Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-13
CONSOLIDATIONiSTS
HOLD ROUSING RALLY
SPEAKERS ANSWER OPPOSE
TON ARGUMENTS
Hon. Lee c. Gates, Speaking as an
Outsider, Urges Citizens to Get
Together and Achieve
Real Results
Especial to The Herald

SANTA MONICA, May 12.-The
council chamber of the city hall was
well filled with citizens who turned
out to hear arguments for consolida-
ton. President Webster of the Santa
Monica Bay chamber of commerce
started the ball rolling by taking the
arguments of last nights speakers and
proceeding to combat them with coun-
ter arguments. Referring to the pc
titions for calling an election ne stated
that they were going to be circulated
at once and If the movement was beat
en- the proponents of consolidation
would take their medicine gracefully.
He stated that some of the anti
speakers made the remark that the
pier avenue bunch" could raise more
hell to the square inch than all of the
rest of the county combined.
well" said he, we seem TO nave
the name, so we will have the game
and raise it"
Mr.. Webster opened the discussion
by attacking the anti-consolidation
slogan 1--WE are satisfied" and calling
upon various citizens to answer the
Councilman ]. E, Miles stated that
the people Of Santa Monica are not
satisfied with present conditions;
There has not been a building started
north of Fremont street in the last
month" said the speaker, against
large number south of that point Are
YOU satisfied with that? 1 am not.
Major Robert Dollard said that he
did not want to appear under false
colors before his audience and that IN
order to show that he was prejudlced
would state that he was consollda-
ZIONIST He cited the fact that every
condition in industrial, individual,
municipal and state circles tended to-
ward consolidation. "All of the argu-
ments," said the major, that I have
heard against this movement are based
on mistakes of the past. Don't let US
be blinded by them"
Sees Only Consolidation
Arthur Meiggs of Ocean Park opened
his talk by quoting, "Meigs, the kick
er. That's me-" His address was full
of sharp humor and ELECTED much ap-
plause. He stated that after all of
the legal and spiritual advisers of the
santis" had finished their arguments,
that after all he could see nothing for
it but consolidation.
'.They quote the fact" continued the
speaker, that the Venice chamber of
commerce, the Merchants of Venice
and the Pick and Shovel club. ETC.,
have all resolved against consolidation
If you had lived among them down
there as long as / have you would
think that these were all one, and not
a very big one, either. 1 am for con-
solidation without seeing any benefits.
know that we can't be any worse
off"
J. B. Proctor, referred to as a mayor
atty possibility in the event of con-
solidation, said: "I am here to speak
as a private citizen, and from every
view point I can see nothing but con-
soIidation. Some of us are for it, some
of us are against it, Let us fight 1t
out to a finish and settle it."
Mr.. Green of Ocean Park, referring
to the statement that the people of the
two cities were different. said that he
could see no difference between them;
they were all human.
Advises Concerted Action
Hon. Lee C. Gates said: 81 am an
outsider, an intruder. 1 have no in
terest in this campaign. 1t is a local
matter. But there are some things that
are so patent to the outsider that he is
able to Sc them better than the person
in the community. A few years ago,
when we were waging the war with
the Southern Pacific for a government
harbor, 1 was in favor of Santa Mon
lea instead of San Pedro. The harbor
is here yet. Why don't you take adj
vantage of it? In a few years" said
the speaker, there will be but one city
on this bay. What are you waiting for?
Why this waste of time? Lay aside
your petty jealousies. These little ques-
tions will all work out themselves
What should concern you now is the
ultimate destiny of this great bay. Long
Beach is building her own harbor. and
it's no joke either. You have the same
chance here.
"The orient is here. 1t is ready to
throw IS commerce on our shores.
There is plenty of room and much need
of harbors, and you are right here in
the pathway of it. You can have here
one of the commercial harbors of the
Pacific coast, but you can't do it if you
are a string of little villages, with local
chickering's and jealousies.
you here have possibilities that out
class either San Pedro or Long Beach.
What are you going to do with them?
In union there is strength an axiom
recognized by all
1.-THE question is not, is it going to
benefit some one man? 1t is the prob
lem of all for ALL All of the inhabi-
tants of this bay working for the larg-
est city on the coast"