The herald., 1895-02-01
FIRST DAY, JAN. 81, 2123

Here's beginning for San Pedro!
When THE HERALD was read yester-
day morning eurprise, then indignation,
came to thousands OF citizens all over
the country. Already the mals have
brought in score OF sympathetic letters
expressing regret at the great public
loss end promising z3alous assistancs to
to the great undertaking OF replacing
the 20, 900 names inside OF one week.
Well. THE HERALD counted on scarcely
less. To circulate even so popular pa
per as the San Pedro harbor memorial
and secure 10000 signatures to it in one
week is a task that no individual or in
terest would dare to undertake unless
1t felt sure of the hearty support of the
greater part Of all the citizens. THE
HERALD counted on almost instanta-
neous and unanimous rally OF the oiti-
zens OF Southern California when they
should know that the San Pedro hsrbor
memorial rolls had bsen stolen, else the
great labor OF replacing the old sigma
lures by new ones would not have been
undertaken. And the figures cited
above. being the frat II hours receipts
of names for the great pAtition. proves
that the temper of the citizens was not
overestimated.
One thousand names would have been
a good start for the fret day. That
would have been encouraging enough
and promising enough of the future.
But 2123 names in the first II hours
magnificent showing, and almost leads
to the hops that even more than 20, 900
signatnres can be secured in the requisite
time. However, it will be time to talk
of that when the number OF names that
were stolen has been replaced.
That is the task now. Every man or
woman who has at heart the best in
terests of Southern California must
work for it zsalously. Women can do
much, although their signatures at
present have not the same legal status
as those OF the sternsr sex. Never the
less a good woman is a great power,
whether for San Pedro harbor or
against it.
Several of the stolen lists were COM
piled by women who had the time and
the unsel6sh earnestness to do the work.
Doubtless many Of the new lists will be
sent in by women. They can help the
movement vastly if they will. They
will be helping themselves and the ir
brothers and husbands if they do.
THE THIEF NOT CAUGHT.
The personality OF the thief who got
away with the original lists is still q
mystery. but the police are working
upon it and detectives are giving the
crime their undivided attention. A few
new facts and circumstances came to
light yesterday-such as the discovery
OF the person who last saw the rolls on
the counter in the business office before
they were stolen and the person who
first discovered their loss. This mar |
rows the thing down considerably, |
places the responsibility for the loas
Of the rolls whore it belongs and at
least fixes exactly the hour at which it
was stolen and the two or three per-
sons who could have stolen IL.
Perhaps the personality OF the thief
will not be discoveied for a time:yet-
but it will be discovered. The crime
shall be unearthed and those RESPONSE.
ple for the theft brought to Justice
though the time may be long in the
accomplishment OF it. OF course, the
irst work is to locate the petty thief
who committed the larceny, but the
work will not end there. He, or they it
nay be, were but the tools in the hands
u great and powerful inter.
'sts concerned in preventing
he memorial OF 10000 names
rom reaching Washington. When
he thiof is found his connection with
he fountain-head will be traced. Who
,aid him ior his cowardly task? This
. the question to bs solved-no, proven.
Z 10 solved already. Common sense J