Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-24
CITIZENS DEMAND
A PACIFIC FLEET
IS NECESSARY FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY
BUSINESS MEN VOICE SENTIMENT
OF PEOPLE
Commercial interests Such as Make
Necessary the Establishment
of a Base on West
ern Coast

Additional interviews obtained WIN
responsible citizens of Los Angeles snow
that the best public opinion Win re-
gard to the question of PERMANENT
naval esta blishment on the Pacific mas
been voiced correctly in the eultoi la
columns of The Herald, and that pusl-
ness interests believe that for the pun
nc ca fetv and the protection of rapidly
increasing Pacific maritime commerce
a fleet is necessary. M
.Iingoism has nothing to do with the
case The only point or view ldhSh oy
the business men interviewed is the
business point of view. They insist lhat
the business interests of Los Angeles
and of California make a pernhaheiiI
Pacific fleet a necessity. 80
Public sentiment voiced by the citi-
zens interviewed insists that the fleet
should remain on the coast, because
trade necessities and commercial inter-
ests REQUIRE it's presence. If the insur-
ance business had grown to such an eX-
tent that great insurance companies IS
sued policies on entire cities, it is hlgn
" improbable that any company would
insure Los Angeles, because under Ger
tain conditions that are far from being
beyond the range of possibilities the
citv and surrounding territory might be
occupied by landing parties after only
such resistance as American bravery
could give.
Bravery Would Not Count
Bravery without thoroughly forti-
fed coast, guarded by powerful fleet,
would be in the nature of self-sacrifice:
Naval and military experts are well
aware that 1t would be unavalling
against a foreign fleet In the opinion
of the citizens interviewed, even II the
United States remains at peace with al
the world, the increase of Oriental trade
will make it necessary to police the
Pacific and the Pacific coast with war
ships. Since the maritime conditions
of the Atlantic and Pacific states are
practically alike, the Pacific states
should have as complete naval protec-
ton as the Atlantic.
The following interviews express the
sentiments of responsible and we'll
known citizens:
Fleet a Necessity
T. H. Kirk, lecturer and educator
This is a good time for great fleet TO
be permanently established on the Pa
Pacific coast. American daring mani
tests itself in the great risks we are
taking and in that taking of risks lies
the great danger. We should, there
fore, be better prepared lnan ever pe-
fore.
O. E. Parish. president Los Angeles
Realty federation-We should have a
fleet stationed here, and l am strongly
in favor of powerful navy. Members
of the realty federation are one in wish
ing that the controversy at Washington
will end in favor of having strong
fleet stationed on this coast.
F. I. Harron, secretary Los Angeles
Nevada Mining Stock eXchange-By all
means we should have a large fleet on
the Pacific coast. 1 voice the senti-
ments of the members of the Los Ange-
les Nevada exchange in saying that
big fleet is necessary here. 1t does not
matter whether it is the fleet which is
here now or another one, but 1t should
be large and equal to coping with any
emergency.
L. F. Parsons, manager Los Angeles
Stock exchange-We are all in favor of
having strong fleet maintained on this
coast. Such a fleet is absolutely neces-
sary here and the government should
waste no time in effecting its estab-
lishment.
A Chapel. stocks and bonds-If at
any time in our history there should be
a display of force on the Pacific coast,
now is that time. At no other period
could that display of force be more eff
fectiVe.
Powerful Navy Demanded
a.
There is no doubt that there should be
a powerful navy maintained on this
coast. Such would not only safeguard
our interests but would give us more
prestige abroad.
A. S. Barnes, architeet-The fleet
should remain on this coast. With the
rapid growth of the navy there was not
a corresponding growth in the repair
and supply department. I am strongly
in favor of the navy increasing facili-
ties in that respect. A large and pow
erful fleet should be maintained here,
and in conjunction with it big repair
department, which is of vital impor-
tance
Herbert Burdett, secretary Los An
geles Realty federation and secretary
State Realty federation-The real es-
tate men throughout the state are
most earnestly in favor Of having
powerful fleet maintained on the Pa
cific coast. AS we grow in power and
extend that power to the far east