Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-05

ROUT FOES
OFHARBOR
WilmingtOn'S Vote for the
Merger, 1O7 to 81
LOS ANGELES COUNT ALMOST
UNANIMOUS
WIDESPREAD REJOICING AFTER
NEWS OF VICTORY
Union of Cities VIII Be Quickly COM
pIeted by Legal RoutIne-Result
Show Enemies In
Flight
WIDESPREAD REJOICING AFTER
NEWS OF VICTORY


* and Los Angeles voted for
~ consolidation and the plan
ming of great harbor yesterday.
At the last moment every infu-
ence that money could make to
defeat the issue was brought to
bear in Wilmington, but the citi-
zens of that town resisted every
scheme to turn them from con-
solidation.
In Los Angeles the issue was
in part the ratio of the vote as an
Endorsement of the report of the
committee of fifteen on the con-
solidation scheme. This indorse-
ment was so overwhelming that
it sets an entirely new mark in
the appreciation of a municipal
problem by the voters of a large
city. In the opinion of former
Mayors Snyder and Stephens
and of other members of the con-
solidation committee, no more
Emphatic Endorsement as to the
bility of Los Angeles to fulfil
80 pledges made could be asked
Throughout the close of the
Wilmington campaign the men
who have crried the load most
actively were "on the job" F.
S. Cary, Erhard Opp and every
other consolidation worker in
Wilmington watched incessantly
to see that there was no backfir-
ing. A. P. Fleming and Leslie
r. Hewitt were at Wilmington
until the ballots were counted
and sealed beyond any doubt of 7
contest. City Attorney Hewitt
remained at Wilmington all night
after the consolidation meeting
Tuesday evening, and with the
Wilmington committee was at
work at 5 o'clock yesterday morn
ing. He did not leave until fully
satisfied that every formality had
been complied with and the result
was absolutely certain.
Next Step in Consolidation
The next procedure will be a
Joint meeting of the Wilmington
board of trustees and the Los
Angeles city council at the Los
Angeles city hall Monday, when
the vote will be canvassed and a
certificate of the election result
will be prepared and forwarded
to Secretary of State Curry at
Sacramento. When this certifi-
cate is filed at the capitol the for
mality necessary to join Los An
geles and Wilmington will have
been completed. Although this
will probably be finished before
the San Pedro election, it will
not give Wilmington the right to
vote on the consolidation with
San Pedro.
The men who have foreseen the
necessity for large work on free
harbor were jubilant when the
news came to the headquarters of
the consolidation committee and
was telephoned around. Secre-
tary Fleming was warmly con-
graduated on his return from
Wilmington, for yesterdays vic
tory is but one of series which
he has watched. another
breastwork taken, for Los Ange-
les never goes back" he Put it.
In all these battles he has been
on the front line for the harbor.
and he was given full measure
of credit by the consolidationists.
at is a great cause, and the
only thing to say is that we are
going at it, hammer and tongs,
harder than ever tomorrow morn
ing" said Mr.. Fleming, looking
forward and modestly ignoring
Yesterdays achievement. "We
shall open up along with the San
Pedro committee and finish faster
than we start on the next cleo
ton. The record before we get
through is going to make these
Continued on Page Two.