Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-22
PEOPLES BIG VICTORY


methods adopted in the attempt to
gain special privileges at the expense
of the people. the Southern Pacific yes
terday withdraw from two of the posi-
tions it had been holding in defiance of
the wish and will of the public.
It is known the corporation quietly
passed word down the line to its hench-
men in the city council to allow the
Fourth street franchise proposition to
perish in a pigeonhole, and 1t aban-
doned incontinently it's attempt with
the aid of allies to grab wharf and
railroad franchises at San Pedro. IT
was a complete backdown; a surren-
der that may be regarded as uncondi-
tionaI, even although the question Of
policy may have entered into it, for the
Southern Pacific machine managers
probably were not unmindful of the
fact that to have maintained an OBJ
stinate attitude of opposition to the
popular will would have destroyed
their political chances in the municipal
election.
But pure funk" was the principal
motive of the corporation, for the pub
lie Of Los Angeles was showing it was
in fighting trim. An injunction filed by
the consolidation commission had
stopped the mischief making of the
corporation in this municipality, while
in San Pedro a mass meeting had been
called last evening for the purpose of
denouncing the audacious attempt of
fo n n ff nd
railroad franchises, and warning the
trustees of San Pedro that the temper
of the public would not let pass unre-I
buked or unpublished conduct which
might be construed to be equivalent to
a betrayal by san Pedro officials of the
trust reposed in them by the people.
Los Angeles Herald, as the leader and
the newspaper organ of the opposition
to the attempted franchise steal, re-
joices that its efforts to prevent a
shameful grab and to save the reputa-
ton and honor of the San Pedro trus-
tees have been effective. The South
ern Pacific in a most practical and
convincing way has acknowledged The
Herald was right in every assertion it
made with regard to the plans for a
harbor grab.
For it's part, The Herald, conscious
of having used its best endeavors in !
rendering an important and successful
public service. thanks it's army of read
ers and friends for the support they
extended to 1t during its winning fight
for the permanent freedom of the har-
Dor.
Resolutions prepared for adoption at
the mass meeting pointed out that the
franchises were asked for over lands
that are owned in fact by the state of
California and which, Notwithstanding
certain parties under misrepresentation
of the law have obtained a color of
title, will unquestionably be recovered
for the use and benefit of the people;
and IL said franchises were granted to
the parties applying for them or any
other parties, it would effectually pre-
vent the public from obtaining its own.
The franchises were asked for under
the representations they were to extend
around Mormon island on land the title
to which is not questioned, which rep
reservations were not true, but in fact
the franchises were to extend over land
all of which is known as tide lands, ex-
cept possibly a few feet, and is in truth
and in fact public domain and not in
any sense private property.
The resolutions characterized the ac-
ton of the franchise applicants
as an attempt to grab from the
public rights and privileges that should |
never be granted and that never will
be granted by any board of trustees
that honestly and fairly represent the
city of San Pedro,
The resolutions further set forth that
the very fact that these franchises were
asked for at this time and in this hur-
ried manner of the board of trustees is !
an indication there was a COLLISION
and an attempt to DEFRAUD the peo-
pie of their rights, and the would-be
franchise grabbers were DESTROYS of
using the board of trustees for their
own private use and in such manner
that if they should grant these fran
chises the members of the board grant
ing them would forfeit the respect that
has been accorded them by the citizens
of San Pedro and by all persons who
are interested in the establishment of a
great free harbor at San Pedro.
The resolutions stated further that
while these applications are made by
individuals and separate corporations, |
in truth and in fact all of the cram
chises, the wharf, and the railroad and
the interurban franchises, are for the
use and benefit of the Southern Pacific |
railroad and is an attempt to obtain
from the board of trustees concessions
that they know they are not entitled
to and never would be granted by the
city, and they ask the
board Of trustees to destroy their stand |
ing as citizens and thus stigmatize
them as men who cannot be trusted in
public affairs"
Capt. A. A. Fries, speaking with the
voice of authority. said that if the
trustees were to be allowed to grant
the franchises the result would be of
damage to the entire
harbor project.
San Pedro and Los Angeles are for
tunate in the possession of public
spirited citizens, who exercise that per-
petual vigilance which is the price of
liberty and progress. Perhaps it was
10 do SYs