New-York tribune., 1920-06-06
By Howard c. Kegley

BY HOWARD ~. kcEIey
TN THE ten years that have
elapsed since the last census
Los Angeles has seized the
crown from San Francisco and
become the leading city of the Pa
cifc Coast. In 1910 the population
Of Los Angeles was 319,19S, while
this year her population is esti-
mated at $4,000, an increase of
SIT per cent, and the population of
San Francisco is put at 100000.
In addition to her permanent
population Frank Virgins, secre-
tary of the Los Angeles Chamber
Of Commerce, estimates the floating
population at not less than $4,000.
This estimate is borne out by the
fact that the state vehicle bureau
credits Los Angeles with having
10000 foreign or visiting automo-
biles nearly the whole year through.
Reason for the Upset
What is the answer to this up
set in the relative positions Of the
1.-TWO cities in the last ten years?
Why has Los Angeles so far out
stripped her northern rival? The
answer lies in the labor problem.
Los Angeles has embraced the open
shop principle, while San Francisco
has placed herself under the dicta-
ton of organized, labor, and Los
Angeles has grown and prospered
while San Francisco has stood still
when she has not gone backward.
One of the best indications of
what the open shop has done for
Les Angeles is that in a circum-
ference Of five square blocks ten
Class A Office buildings are now in
course Of construction or are short
" to be started. Their aggregate
cost will be 15,650,OOO.
.Une might wonder how the open
shop is maintained in Los Angeles
IN the first place, it is not an or
ganlzed labor town. Radical union
men won't work here. Some come
Sere for a while, but most of them
90 elsewhere, because they don't
Ike TO work under open shop condi-
uens. Others who have belonged to
unions for years come here and
"fow away their cards. One rea-
son why the open shop prevails here
Is that the Merchants and Manu-
lactarers Association, Of which F.
). Zeehandelaar has been secretary
.0t these last twenty-five years, has
neia 70 the one thought that it will
maintain the open shop at any cost,
ana II mas succeeded in that respect.
The Shop Still Open
whenever strikes have been called
~ LOS Angeles unions have poured
~ vast quantities of money to boil
VET them up, hoping to fasten the
s.'seo shop upon Los Angeles, but
NO expenditure of millions of dol
q" has been simply waste of
'N''e and money. The shop is still
spen' and those who have main
,a'asd it for quarter Of q century
sslafe that 1t will remain open.
'ae open shop principle has
'v'1sd 30 successfully in Los An
S ssxs that 1t has been adopted in
ssa's Barbara, San Pedro, Phoenix
a ether important cities, Phoenix
s."s but recently declared her
sa Tor the open shop after bor-
s"'ng the fundamentals Of the plan
..0a Los Angeles. One or two ex-
.p'ea Of how 1t Is maintained in
~ Angeles will suffice.
9 ass winter, a few days before
-, - enarnber Of commerce was to
A.. ~ w annual banquet at the Hotel
-, ..s.s,ahoria, tho walters went on
a.. 1t was whispered around
q. ~ since the banquet was to be
a.. Nssest gathering Of the kind
8 s sne year, the unions wanted
y pas It on the blink" in order
= q. back at" the business men
4 refused TO recognize the unions.
le.,.s nsan 70 look as though the 600
t,n@ sas men who expected to at
=. would get nothing to eat.
...nk ..ank Virgins, secretary Of the
al.ar sr Of commerce, went right
sU With plans for the banquet,
2 eouple of days ahead Of time
fI.ss ssaouaesd : his plan Of battle.
business man wsrs to b
- loGh knhfA es3.~u sw~~~ -