Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-07-25
DEMOCRATS URGE
CONSOLIDATION
PLAIN FACTS TOLD AT DINNER
AT HOTEL H0LLENBECK
CITIZENS URGED TO CAST VOTES
FOR A FREE HARBoR
Men of Both Parties Point Out Details
in Long Warfare Between the
City and the Southern
Pacific
it resolved. That the jefferson


mington from the consolidation of
these municipalities, earnestly urges
their citizens to secure every possible
vote in favor of consolidation at the
coming consolidation elections"
Such was the resolution passed unan-
imously at the consolidation lunch
con" of the Jefferson club at the Hotel
Hollenbeck yesterday, and such was
the sense and spirit of the gathering.
The resolution was introduced by At
torney Robert G. Loucks at the close
of the proceedings, after an earnest ar
gument for consolidation by the Re-
publican guest of the club, William d.
stephens, and spirited appeal by the
favorite orator of the Organization,
James A. Anderson.
President l. b. Dockweiler, presid-
ing at the luncheon. stated with some
satisfaction the fact that he was born
in this city forty-one years ago. In
his forceful remarks, in introducing
the speakers and at the close of the
addresses, he looked into the future
almost as many years. forecasting the
wonderful Los Angeles that is to be.
Skeptical Prophets Downed
Mr.. Dockweiler told of how he and
many others had laughed at the real
estate man who, ten years ago. put up
signboards declaring, Population, 1910,
$50 000."
But since then he has had to strike
out those figures and substitute
350,000," concluded the chairman, land
by 1925 it will be a million"
F. w. Roche, an Indiana Democrat
who expressed himself as proud of
the showing his former home state
made for the party at the election last
year, was called upon by the chairman.
i've been here only six months" he
began, when Mr.. Dockweiler broke in
Roche"
II expect to be with you still when
you get that million population" re-
sponded the gentleman from Indiana.
Mr.. Stephens, the first speaker intro
duced, declared that, for years. he had
taken the keenest interest in the pros
pect Of having one of the great harbors
of the world for Los Angeles.
Ever since the great victory won
by Senator Stephen NJ White" he went
on, but had to pause at the burst of
applause which greeted the Repub-
lican's tribute to the memory of the
great Democratic senator-"ever since
that great initial victory which made
a free harbor for Los Angeles a posi-
bility there has been a constant fight
against the forces which were opposed
to the project in the time of Senator
White, and the chamber of commerce
has ever taken a foremost part in bat
Ting for the interests of the public in
this respect"
No Strangulation Methods
Speaking of the "shoestring" annexa-
ton, he told how 1t would have been
possible to extend it around San
Pedro, practically taking the harbor
for Los Angeles, and" he said. "San
Pedro might have been strangled
forever. The committee, however,
agreed unanimously that Los Angeles
city must not be unfair, and that the
strip should only touch San Pedro.
In this plan of consolidation, too,
Los Angeles has been absolutely fair,
in providing that a majority in each
of the cities involved shall be required
to carry the election"
He dwelt at length on the amounts
which other cities have expended on
their harbors, stating that Liverpool
has expended $40, 900, 900, Bremen $685.
100000, Bombay $21O00,O 0O Buenos
Ayres, which had but 100000 population
thirty-five years ago and since has
spent s35,0O0,OO0 on its harbor has
grown in population in that period to
100000 inhabitants.
80, you can see, $10000,000 is not
much for Los Angeles to spend on her
harbor, and the gain can be as great as
was the gain to Buenos Ayres," he de-
clared. IF Los Angeles is to become
a great manufacturing center, il is alb
solutely necessary that the city shall
have control of the harbor."
Steps of Warfare Traced
Introducing James A. Anderson,
whose name was greeted with a
round of hearty applause, Chairman
Dockweiler said:
He comes from a race of Democrats
and should feel at home here"
II feel at home always among the
citizens of this town" he declared.
Slowly, quietly, with an earnestness
far more impressive than the tones
and tricks of oratory which, with many
speakers, are made to take the. place
Of conviction, he traced the contest
which those citizens have made against
the power of the railroad interests, the
triumphant struggle for a free harbor.
Ever since the first victory, siXteel
years ago, when San Pedro was Sc
lected, there has been just one long
series of fights to maintain the rights
Of the public in the interest of a free
harbor
What is a free harbor? 1t is one
where the docks and wharves are pub
licly owned and controlled, protected
against all danger of private
monopoly
The great corporations-chief of
which is the Southern Pacific Railroad
Company-WhiCh have opposed the har-
Dor project from the beginning, now
are willing we should have harbor,
but wish to secure control of 1t them
selves. Our people believe they should
properly own and control that harbor
Our people do not want any harbOr
commission, by political appointment
under the state government; no state
aid, no loan of the states credit. We
believe in local control, by the greater
city, by the city as it will be after con-
solidation, and as it shall grow to be in
the years to come.
PopuIace Opposed by Interests
1.-THE interests I have mentioned, OPP
posing the popular movement for a free
harbor at every step, fought against
the passage of the bill allowing the
holding of the consolidation elections,
and one such bill was defeated by their
efforts. Even when a petition was
signed by two-thirds of the people of
San Pedro for surrender of the charter
of that city, as a means to consolida-
ton, the fight had to be carried into the
courts The last consolidation bill,
whose passage made the vote to disin-
corporate unnecessary, was fiercely OPP
POSED in the senate, and was passed
there largely through the efforts of
Phil A. stanton, the Republican speak
er, Of Los Angeles.
about Wilmington are many acres
OF water covered land, on which are