Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-16
LONG BEACH THREATENED
WITH POLITICAL BATTLE
Chamber of Commerce Declares Boy
colt on Southern Pacific Railroad.
Citizens Tire of What They Term
Poor Service and Poor Depots
Special to The Herald.

Special to The Herald.
LONG BEACH, March 15.-Again
Long Beach is in the midst of a fierce
political battle. Although there are
many who would have it appear other
wise, the main issue at this time is
the liquor question. Long Beach has
prospered for many years without
saloon, though there was at one time
such an institution here but this fact
does not prevent a strong liquor ele-
ment from existing.
This element has this year allied
itself with the Independent party, for
which reason leaders of the Good Gov
eminent party are prone to believe
that an effort will be made by the
former party, if successful, to foist
saloon on the people.
On the other hand the Independent
leaders claim that J. A. Miller, one
of the Good Government candidates
for the board of trustees, was at one
time in the employ of the Royal Arch,
or Los Angeles wholesale liquor deal
ers' association. This Mr.. Miller does
not deny. 1t was at the time he was
editor of the Long Beach Press. and
an aVOWed believer in high license.
He has since changed in his belief and
now adheres to the opinion that there
can never be a time when saloon
will be welcome in Long Beach.
One plank in the Good Government
platform speaks of the dance and sug-
gests that the citizens of Long Beach
should be given an opportunity to vote
on this all-absOrbing question. The In
dependent party which is avowedly
more liberal, suggests an election on
all similar questions.
The Long Beach chamber of COM
merce has declared a boycott on the
Southern Pacific railroad. A resolu-
ton has been adopted which declares
that the membership of the chamber
will refrain from using the trains of
the Southern Pacific or shipping
freight thereby and will not use the
Southern Pacific overlands
This action was oCcasioned by the
refusal of the Southern Pacific to i'm
prove its property here or to accom-
modate the travelling public of this
| city. The resolution was offered tn;
! chamber by 4. f. Bond a well known
property owner and real estate man
| At first the members of the chamber
seemed to take it all as a big joke
and were about to refer the matter tC
the transportation committee.
A discussion of what the Southern
Pacific has done to keep pace witt
! the growth of the city, however
reused the interested Long Beach mel
to more forcible action and the resolu
ton was adopted by unanimous
vote
Two trains daily, one each way, owe
the Southern Pacific, stop at a, musty
little building which is falling t.
pieces just opposite pretty Pacii,
park and near the city hall at Pacific
and Second, hardly a block from tn
center of town. The freight station
is without sides, roof or door," &C
cording to the resolution, and dis
grace to the community.
The Salt Lake owns two handsome
depots here, both credits to the com
munity, and operates three fast pas
senger trains.
Additional contracts for the Hote
/, Bixby were let today. f. L. Spauld
ing, the contractor has stated he will
complete the building by DECEMBER ]
1906.
The Long Beach Medical association
met last evening at the office of Drs
Shelton and Bates. The hospital /
| nearly completed and the doctors nov
, have on their shoulders the task o
furnishing the building.