7/8" celluloid button. For seven years a pair of Southern California business titans battled each other over the location of the official deep-water harbor for Los Angeles. One man was Collis P. Huntington, head of Southern Pacific Railroad, who wanted a monopoly on the port. He put his money and energy behind Santa Monica as the location. He is pictured on this button. Opposing him was owner/publisher of the Los Angeles Times, Harrison Gray Otis, who proposed a free port open to all and who was joined by publisher William Randolph Hurst. President McKinley settled the dispute leading to massive celebrations in 1899 that took place in downtown Los Angeles and San Pedro. An estimated 100,000 people attended a parade and a massive BBQ was held in San Pedro for 20,000 visitors followed by a water carnival and fireworks. A very historic California button. Rare and NM displaying Mint.