Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-25
DIVISION or
CALIFORNIA IS
BUTLER'S IDEA
Says Crisis Coming
Soon
Believes Question Of Moving Capital
to Berkeley Gives Southern CALI
forna a Golden oportunity
for Separation

Within few days 1t is expected that
an organized movement, looking to tho
formation Of the state Of Southern Cali
fornia, will be inaugurated.
Ultimate success of the agitation for
the separation of the south from the
north of California is confidently pre-
dicted by those who have studied the
situation closely.
1t is anticipated that the movement,
which had it's inception in Los Angeles,
where it is expected concerted action
will be taken, will spread rapidly over
the southern section Of California, and
it is also thought that the division sem
timent will have many friends in the
northern portion of the state.
Although the idea of Southern Cali
fornia breaking away from the northern
district was conceived through a spirit
of resentment over the lack of consider
alton shown by the north toward the
south in questions of legislation and
revived by reason of the attitude of the
present legislature on subjects of vital
importance to Los Angeles in particular
is predicted that separation can be
brought about in an amicable manner
and with practically the unanimous
vote of the citizens of the entire state.
Predict Compromise
There is possibility that it will be-
come necessary, in order to insure the
success of the movement, for the prime
movers in Southern California to enter
into negotiations with the political
leaders of the northern section, particu-
larly of San Francisco and Alameda
county.
Alameda county is unanimously in
favor Of the removal Of the capital from
Sacramento to Berkeley, and, according
to reports, the majority Of the resi-
dents of San Francisco also are in favor
of the change.
AS a result, it Is thought that It will
be an easy matter to secure the CO.
operation Of these localities In the
project OF dividing the state In return
for the support of the south in the plan
OF capital removal The opinion is ex-
pressed that the north and south can
reach an agreement on these two pro-
jects, so close to the hearts of the ma
jority of the people Of each section,
more readily than on any other ques-
tions which might arise in which either
or both are interested.
1t Is pointed out that the south doubt
less could, If 1T so desired, prevent the
removal of the capital from Sacramento
to Berkeley, while, on the other hand
the north could use it's influence ef-
fectively against the proposition to
divide the state.
With this as the status, it is believed
that should it be demonstrated that the
sentiment in the south is in favor of the
creation of the state Of Southern Cali
fornia, the leaders of the capital re-
moval agitation, together with the
political leaders of San Francisco, would
willingly enter into negotiations looking
to the attainment of the two objects.
Butler Favors Plan
There is a possibility, 1t is thought
that the voters of the entire state may
be given the opportunity of voting upon
both propositions at one time, and the
belief is expressed that both plans
would be adopted by large majority.
S. A. Butler, president of the Los An.
geles city and county consolidation COM
mission, and who, several months ago,
started the agitation for the dividing of
California into two states, is heartily in
favor Of attempting to enter into nego-
tiations with the north on the lines sug-
gested and he expressed the belief that
the plan would meet with success.
THE agitation for the removal of the
capital from Sacramento to Berkeley
seems to have been started at the
psychological moment in respect to
the movement to bring about division
of the state" said Mr.. Butler yester-
day. "The idea of enlisting the aid Of
the more populous sections of the north
In behalf of the plan of dividing the
state, in return for the support of the
south to the project of locating the
capital at Berkeley, is a good one, and
see no reason why it should not be
adopted and successfully carried out.
Alameda Wants Capital
1.-THE people of Alameda county seem
to be unanimous in the desire to have
the capital removed from Sacramento
to Berkeley, and L believe that the SEN
timent in San Francisco is overwhelm-
ingly in favor of the same idea. They
realize, too, that the people of the
northern section of the state have very
little interest in common with those of
Southern California, and that it Is only
a question of time when California will
be divided.
"The only question, then, is whether
the time is not now ripe for the accom-
plishment of division. For one, be-
lieve that 1t might as we'll be decided
now. Naturally, there is a certain
amount of sentiment involved in the
question of the division of the state, but
1 think that such sentiment should not
stand in the way of the great project,
in view of the fact that division is GER
tain, sooner or later, and that 1t can be
accomplished now with less effort than
1t may require at later period.
Besides neither section of the present
state would ever be deprived of the
glory that has been acquired by Cali
fornia, because throughout all time the
people of the world in general would
always connect both proposed states
with the state of the Golden West.
interests Demand Division
"As far as Southern California is con-