wish you all good-by. [Cheers.]