Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-06-11
PETITIONS FOR
CONSOLIDATION
GAIN STRENGTH
SIGNATURES ALREADY BEYOND
NUMBER NECESSARY
WORK OF VERIFlcATloN WILL
BEGIN AT ONCE
Report of Committee Indicates Pur-
pose to Construct One of Great
est Harbors in World, Says
Captain Fries

pose to Construct One Of Great
est Harbors in World, Says
Captain Fries
CONSIDERABLE margin above
IN the necessary number of sigma
"a lures to the consolidation election
petitions was secured yesterday in Los
Angeles San Pedro and wilmington
The petitions will be turned over to
CITY Clerk Lelande this afternoon, and
his chief deputy, Charles l.. Wilde, Will
at once begin the work of verification.
Several canvassers will be at work at
the city hall and other prominent
places until noon today, as j. p. steele,
who is directing the work, intends TO
secure an absolutely safe excess.
San Pedro and Wilmington workers
secured more than double the required
number of signatures in both cities.
Separate petitions were circulated in
East San Pedro and Terminal island,
where there is strong consolidation
sentiment. 1t is the general opinion
that residents on the east side of the
channel will be allowed to vote as res"
idents of san Pedro under the decision
of the supreme court on the dispute
over that territory between San Pedro
and Long Beach. The petitions when
turned in will carry in all about l60OO
names.
The successful work accomplished by
Mr.. steele in securing signatures to
the consolidation petitions has brought
about a boom for him as an active
campaign manager, assisting Chair
man A. p. Fleming and the other mem
bers of the campaign committee. Inc
matter has been discussed informally
by members of the consolidation COM
mittee. While il has been unanimous
ly agreed that Mr. Fleming cannot be
burdened with all the work, no selec-
ton has been made, and it will prob
ably be left until the council passes
the ordinance for the election. If Mr..
Steele is not chosen it is probable that
Philip G.. Wilson will be dubbed a
press agent and given a large amount
of the detail work of the campaign
to do.
Policy on Broad Lines
THE report Of the consolidation COM
mittee is a splendid document said
Capt. Amos A. Fries yesterday fol-
lowing his return from San Diego on
business connected with the govern
ment's appropriation of $4,000 TO
dredge the bar across the entrance to
that harbor
t"I am glad to see the policy outlined
on so broad and comprehensive lines.
1t means an earnest effort to construct
here enc of the great harbors of the
world.
But obtaining consolidation is only
the beginning of the undertaking.
Every effort will be made when the
time comes to expend the money IN
building the harbor to divert expendi-
lures to the highest priced and most
inaccessible portions of the harbor,
leaving the rest. if possible, for the
corporations The municipal under
taking is a tremendous one, and it must
be guarded accordingly. The adoption
of the report of the committee is
fine start and on fight lines, but it is
in reality only the beginning"
The circulation of the petitions has
given impetus to the consolidation
movement, and discussions have been
started accordingly. The sentiment
everywhere seems to veer overWhelrn-
ingly toward the advantages of the
movement for a municipal harbor, and
only an occasional dissenter is found.
DO you believe" asked one man
Yesterday, that the Salt Lake railroad
is behind this consolidation plan? l
understand that is common talk about
town"
He was referred for an answer to the
members of the consolidation commit
tee, to whom the inquiry will I'M
doubtedly come as news.
"Sauare Deal" catisfes
A feature of the movement for con-
solidation. noticeable as it takes form,
is a tendency to unite various factions,
particularly those which have existed
in the harbor cities. A strong influ
ence in this regard has been the
square deal" policy laid down by
Chairman Stoddard Jess at the incep-
ton of the consolidation committees
work and underlying every paragraph
of the committees report, which is
now the platform for the consolidation
campaign.
THE square deal policy of Los
Angeles is being accepted in good
faith by the Independent voters in
San Pedro" said a leading member
of the San Pedro committee yester-
day.
ton committee, backed by the city
council and all civic bodies and the
newspapers, is certainly enough to
convince all unbiased voters that this
policy will be carried out.
1.-The hope of the opposition down
here today lies largely in club rule, in
the whipping of n wage Garner and
small merchant into line. This is the
campaign slogan, and all possible in
huence will probably be brought to
bear in all quarters to intimidate and
influence voters. The moneyed inter
ests are practically all on the other
side, or considered so, and as the cam
paign advances this influence will be-
come more marked.
Fortunately these tactics do not
work as well today as they did few
years ago. Many are now Independent
and will think and vote as they please.
Owing to the publicity which was
given the petition circulated last NO
vember, calling the exclusion election
which was so bitterly fought by the
city trustees and interests here, sew
eral Weakened merchants have re-
fused to sign the petitions, but they
assure their support for consolidation
when the ballots are cast. 1t is this
fear of the powers that be that has
been the strength of the opposition in
San Pedro, but it cannot be utilized
into the booth this time.
Business Men Active
For the sake of currying favor with
the saloon men and officeholders mer-
chants have feared to express their
opinions except in faint whispers. This
feeling has rapidly lost favor, how
ever, i'm the last few years and BUSH
ness men are more rapidly coming out
for right, decency and good govern
ment in spite of consequences. They
have found that their independence
has helped rather than hurt them,
and they have found that their opin-