Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-01
EVERY CITIZEN IS
URGED TO VOTE
MANY BALLOTS WANTED AT
WEDNESDAYS ELECTION
RESULT WILL HAVE IMPORTANT
BEARING ON CONSOLIDATION
Fate of Free Harbor for Los Angeles
Depends on Showing Made at
Polls to Annex Will
mlngton
BY PHILIP D. WILSON

Win the greatest interest CenleIeu III
Wilmington-whic small municipality
has an equal voice with its larger sis
ter. Los Angeles. in the consolidation
election Wednesday--th voters of this
city are apt to overlook the Importance
cf casting their ballots and leaving the
fate of the election in Los Angeles to
the other fellow who has time to
vote"
No greater mistake could be made
by the people of Los Angeles, practical
ly all of whom are supposed to be not
only in favor of the measure that pro-
Vdes for the union of the three cities,
but enthusiasts for the cause. For
largely on the strength of the city vote
and the good will shown by the people
of Los Angeles at the first election will
depend the success of the second cleo
tion when Los Angeles and san Pedro
will vote on the same question
And the first election will also have
q large influence on the bond election
which the consolidation committee,
representing the civic bodies, the city
council, and in fact, all of the people
of Los Angeles has pledged itself in
it's report to call within sixty days
after consolidation has been effected,
to vote bonds in the sum of $4,000
with which to begin the great work of
improving both the inner and outer
harbors at San Pedro and Wilmington.
Every Vote Needed
While it is a foregone conclusion that
more than 80 per cent of the registered
voters in Wilmington will cast their
ballots on the all-important question,
and that the same percentage will pre-
vail at the San Pedro election, 1t is by
no means certain that Los Angeles will
make such an excellent showing.
BUT EVERY VOTE THAT CAN
POSSIBLY BE RECORDED IS
NEEDED IN THIS CITY NEXT
WEDNESDAY.
Los Angeles persons should take a
pride in making the vote as nearly
unanimous as possible. and the grand
total in favor of consolidation should
be commensurate with the will of the
people as expressed at the polls at the
last general election.
Voters in this city will not find it as
convenient to get to the polls and cast
their votes at this election as they have
at former times because of the consol-
idation of the 189 city precincts into a
total of sixty y-nine precincts, or nearly
three into one. And for this very rea
son they should study the precinct map
and the list of polling places and
KNOW ABSOLUTELY where they are
to vote before the morning Of election.
i his Will save llile 70 the NOleT anu
will enable him to get to his polling
place before going to his office or place
of business for the days work. The
daily papers have published the list of
polling places as arranged in the con-
soli3dted precincts, and they will print
this list again before election morning.
An early vote in this city Is partic
ularly desirable. and if electors will
bear this in mind constantly the cause
will ha lxr a ciCfaH r1d1ae If
adhered to, will result in a rousing |
vote and most satisfactory returns |
They are:
I. Get out early on election day
August 4-and cast your ballot before |
you go down to business.
II. See as many of your neighbors as
possible and urge them to do the same |
thing.
The polls will be open from a. m. |
until 6 D. m, but do not wait until the |!
last minute to cast your ballot.
Members of the consolidation cam |
paign committee, which is headed by
a p. Fleming, have devoted weeks of
their valuable time to the cause that
is destined to make of Los Angeles one !
of the most important seaport cities in
the world but it has been a physical
impossibility for them to meet and talk
with every voter in Los Angeles. The
campaign has been carried on here in
an educational manner through the
newspapers and by direct personal ap-
peal, while great efforts have been be-
slowed on San Pedro and Wilmington,
where the activities of the opposition
have been centered. The stamp of ap-
proyal of the public is what is needed
now.
Majority Vote Necessary
The total registered vote in Los An
geles is approximately 65,000 in San
Pedro it is 1851, and in Wilmington it is
1S0. A majority of the votes cast in
San Pedro and Wilmington on their
election dates. and In Los Angeles on
both dates of election, is necessary to
complete the consolidation of the three
cities.
Facts and figures concerning other
municipal elections in late years are in
teresting just now, and from these we
may get some idea of what to expect
in the matter of a total vote at the
coming elections.
Three years ago in December, when
a four-cornered mayoralty race was in
progress with A c. Harper DR.. Walter
Lindley, Lee c. Gates and Stanley b
Wilson as the candidates, the total
vote was 31,3S8 Harper's total was
10,640. and he defeated the next highest
candidate, Gates, by more than 1000
votes. That was a good total vote at
that time, as the city did not have as
great a population by many thousands, |
but the campaign had been a most in
teresting and hard fought one, and it
was matter of conjecture at the time
that the vote was not even larger than
it was.
At the general election held last No
vember-a presidential year-the grand
total in the city amounted to about
$4,000 votes.
Light Votes Recently
When the charter amendments were
voted on at a special election held Feb
Tuary the highest total vote recorded
on a single amendment was 1890 Pre-
cincts were consolidated at this cleo |
tton.
The recall election was held March |
26, with George Alexander as the recall |
candidate and Fred Wheeler on the So
cialist ticket The total vote at this |
election was 26,828, with polling places |
in every one of the 189 city precincts.
Under the circumstances, it looks that |
a total vote OF at least $4,000 should be |
recorded at the election next Wednes- |
day and that a similar expression |
should be made by the people eight |
days later when the Los Angeles-San |
Pedro election occurs.
The greatest danger to a rousing vote |
lies in the fact that so many men will |
feel disposed to leave the matter to
others to decide. Scarcely man has |
been found in the city who will not say
that consolidation is good thing and |
it ought To carry" but when it comes |
ta voting many of these will feel dis !