Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-16
WHAr Los ANGELES NEEDS

after a careful consideration Of all the
testimony thus far presented on both
sides Of the controversy over the pro-
posed legislation affecting consoli-
dalton. the governor is not the
only man who blundered. It is i'm
material now as to the identity of those
who made the mistakes or got off on
the wrong foot" Enough to know that
while all parties were trying to do
something. there was painful lack Of
system-an absence Of conferences and
agreements that should have been held
and effected.
Concert Of action is the basis OF all
successful public effort. And Los An
geles has been moving along so unani-
mously and with such harmony I'm all
ordinary matters that the mistake has
been made of being careless about a
thorough understanding on large af-
fairs.
We have come now to the point where
questions of supreme Importance are
under consderation-quest which
for the most part have no precedents
by which to guide the mind; questions
which may have two sides unlec5 there
shall be a general discussion and a
final agreement and understanding, es-
pecially with those whom we are to
throw forward on the firing line.
1t is evident that the Los Angeles
delegation should have met with the
move was made toward visiting the
governor or preparing amendments for
submission to either the San Francisco
committee or the legislature itself.
That this was not DONE and that every
body was firing at random and on his
own hook is shown by the lack of re-
suits. 1t was a very unsoldierly pro-
ceeding.
All this does not excuse Governor
Pardee for having manifestly taken ad-
vantage of a disagreement to give Los
Angeles the worst end of the deal. 1t
was the governors duty-had he been
friendly to this city-to suggest the
ready means by which the desire of our
in the least interfering with San Fran
cisco interests at the special session.
He preferred to seize the opportunity
to give the city a black eye and, ire
spective of the personal controversy
between Chairman Butler and Governor
Pardee, that is what the people of Los
Angeles hold against the governor. He
failed and refused to assist Southern
California when he had a chance.
And we have another instance in the
MIR. McLachlan asking congress to
grant the right of way to Los Angeles
for the owens river water across any
government lands that may intervene
between this city and the Owens lake.
Unanimity of purpose and plan was
lacking and we are suddenly confronted
with the fact that Congressman Smith,
who happens to be in position to in
terpose an objection, has not been
taken into the movement and is there
fore inimical. Now we are coming for
ward with a special session of the city
COuIClI W lcICSIdpll ItSOlullOtS anu
arguments that should have been in the
hands Of every California congressman
months ago.
The Herald is not disposed to find
fault with or to criticise the many pub
lie spirited citizens who are giving their
time and money freely to Los Angeles
from purely patriotic motives. 1t merely
desires to call attention to this fact,
namely that Los Angeles has in hand
now such stupendous enterprises that
it can no longer presume upon any
move in the forward plan, or take any
thing for granted. The pull together
habit is still with us, but heretofore we
have dealt with wholly local questions,
with which everybody was familiar and
to which everybody cordially assented.
Now we are confronting problems con-
cerning which the public is wise only as
to the general proposition, being largely
in ignorance on the question of detail
Organization, harmony, mutual under
standing, generalship are as essential
to the future of Los Angeles as are
capital and enterprise.
Let us, therefore, get together, pull
together and stay together.