Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-05
RESULT
GREETED WITH CHEERS
ELECTION CONTESTED HOLY
BY BOTH SIDES
Workers for and Against Consolidation
Active All Day with Automo-
biles-JoIifcation Held
at Night
Especial to The Herald ]


WILMINGTON, Aug. 4.-By a de-
cisive vote Of 1O7 to 81 the voters of this
city decided in an emphatic manner to
consolidate with the great city of Los
Angeles and thereby provide royalty fol
a free harbor which will be used by the
commerce of the world.
With breathless attention a large
gathering of citizens of Wilmington
witnessed the counting of the ballots
which resulted in the union of the two
cities. The basement of the new city
hall was the polling place today of the
most momentous election ever held
within the confines Of this city, the
issue being probably the most inn
portant which will ever be before the
voters to settle
The vote today was large OF the 1SC
registered voters 10 exercised their
civic duty. Two of the ballots cast
clearly the wish of the great majority
of the voters.
Early Vote Cast
The voters reached the poles early
today. 152 having voted before , o'clock
Workers ON both sides of the question
we're active all day The consolidation
committee had six automobiles in use in
the morning, and with fine management
carried out a we'll organized and Sys-
tematic fight for consolidation and a
free harbor. City Attorney Leslie r.
Hewitt of Los Angeles was in attend
ancc when the polls opened and stayed
until Secretary Fleming of the Los An
geles consolidation committee arrived
With T. 5. Carr, +. opp and host OF
other workers every single ConsOllda-
ton vote was registered.
The opponents were represented by
J. NJ. Brennan and w. 7. Wheatley
with three automobiles and buggy
The autos were adorned with signs
bearing a picture Of a spiders web
showing Los Angeles as the spider
and Wilmington as the ,ty.
With senator William II. Savage, WhC
tried his best to defeat fair consoli-
dation act at Sacramento, as legal adj
wiser. they made frantic effort to get
enough votes to defeat the wishes ot
the people These leaders are said tC
have been working for the Southern
Pacific and Banning interests.
Early Count Unfavorable
At s o'clock this evening the ballot
box was opened by P. G. Petersen. m-
spcctor, while Judges f. w. Sanderson
ir, and w. T.. Phillips kept the tally
The first ballot read was against con-
solidation," and at twelve there WerC
for and against. Then the favorable
ballots began SLOW gam ana Kept III,
lead to the finish.
During the count the pole stood as
follows: 20 TO II. 30 to %, 40 to "A, 30 tC
80 60 to 81, 20 to 3S, so to AZ, 80 to 80, 10t
to 10, 1O5 to so and 107 to 81.
When the eighty-siXth vote was
counted for the measure Secretary
Fleming raised his hat in silent cheer
and left to report the good news tC
Los Angeles.
ON the completion of the final count
the large crowd united in a hearty
round of cheers, and on every face o.
the consolidation crowd beamed a smile
of victory and gladness.
F. S. Cary said after the results were
known: 1T was the hardest fight
have ever been in. The whole cor
porate interests. including the Southern
Pacific, Rannings and Consolidated
Lumber company, were arrayed against
us The fight has been long and har1
but now the people of this city and o1
Southern California are assured of Z
free harbor and the effort was wei
worth hard work We are a proud ano
joyous people tonight
Expectations Realized
+. opp said: "All expectations have
been realized. The harbor is saved fol