The herald., 1896-11-27
THINGS RATHER MIXED
Settlers League Rejoicing
Over q Convert
attitude OF attorney ]. D. POPE
While President OF One OF the
Abstract Companies
"REMINISCENCES OF MINES
Operations 10 Orange County on the San
Joaquin Rancho
The Attorney Now a Full Pledged League
Member In Orange County
The Curious Little Story Is Causing
Congratulation Among the Mem
"REMINISCENCES OF MINES
Operations In Orange County on the San
Joaquin Rancho
The Attorney Now q Full Pledged League
Member Ia Orange County
The Curious Little Story Is Causing
Congratulation Among the Mem
bers of the California and
Arizona Settlers League.

For several years the squatters in the
San Fernando valley have been fighting
for their rights-or what they believed
to be their rights, in the courts. That is
an old story.
Since the first legal fight was begun,
however, about $4,000 persons have
banded themselves together in what is
known as the California, Arizona and
New Mexico Settlers league for the pur-
pose of fighting and having revoked by
the United States government the fraud
ulent grants under which immense
tracts of land are being withheld from
settlement for the benefit of the isolat-
ed individuals or corporations-princi-
pally the latter-who claim title. This
small host of members are scattered,
and the league itself is partitioned into
what are known as divisions; each di-
vision taking cognizance of the disputed
lands within its boundaries.
Just at present the leaguers are much
elated, for they have won recruit in
the person of an old time and most per-
sistent enemy. But to understand the
true status OF the case it is necessary
to revert to an incident which occurred
some years ago.
In 1881 what was then known as the
San Fernando Valley Protective associ-
alton was formed, composed OF
squatters who contested the title
OF the claimants to the lands
in the valley over the head of the
Los Angeles Farming and Milling COM
pany, from whom the claimants acqulr'
ed possession on the ground that .he
Farming and Milling company held
title only by virtue of a deed OF grant
from Pho Pico dated 1871. The courts
had held that Pho Pico was vested with
no power or authority to make sucn
grants and, Furthermore, the original
deed of grant was alleged to be forged.
The sqUatters took possession, where
they could, and acted upon the advice
of legal counsel. Attorneys John ID.
Pope and Henry BECKER had been re-
tanned by the association to examine in
to the matter, and gave it as their opin-
ion that the alleged title of the Farming
and Milling company was altogether in
valid and the land was really in the gift
Of the government. On that the squat
tiers acted, with the result that nice
crop of suits came upon the law courts.
The first suit came to trial in June, 1872,
and to the astonishment of the sQuatters
Messrs. Polk and Bleeker, acting as their
counsel. stipulated in open court tina.
Judgment might be entered for plaintiff
as against the rights of their clients.
The squatters rOared, and it is to be
feared, swore like pirates, good old-fash-
ioned soul stirring oaths, but there was
no help for 1t, the squatters were ousted,
and there the matter ended for the time
being.
But some of the curious and inquiring 6
ones went around trying to find out how
and why the first essay in court had end
ed as it had done. Nothing very definite
was arrived at, but the association rest
ed content in the knowledge that as
Attorney Pope had come to Los Angeles
from st. Louis as the special attorney Of
what is now known as the Los Angeles
Consolidated Railway company, many
of the stockholders in the corpora ton
being very largely interested either III
rectly or indirectly in San Fernando
lands, he was not exactly cut out for the
work of fighting their case. The associa-
ton was out of pocket about $500 in
gaining this bit Of information. but they
paid up and tried to look cheerful.
But meantime the protective associa-
ton gave place to the California, Ari-
zona and New Mexico Settlers league.
with a membership powerful in num-
bers. IT was found to be somewhat
difficult natter to find legal counsel that
could represent the league in Southern
California. Most of the prominent at
torneys had clients who had interests
some way or another adverse to the
claims of the league, and though attor-
neys, like corporations. are sometimes
said to have neither souls nor con-
sciences, the fact remains that some Ct
those whom the league would have bean
willing to retain felt deferred from en-
tering upon the struggle, and Others
again, who would willingly have taken
hold, the league didn't want at any price
| This matter was finally Strengthened out
1uh N 1904 Zach a ~,
| became legal adviser to the league. and
| since that time matters have been push
| ed with what speed the law would per-
nit
| During all this time the several alb
| stract companies in the city have bean
certifying to the title to the lands being
held by the claimants under the Pho Pic-
grant, and among others the Title
| Guarantee and Trust company. of which
| John D. Pope is the president. Corpora
! tions are generally very conservative
and like things to remain as they are
and that Mr. Pope should blossom forth
| as the president of company that Is
strongly opposed to the league presents
nothing that is either strange or unu-
| sual. But some Of that gentleman's ac.
tions are exercising the elasticity of ths
minds of some of his friends and still
larger number. perhaps. of his enemie.
for no good man lives that has not enc.
ratio to his goodness.
Down in the eastern part of Orange
county lies the San Joaquin rancho
made up Of 10000 acres of fine soil an.
held under one of Pho Pico's invali(
grants by James Irvine. 1t has leaked
out in the most untoward fashion tha
Mr. Pope has joined the San Joaaui,
division of the league. taken up 100 acre.
of land and is now full fiedged membe.
of the league which is pledged. tootl
and nail, to contest the validity of tn,
titles to the lands to which his own com
pany is almost daily certifying.
Now folks are asking where Mr. Pop
SIS at At first glance it looks as i
he were trying to run with the fox ant
chase with the hounds" or, in othe
words, to maintain an uneasy euuilib
rum by performing what in politica
parlance fs termed Sitting on tn
fence"
But the leaguers are not botherin,
much. and are congratula ting then,
selves upon the fact that a leader anon;
1 their Anemfea has roma ovos. ~ ~ ar, a ~.