Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-08

absence in Mexico in attendance in
congress. Fernandez, the special agent
of Emperor Yturbide, objected to
Guerra's being in command, and re-
ferred the matter to the legislature,
which elected Captain Luis Arguello of
San Francisco. Says Bancroft: "Some
jewellers in the south were inclined to
take sectional view of the matter, and
regard the election of Arguello as dan
gerous triumph for the north.' Anas-
tacio GARLIC at Los Angeles said:
"Those of the north have had their own
way in electing Don Luis" This was
merely the beginning of the formation
of the two great Mexican political
the abajefios. But the triumph of the
north was only temporary.
PREFERENCE FOR SOUTHERN CLIMATE.
Jose Maria Echeandia was appointed
governor of Baja and Alta California
January 81, 1926. Governor Echeandia
sent wo I'd to Captain Luis Arguello to
meet him at San Diego on the formers
arrival from Mexico, which Arguello
did the next November.
"The people oflMonterey liked not the
new governors disposition to fix his res
! idence in the south. Alvarado
and Vallejo credit Arguello with patri-
otto refusal to listen to the counsels of
Montereyans and the troops who urged
him to take advantage of Echeandia's
arbitrary order and proclaim revolt.
Echeandia continued to reside
at San Diego, chiefly because he deemed
the climate favorable to his health, but
also as ruler of both the CALIFORNIA; he
might be nearer Loreto. No transfer of
the capital was made, but very soonStbe
people of the south chose to take that
view Of the governors residence among
them, and were not little elated at the
honor" bancroft, CAL, 100
The Montereyans fromed prejudice
against the new governor, because he
chose to live in the south; and he made
the choice on account of the superiority
of southern climate.
In 1926 Governor Echeandia called the
district electors to meet at San Diego
and reorganize the provincial Legislature
and elect deputy to the Mexican con-
gress. Don Jose de la Guerra of Santa
Barbara, who had been defeated for
governor, was elected the national dep
, uty. The district electors were:
/. Francisco de Haro OF San Francisco.
2. E. Munras OF Monterey.
8. G. A. Csrrillo of Santa Barbara.
4. Vicente Sanchez of Los Angeles.
5. A. Zamarano of San Diego.
They were in session on and off a
year. First, they elected themselves to
the legislature, and then as the legisla-
ture adjourned to the capital, where
Governor Echeandia naturally met with
a cool reception by the Monteryans.
In 1927 Don Juan Bandini of San
Diego caused a bill to be intro
duced in the legislature, advancing the
town OF Los Angeles to the rank of a
city with the poetic title of Villa Vic
toria de la Regina de Los Angeles. The
measure was passed by the legislature
and was approved by Governor Echean-
dia. 1t was then submitted to the
Mexican congress, which took no action
thereon for eight years. This was the
beginning of the contest between Monte
rey and Los Angeles, as representative
cities of the northern and southern
CALIFORNIA; respectively, which contest
lasted nearly twenty years, when the
south was again triumphant.
In April, 1928, Governor Echeandia
again convened the legislature at San
Diego. His action brought out vigor-
GUS protest from Alvarado. Seeing there
would be trouble Echeandia possibly
thought to compromise with the north
by assembling the legislature the next
time at Santa Barbara, where it met in
December, 1929, but the north insisted
on its legal rights, and to Monterey the
legislature went.
Affairs by this time had come to such
crisis that the north organized as a
distinct political party to overthrow the
south. This first physical effort of the
north to check the fast increasing
power Of southern California is known
as the Soils revolt, because it was osten-
sibly led by Joaquin Soils of Monterey
but Soils was only fguerhead. All
the northern Californians joined in
the revolt. Jose Maria Herrera,
personal enemy of Echeandia,
dictated the pronunciamiento. 1t
claimed that Echeandia was tyrant
and was running the country to suit
himself. 1t was published November
mediately established at Monterey and
Soils was made general. He at once
organized an armed force of 100
mounted men, and started south to de-
pose Echeandia, and establish the
power of the incipient northern citrus
belt.
Encheandia did not hear of the
revolt till twelve days later.
On December 1st he started on a trip
northward, and on the 18th was at
Santa Barbara. Here Capt. Romualdo
Pacheco was in command. This Pache-
co was the father of the American gov
ernor of the same name. The Soils re-
volt had extended as far south as Santa
Barbara, where it had been promptly
put down by Captain Pacheco. In the
meantime Soils was marching on Santa
Barbara, where Echeandia and Pacheco
awaited him. Events now became rapid.
January 7, 1880. Governor Echean-
dia issued proclamation offering par
don to all the revolutionists who would
surrender. The next day he received a
note from Soils, dated at Santa Ynez,
demanding his surrender. Although
Santa Ynez is only thirty miles from
Santa Barbara it took Soils and his 100
men on horseback fully five days to
come in sight or the fort at Santa Bar
bara. But finally they came in view of
Pacheco's men. A few words passed be-
tween them. Pacheco ordered volley of
musketry. 1t was fired and Soils and his
army fed, and Southern California was
again victorious. An investigation
showed that the soldiers at Monterey
had joined the revolt because of the
failure of the home government to pay
their salaries, and the Northern Califor-
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