Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-25
GREATER LOS ANGELES


~ REATER LOS ANGELES, with its
tT seaport San Pedro. will be the
N maritime metropolis of the west.
The same public spirit that has carried
the consolidation movement forward to
Its present stage, when its success is no
longer questioned even by Its cp-
ponents undoubtedly will be exempli-
fed throughout the history of the city
and the seaport. The patriotism of the
people forms the best guarantee of the
guardianship of public interests. The
population of this city is sensitively
conscious of its citizenship, and there is
a keen appreciation of the fact of
community of interest. This keen ap-
probation will result in constant prog
ress, and in the growth and prosperity
of Los Angeles.
The citizens are to be congratulated
warmly on the personal interest shown
by them in matters affecting the gem
eral welfare In too many communi-
ties there has been a disposition to
leave the conduct of affairs to few
men-and 1t is this kind of careless In
difference which resulted in bosses and
the formation of rings that often
worked in collusion with great privi-
lege seeking corporations, even as
bosses and rings in Los Angeles would
have worked In collusion with the
Southern Pacific and allied corpo-
rations. But Los Angeles banished
bosses and forbade rings, and the po-
litico-corporation machine formed to
exploit Los Angeles as other great cities
have been exploited at various periods
of their formative history succeeded in
attracting public attention first to its
organized existence, then to its plans
and purposes, with the result that the
people united to defeat it.
Los Angeles Herald warned the pub
lie that political defeat OF the machine
would not end its activity, and that 1t
must be watched with perpetual Wig
ilance, as it would attempt to convert
to its own uses every new achievement
In citizenship and progress. With con-
solidation in full view, the corporation
agents constructed an elaborate plot,
by which they hoped to capture and
control the pick OF the valuable wharf,
age at San Pedro. This plot was dis
covered and thwarted by the vigilance
of the wide awake citizens, with the
assistance of Los Angeles Herald,
which from the first has held clearly
defined position with regard to the
harbor rights of San Pedro and VIII
mington. In view of the absolute GER
tainty of the consolidation of San Pc
dro and Wilmington with Los Angeles,
the preservation of these rights has
become of intense interest to the peo-
pie of Los Angeles as we'll as to those
of the other municipal members Of the
consolidation group.
The baffied attack of the Southern
Pacific machine on the harbor fran
chises has had an effect which was far
from the thoughts Of the machine men
who plotted the big grab. 1t has given
new life, impetus and enthusiasm to
the consolidation movement, and has
made the citizens of the various mu-
inequalities realize keenly their great
interest in common, and the necessity
for their united action.
There will be no sectionalism in
Greater Los Angeles, the citizens Of
which have had valuable object les
son as to the consolidation of patriotic
citizenship as well as of the material
interests associated with the united
cities. Conscious of having won by un-
ion, united purpose, united effort, a
great and memorable victory for free
port at San Pedro, they realize more
keenly perhaps than ever before that
they are fellow soldiers Of the com
mon good"