Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-12-09
STATE DIVISION.
Discussion of the Question in
Mass Meeting.
ACTIVE WORK RESOLVED UPON
Views of the Various Speakers
Strong Resolutions Adopted by
the Assemblage.


yesterdays papers number of people
assembled last evening at Hazards Pa
vilion to discuss and act upon the ques-
ton OF the division of the State. The
matter had not been very thoroughly
sgitated, and the result was that not a
very large percentage of the seats in the
auditorium were filled. Those present,
however, exhibited considerable
amount OF interest in the matter in hand
and the meeting will probably be only
the forerunner OF others more important.
The meeting was called to order at s
O'Clock by Major E. w. Jones, who pro-
posed that Mayor Workman be requested
to take the chair. Mr.. H. y. Osborne
was chosen as secretary.
The Mayor said: "We have met this
evening to consider and to agitate the
question of the division of the State. I
am of the opinion that the time has now
arrived when action should be taken.
AS an old resident, l have regarded this
question with great deal of interest for
a long time. l believe that the people
will eventually see the need of separation
and that even now with proper repre-
sentation of the case to the authorities
at Washington, it can be brought about %
[Applauae.l
DR.. j. P. Widney was then introduced
and said that his business at the meet
ing was to state what had already been
done in the work. "The history of the
movement" said he, "dates back good
many years. In fact before the admis.
sion OF the State there was continual
clashlng between the two sections, and
when the subject of forming the new
State was agitated this question came
up. The exigencies of frontier life led to
the forming of single State. 1t was ad-
mitted in 1850. In 1859, under order
OF the Legislature, vote was
taken on the question of division
and it resulted in favor of the proposition.
The papers in the matter We're forwarded
to Washington and action was about to
be taken when the war came on and
nothing further was done. Since then it
has been agitated from time to time. In
our harbor work we had met with great
difficulty in getting appropriations. When
the whole Pacific Coast wanted money
for harbor purposes a couple of small
States would ut-balance all the votes
from this section. In 1880 a Conven.
ton was called with delegates
from the southern counties and action
was taken in the matter. A committee
of legal gentlemen submitted a report
stating the method by which it could
be brought about. At the meeting of the
convention it was decided to wait for a
more favorable time when the movement
would have more strength. 1t has been
thought that now the appointed time has
come and with the end III view that
action of some sort might be taken this
meeting has been called tonight"
Major Jones moved that committee
of five be appointed on Resolution and
the motion was carried. The Chair
asked Major E. w. Jones, Judge w. P.
Wade, H. E. Newmark. Judge J. /.
Redick and Major w. r. Burke to act
upon this committee.
At a suggestion from the chair and
calls from the audience Ex-Ma1 or G. E.
Thorn addressed the meeting. He said
that the question had been alive in his
mind since 1859. He was of the opinion
that the act passed at that time still held
in force and could be made available
now. 1t might not be possible to bring
about the desired result Immediately but
it would come in time. and for the pres.
ent constant agitation was what was
needed, In answer to question from
Mr.. L. Wicks, as to whether it was legal
to 60 on to separate the State without a
vote of the people, he said that was a
question for Congress itself to deter
mine.
While the Committee on Resolutions
was preparing its report Col. J. J. Ayers
was asked to give his views to the audi
ence. He came to the platform and
said: 81 regret to rec so sparse an
assemblage on question of such vast
Importance. l have always seen and
felt the necessity of independent State
hood for this section of the country.
There is between the northern and
southern portion of California as great
difference of interest as between Massa-
chusetts and Alabama. We have tried
in vain to obtain system of laws on the
question of irrigation but as yet, we of
the South, have been unable to acquire
the arrangement which we need.
Without irrigation nine-tenths of
the area of Southern California
must remain desert. We have made
repeated efforts to procure such laws as
we need but we have always had opposi-
ton from the north. Just now we are in
great confusion on the subject. l doubt
whether there is lawyer in the State
who could tell us exactly how the ripar-
ian decision OF the Supreme Court applies
i'll all cases. Southern California knows
just what she wants in this question, and
if separated from the rest OF the State we
should soon have a system which would
rebound to the benefit of the section.
Every man who has travelled over
the State knows that they were separated
by God and nature. need not
refer to the feeling which exists in the
north, which has put nearest home to
us the worst enemy our progress has. l
believe that it will be better for both sec.
tions for divorce to take place. cannot
tell whether this is just the time.
thought it was premature before it may
be now, but that it is sure to be brought
about sooner or later is, l believe, the
conviction Of every man who understands
the situation. Going back to the act of
1859, it would seem that an act which
had lain dormant so long is now effete.
believe in meeting live issues with live
acts. The question should be argued
as to its benefits to the whole State
There is no danger in having the ques-
tion 60 abroad to be discussed in the town
meetings over this part of the State. The
newcomers seem inoculaied with the
spirit, and the vote on the question
throughout the south would be almost
unanimous. My advice is that from now