Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-09
WITH but three days re-
w naming in which to defeat
" consolidation the nnnnn-

WITH but three days re-
w naming in which to defeat
" consolidation, the oppon-
ents of a great free harbor for Los
Angeles are determined to make
a final supreme effort to circum-
vent the will of the people and de-
feat the proposed merger of Los
Angeles, San Pedro and Will
mington. That the opponents OF
consolidation have not given up
the fight is evidenced by the per-
sistent rumors of secret meetings
Of the anti-consolidation forces,
which rumors have been III circu-
lation at San Pedro for several
days.
The Los Angeles consolidation
campaign committee is co-operat-
ing with the San Pedro commit
zee in preparing to resist an on
slaught OF money which will be
poured into San Pedro Wednes-
day and Thursday.
They are satisfied that the working
population, among whom the strongest
efforts are TO be made by the San
Pedro anti-consolidationists feel that
their interests lie with expansion at the
harbor and not in playing into the
hands of the corporations
Work among The longshoremen by
anti-consolidation representatives is
said to have met with disappointing re-
suits.
che fishermen realize that the eX-
ample set by the San Pedro trustees in
attempting to give away valuable water
front does not argue well for preserVa-
ton of the harbor under the present
San Pedro administration, and they are
arguing strongly for consolidation
Charter to Protect Harbor
"That is one of the strongest argu-
ments for union with Los Angeles
that the harbor will be protected by a
city charter which will be guarantee
against invasion by private interests"
said Capt. A. A. Fries. Under the
charter of a smaller city the personal
honor of few men is all that stands
between the peoples harbor and the de-
gires of corporation interests, but with
the freeholders' charter of Los Angeles
IL Will De a Qt1lCulL II uOl dIl IIpOo-
sible matter to give away any portion
of the water front. This is the situa-
ton that should prevail; there ought to
be every possible safeguard thrown
around tarbor rights to keep them free
from the temptation of subjecting them
to private control and profit at the eX
pense of the public.
1.-THE greatest step that can be done
In this direction is consolidation. With
consolidation you have not only the
credit of city of 100000 people di-
verted toward the building of har-
bor in the interest of all Southern
California, out you have also the pro-
lection of 100000 in preserving the har-
Dor for the good of all, which is in
dnitely more than can be extended
by a smaller city, especially as one
upright board of trustees may be sue
seeded by another five men who will
think el irely differently and who
have the power to give away the water
front--a power which cannot exist un-
der the charter of Los Angeles"
Corporations Lead Fight
The corporations are recognized as
The leaders In the fight against free
harbor. At San Pedro 1t is said that
no less a worthy antagonist than John
Buckley, manager of the San Pedro
Lumber company, has been chosen to
direct the final struggle to prevent the
formation of a greater Los Angeles.
with Buckley secretly in charge of the
campaign, the Banning company, the
liouor interests. the San Pedro whole
sale companies and the other lumber
companies said to have combined to
defeat consolidation. The solid three
I'm the board of trustees is rumored
also to be in accord with cooperative
interests and to be working for the
downfall of the project which means
SO much to Los Angeles and so much
more to San Pedro
According to those in position to
know a momentous conference will be
held today in San Francisco At this
conference will ways and means for
inducing the voters OF San Pedro to