Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-04

tently. Mr.. Gibbon reviewed the Ter
minal island fight to establish competi-
tive transportation and harbor facili-
ties, and showed, step by step, how the
! Southern Pacific, defeated by Los An
| geles in its effort to use the govern
ment to make its own harbor at Santa
| Monica, has consistently and bitterly
fought any attempt to establish public
harbor facilities at Wilmington.
Since then, the speaker said. the
Southern Pacific has unscrupulously
fought to keep off a harbor at Will
mington. He illustrated this with
many instances of harbor history and
the earlier and present day work to
get Southern California from the
throttling grasp of the Southern Pa
cific.
Mr.. Gibbon expressed the opinion
that the tideland suits. if decided as
Los Angeles seeks, will rebound even
to the greater benefit of the tidelands
claimants, through the enormous in
crease of realty values in Wilmington
with the building of the harbor.
Believes in independence
AZ believe that tomorrow is going
to mean another declaration of inde-
pendence." exclaimed Mr.. Gibbon in
closing, and he was interrupted by ap-
plause and other confirmation from all
over the house, which was keUm up
with great enthusiasm for several Min
utes. There was tremendous enthu
siasm when Mr.. GibbOn displayed the
saw with which the Southern Pacific
| fence across Canal street was cut
down by indignant citizens two years
ago. F. S. Cary had brought ii to the
hall and Mr. Gibbon said the saw
should be preserved in some municipal
monument
] O,,a of ha 90
mington, S. A. Widney, who has lived
in that city more than forty years. was
the next speaker. He made short
witty speech. urging his fellow citizens
to vote for consolidation. He lined up
the friends and opponents of consol-
dation.
This is a campaign that is strictly
business" said Mr.. Widney. "I have,
for forty years been intimately ac-
quainted with the affairs of Whining
ton For forty years past, the South
ern Pacific and the Wilmington Trans
portation company have absolutely con-
trolled this section. If they had want
ed to make a harbor they could have
done 1t without let or hindrance. They
have not and they will not do it. It's
to their interests to keep this a little
| one-horse place. They have had forty
years to do this in and have done moth
| AilS Jul sc iOlC SOu III IAlc1I tliliCs
Los Angeles won't go back on the
harbor. I am going to vote for con-
solidation because I have the interests
of this place at heart and l want to
see it a commercial city"
Good Faith Assured
Representatives Of the city govern
ment of Los Angeles who were on the
platform We're then called on to speak
for the good faith of their city. Coun-
Gilman Yonkin was asked how the
council will stand in fulfilling the
pledges on consolidation.
III assure you," said Mr. Yonkin.
the city council of Los Angeles will
carry out every promise the Consoida-
tion committee has made to you. Every
member of the council will work to
carry this out Every word of that
pledge will be fulfilled"
What about you, Uncle George?"
asked Chairman Woods, turning to
Mayor Alexander.
"Tll stand with the people" said the
mayor, and so will the man who sue
ceeds me. I'll tell you the time is gone
forever when the Southern Pacific can
control Los Angeles"
City Attorney Hewitt and A. p.
Fleming, chairman of the consolida-
tlon committee. spoke in defense of Los
Angeles. Mr.. Fleming read a state
ment from Postmaster Flint saying
that he not only did not oppose annex
alton of his district to Los Angeles,
but that he is anxious to become a
resident and voter of the city. Mr..
Fleming also read the resolution adopt"
ed by the Los Angeles city council yes
terday directing the city attorney to
draw the necessary preliminary ordi-
nances for harbor work. This was re-
ceived with vigorous applause. The
meeting was closed with three rousing
cheers for consolidation.
Manager Wheatly of the Consoldat-
ed Lumber company, accompanied by
G. II. Condee and an attorney, sat
through the meeting with Captain Ban
ming.