Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel], July 08, 1909, Image 1

About Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911

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\ r pages
10 TWO PARTS
rot. xxxvt. PUWIi 1- Aft fI?\."TV BY cariufh
NUMBER 280 » " i llll^Jll . ■ t±V • V^Jlll> 10 I'KR MONTH
COLOMBIA ONCE
MORE IN GRASP
OF REVOLUTION
TWO CITIES KNOWN TO BE IN
REBEL HANDS
GENERAL UPRISING AGAINST
REYES IS REPORTED
Gunboat Seen Approaching Carta
gena, but No Details of Situa.
tion There Have Been
Received
[By Associated Prearl
• /NOLON, July 7.—A revolution has b'.-o
--\ I J ken out in the republic of Colombia
~^ against the government of Presi
dent rtafael Reyes, who la now In Lon
don. This news was brought into Co
lon by the British steamer Median,
Just arrived from Savanllla.
I'.arranqullla and Its seaport, Sa
vanilla, 177 miles awny, are In the hands
of the revolutionists.
It is reported here that the town of
Santa Marta also has fallen to the
ratals, but the Median brings no con
firmation of this.
The trouble began Sunday at Bar
ranqullla and ended in the speedy over
throw of the governmental authorities
at that point. There was little resist
ance. Two hundred men, armed with
rifles, then marched down to Savanllla
and took that port without tiring a shot.
only one prisoner mi taken, the cap
tai i of thi! port, and he was sent back
to Barranquilla.
Gunboat Off Cartagena
A Colombian gunboat was seen Mon
day night approaching Cartagena, but
no news of what has occurred at that
city has reached Colon.
When the Median left the Colombian
coast it was rumored that an American
warship was expected momentarily at
ono of the coast ports. Persons well
versed In Colombian politics are of the
opinion that this movement Is the be
ginning of a fusion of all political par
tirs against the Reyes government.
There Is no direct telegraphic com
munication between Colon and the At
lantic coast of Colombia. All telegrams
°from the Atlantic side have to go ni3t
to Bogota, the capital. It is conse
quently subjected to government cen
sorship.
Advices from Bogota later declare
1 that General Perdomo will leave
Honda tomorrow with six steamers,
having on board 6000 men and 20 pieces
of artillery- The objective point of the
troops is Barranquilla.
(Jen. Rafael Reyes has been president
.>r Colombia since January, 1905, and
his present term does not expire until
1914.
In November, 1903. the state of Pan
ama, then an integral part of Colombia,
proclaimed Its Independence, which was
-inidily recognized by the United
! tafes. Shortly after till* step a treaty
j.roviding for the construction of the
[• in ama canal was signed by the United
States and the new republic.
News reports from the republic have
indlcaud that the old bitterness of the
loss of Panama still lives. This was the
sli nation when President Reyes sud
denly left for London June 10. It was
given .tut that Reyaa left for the pur
pose of taking a much needed rest and
vacation, but his sudden departure was
generally Interpreted as a flight, anl
riMilutlonary disturbances were looked
for.
ROUGH TREATMENT
FOR SUFFRAGETTES
American Women Employ English
Tactics in Campaign in New
York and Ner.rly Cause
a Riot
NSW YORK, July 7.—A hui-dy gurdy
iiiui tambourine* were used by two
militant suffragettes today whose Eiik-
Hlh tactics, adopted for the first time
In New York, met with such a boister
ous reception In City Hall park that a
tint Marly ensued.
\ meek looking man pulled a hurdy
pni-dy, while Mrs. Sophia Loebinger and
Misi Helen Murphy, the suffragettes,
who wore badges and streamers let
t, iml "Votes for Women" and can-tad
copies of the "Suffragette," jangled
tambourines.
Within' five minute* they were the
center of such a crush that they had
to shriek for the police. Not a copy
of the official publication was sold, and
there were no wpeechea. A squad of
police made a lane for the two women
to the nearest subway station and they
i hurried home.
PARIS TEMPS RATES U. S.
SECOND OF NAVAL POWERS
PARIS, July 7.—The Temps takes is-
Riie with M. Michel, who declared yes
terday in the chamber of deputies dur
ing the debate on the iiiival inquiry
commission's report that Germany
stood second among the naval powers.
The Temps points out that second
place is held by the United Ltates,
which with a fleet of sixteen battle
ships "accomplished an admirable feat
in the ciiK-umnaviKiition of the globe."
The paper adds that all English au
thorities class the United States second
among naval powers.
Germany, therefore, would be third
and France fourth.
STRICKEN MAN WAS AIDE
TO GENERAL GRANT IN '64
TRINIDAD, Colo., July 7.—William
Hudson, aged 65 years, personal aide
on the staff of Gen. U. S. Grant during
the civil war, is in the San Raphael
hospital here
The entire lower portion of his body
ralysed. While walking along the
business street of Trinidad Monday
evening Hudson r,.llapned suddenly. He
taken to the hospital, where his
i,l.'Hi ity was discovered.
For twenty-seven years Hudson haft
lived a hermit's Ufa on a lonely ranch
in Colorado canyon.
LOS ANGELES HERALD
Scenes in Barranquilla, Now
Held by the Colombian Rebels
FALSE WITNESS
IS PUNISHED
Girl Whom Sentenced Woman Ac
cused a Suicide and Hus.
band Driven from His
Home
(By Associated rrm)
ROME, July 7.—Signora Puccini, wife
of Giacomo Puccini, composer of "Mad
ame Butterfly" and other operas, was
sentenced today to five months im
prisonment and a fine of $120, in ad
dition to costs and damages, the lat
ter to be fixed by a separate court.
Some months ago, Signora Puccini
accused her husband and a maid In her
employ of having* improper relations.
The girl protested her innocence and
subsequently committed suicide. An
autopsy proved the charges againt the
girl were baseless.
The accusation of the wife, however,
resulted in a separation and quickly
after this, the mother of the girl In
stituted suit against Signora Puccini.
THE NEWS SUMMARY
FORECAST
For Los Angeles and vicinity—Fair
Thursday, light south winds. Maxi
mum temperature yesterday, 75 de
grees; minimum, 59 degrees.
§ LOCAL
Rousing; consolidation meeting is held at East
San Pedro. . - < ■
Mayor of Monrovia arrested In connection
with prosecution of liquor charge.
Twenty-six Tourist cars return from trip to
Mexico.
Fire of . mysterious origin destroy* cottage
owned by woman.
Three jurors secured for second trial of Wil
liam C. Mitchell on charge of murder.
Brother of man charged with wife aban
donment says woman • concealed true state of
affairs.
Forgers and perjurers who circulated whole
sale liquor ordinance will go unpunished
through returns of petitions to circulators.
Committee agrees on new speed ordinance,
which provides jail sentences for violators.
Board of supervisors reduces rate for water
to be charged by Hollywood company.
Chamber of commerce received Invitation
to visit China from Chinese chamber of
commerce.
Big Studebaker car crashes into curb dur
ing trial spin over Santa Monica course.
Chief engineer of army makes report in
dicating there la little hope of retaining
Capt. Fries at Los Angeles.
Prince of Peace causes dissension among
the members of Mazdaznan congregation of
Spent* Mana.
1 • ;<-i:tives working on I*. A.-P. railway
robbary ileoJure crime committed by an
employe.
Greatly Increased attendance marks open
ing of V.M.C.A. summer school.
Department store will proas charges
against man charged of hypnotizing wife to
pass forged checks.
officials of ijoa Angeles Gas company ap
pear In court to answer charges of rebat
ing.
COABT
John A. 1 Benson, timber baron, Is. placed be
hind the bars In the Alamcda county Jail.
Wealthy German dies in Long Beach after
brief illness.
Kpworih league convention is opened it Seat
tle with seven bishops among the delegates.
Woman is attacked by puma and terribly
mangled while enjoying outing near San Jose.
San Francisco police arrest aged man said to
be wanted In several cities for bigamy.
Three children perish in tiro that consumes
home m Oregon.
La Jolla pines saved from destruction by
fit" after hard tight. ...
Good roads convention In Seattle decides on
permanent national organization. .
Second San Jose man receives threatening
letter from blackmailers.
■' . ' ! EASTERN
President Taft. Senator Root and other emi
nent men take part In Champlaln celebration
at Plattshurg. N. Y.
Ella Glngles tells of the sensational bath
room Incident in Hotel Wellington in her trial
In Chicago.
Canadian educator says that national suicide
is Imminent if the schools are starved.
Deeds of violence are reported from Glace
Bay, Nova Scotia, collieries.
Christian * Endeavorers meet in annual ses
sion In St. Paul and listen to President Clark.
Two suffragettes in New York adopt Eng
lishwomen's tactics and are nearly mobbed.
Final ' vote in senate on I'nyne tariff bill is
scheduled to take place late this afternoon;
the Income tax rider failed to pass.
Senator New-Winds of Nevada says people's
only hope of tariff reform Is in veto of Payne
bill.
Attorney General Wlckersham nays that hold
ing companies are root of so-called trust evil, .
In speech at Paducah, Ky.
■ Great fleet assembles off coast of Massa
chusetts to maneuver In mimic battles.
Daring exporter extradited from Canada to
faeo charge of stealing shipload of goods in
New York.
FOREIGN
i Colombian I rebel* capture city of Barran
qullla and Its seaport, Savanllla. Revolt
against Reyes government reported to be
general. ' . .
French, British and German bankers will
allow Americans'to participate in $27,500,004
loan to Chinese railway. -,-.
| Former President Roosevelt honored *at Cal
vin celebration In Switzerland
•' ,■'" -: 'S^ '-■:'.>V *'*NY
THURSDAY MORNING, JULY 8, 1909.
FOOTHILL CITY'S
MAYOR ARRESTED
MONROVIA INNKEEPER MAKES
CHARGES
Hotelman Alleges Head Trustee Acted
Without Authority in Employing
Detective to Collect Liquor
Evidence
William B. Scarborough, president of
the board of trustees of the city of
Monrovia and engaged in the insurance
business at 140 South Broadway, Los
Angeles, was arrested yesterday
charged with auditing as city trustee
a claim in which he was personally in
terested. He was arraigned before Jus
tice Ling and released on his own
recognizance to appear again this
morning, when the date for his trial
will be set.
'■ The arrest of Scarborough Is said to
be the result of the trial at Monrovia
Tuesday of A. E. Cronenwett, proprie
tor of the La Vista Grande hotel, on a
charge of violating the city liquor ordi
nance. Cronenwett was acquitted after
the . jury had deliberated more than
eight hours, and immediately came to
Los Angeles, swearing to the com
plaint against Scarborough, whose light
against the illegal selling of liquor, he
believes, was responsible for his arrest.
Mayor Hires Detective
In his efforts to stamp out the traffic
Scarborough employed the services of
William E. Webber,' a detective, and
when the evidence he was after was
secured Issued a warrant on the city
treasurer for Webber's expenses, $208,
which was paid. It is claimed by
Cronenwett that the warrant was is
sued without the knowledge of other
members of the board of trustees, and
that when the facts were placed be
fore the city treasurer he held up two
other claims for money earned by
Webber.
"The evildoer kicks hard," said Scar
borough as be sat in the Justice court
yesterday. "They will have to kick
harder before I let up my fight against
blind pigs in Monrovia." . (
Scarborough, several years ago, was
a member of the Los Angeles police
commission, serving on that body at the
same time as Justice i Ling, . before
whom he appeared yesterday on the
misdemeanor charge. He Is a brother
of J. G. Scarborough, one of the best
known attorneys of this city, and is
prominent in business circles.
Claims Promise of Immunity
Cronenwett, who swore to the com
plaint against the trustee, says he is
selling liquor at his hotel on the pledge
of a majority of the members of the
board given two years ago that they
would support mii ordinance giving him
this right. While the ordinance has
never been passed ho says that he lias
relied ton these promises and that his
business has never been interfered with
until in February a feeling of animosity
was aroused against him among certain
members of the board, led by Scar
borough.
Roosevelt Honored Again
GENEVA, Switzerland. July 7.—For
mer President Roosevelt has bean nom
inated honorary president °' the inter
national committee In charge of the
monument in honor of John Calvin, the
(inner stone of which was laid yester
day. •
POSTPONE MARRIAGE TO
SAVE RETURN TRIP TICKET
LOVE may laugh at many things,
-but it cannot get funny with a
return trip ticket, is the opinion
of Jeremiah J. Morgan, aged 65, and
his prospective bride, Anna .Wagner,
aged 20, who, finding that their mar
riage would cause them to lose the
value of their return tiip ticket, post
poned their marital bliss and the pleas
ure of being married last night when
they boarded a train ' for Omaha just
a few minutes prior to the. arrival of
the minister summoned to perform the
marriage ceremony.
The contest between a marriage li
cense and a railroad ticket, by which
the latter won out by a large margin,
is as follows:
The aged groom-to-be and .his bride
came to Los Angeles on an excursion
ticket which expired Wednesday night,
and late in the afternoon they procured
a marriage license" at the courthouse
and hunted up'the Rev. A. ('. Kmither
of,the First Christian church to have
him perform the ceremony. At . the
last minute it was discovered that the
cherished : marriage license • was lost,
and after a vain search tho unhappy
TRAIN SLIDES
INTO SWOLLEN
KANSAS RIVER
FOUR CARS SLIDE INTO 18
FEET OF WATER
! FATALITIES ARE DENIED BY
I SANTA FE OFFICIALS
! Town of Pomona Reported to Be
Completely Inundated With
River Three Miles
in Width
(By Associated Pres».)
KANSAS CITY, July 7.—Swollen by
unprecedented rain, and by melt
• Ing snow from the Rocky moun
tains,-the rivers of the lower Missouri
, valley arc out of their banks and have
caused damage in many parts of 'Mis
souri, and Kansas. The results of the I
flood up to a late hour tonight follow:
Train No. 5 of" the Santa Pc, which
left Kansas City at 9:25 a. m. for
Denver, left the tracks at Pomona,
Kas. Of the 10 coaches that made up
the train, four —a baggage car, and
three day coaches —left the track and
slid into 18 feet of water. .The over
turned coaches are supposed to have
been empty. .
Although officials dented that any
one was killed, or injured, a telephone
message tonight reports two persons
Injured.
Pomona Inundated
.Pomona is almost completely Inun
dated, the Marias dcs Cygnes river at
that point being three miles wide. A
relief train was sent from Ottawa to
night with food and other supplies for
the passengers, who are said to have
climbed on top of the coaches to es
cape the rising water.
In Kansas City, the situation is
threatening. In the bottoms in the
western section where are located the
stock yards, wholesale warehouses and
manufacturing plants, the water from
the confluence of the Missouri and
Kansas rivers tonight are iapping the
danger line.
In what are known as the east bot
toms, the authorities hope to avert
damage by closing the sewer flood
gates and by operating a gigantic elec
trical pump.
At Chilllcothe, Mo., on the Grand
river, six men were swept from a
bridge this afternoon and were seen
floating down the st/eam. Whether
they reached shore was not learned.
THOUSAND PASSENGERS
STALLED IN COLORADO
SENT TOWARDJOUTHWEST
DENVER, July 7.—The blockade of
the Denver & Rio Grande railroad at
Echo, 20 miles west of Canon City, a»
a result of the heavy rains and tha
landslides of the last four days, re
mains unbroken tonight. Today tho
thousand westbound passengers who
were stalled yesterday at Canon City
were detoured to Colorado Springs and
sent west over the Midland.
FLOOD FORCES TOWN
TO TAKE TO ROOFS TO
WAIT FOR RELIEF
KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 7.—Pat
tensberg, Mo., a town of 1500 inhab
itants, sixty miles north of here, Is ten
feet under water, and hundreds of
people spent last night perched on the
roofs of their houses. Fifty row boats
were loaded on a special train at Kan
sas City this morning and hurried to
the flooded town and the marooned
citizens removed to places of safety.
Several houses floated away. The rain
continues and the waters are still ris-
Insr.
WALL OF WATER SIX FEET
SWEEPS FORKS OF RIVER
CHILLICOTHE, Mo., July 17.—A
great wull of water, six feet high,
sweeping down both forks of the Grand
river, joined at Utlca, in tlio west part
of Livingston enunty, today, and tha
bottom land! here aro now experiencing
ii Mood far surpassing: that of June.
Railway traclti anil brldgM are washed
out, stock is drowned and people in the;
country have been driven to the roofs
of their houses and some to tree tops.
Several have been rescued In boats and
other resctft parlies are at work.
Several section men are reported
mining*.
William Christian is reported drowned
near ChllUcothe. ,
Arthur Fisk, the station agent at
Qault, whs rescued from the depot to
day after bcinff marooned thirty-six
hours.
THROUGH TRAFFIC ON
RIO GRANDE RESUMED
OGDEN, I tali, July 7.—Through pas
senger traffic on the Rio Grande system
lias been suspended since the disastrous
(Continued on l*age Five)
couple rushed out to obtain a new cer
tificate and arranged to have the min
ister meet them at the courthouse after
the matter had been H'ljustod. How
ever, tho marriage license bureau was
closed and it was round necessary to
rout out the "emergency deputy," Capt.
T. J. Shea, deputy county clerk, who
arranged for the certificate.
Slowly the minutes dragged as the
expectant couple awaited the coming
of the man who was to Bay the magic
words, but he was behind scheduled
time and the votaries of Cupid con
sulted the clock anxiously v they saw
train time approaching and the-neces
sary minister still missing. Finally
the groom-to-be grabbed his proposed
better half by the arm and said, "Come
on, doggone it, it only costs $2 to get
a marriage license. Any one can get
married,. but it does cost a dern sight
more to get back to Omaha." They
then rushed off to get their train and
the Rev. Mr. Bmither arrived a few
seconds later. Now any S one wishing
a perfectly good second-hand marriage
license can apply care '. of emergency
officer and Deputy Hymen T. J. Shea.
Dodge Responsibility for
Escape of Liquor Zone Forgers
■■ ■ .■_ '**%$/■
DISTRICT ATTORNEY J. D. FRED.
ERICKS
THIS COUNTY SATS IT'S UP TO THE
CITY
District Attorney J. D. Fredericks:
"I have taken no action on the -matter.
The case must first come to me through
the city attorney's office. I have re
ceived no official representation of Ir
regularities In the liquor zone petitions.
I shall be ready to act on any informa
tion that conies to me through the
proper channels."
CROOKS FREE, EVIDENCE
GONE, JAIL IS CHEATED
Forgers and Perjurers, Who Circulated Wholesale
Liquor Petition, Go Unpunished — City and
County Officials Deny Obligation to Act
WITH the evidence out of the way a number of persons who
were, fig-uratively speaking, looking straight at the bars of
the jail, are feeling much easier. These are the forgers and
perjurers among those who circulated the wholesale liquor zone ex
tension petition, and who feel themselves safe from prosecution be
cause the petition, with its forgeries and perjuries, has been returned
to the circulators.
The petition, which was prima facie evidence against the forg
ers and perjurers, was returned by the city clerk because the charter
requires it must be returned on request. This is the statement made
by C. L. Wilde, chief deputy city clerk, yesterday. The city attor
ney corroborated the statement that the charter requires the return
of an insufficient petition on the request of the circulators.
Ciey Atorney 1 Hewitt was asked yes«
terday If he intended to take any steps
to prosecute the perjurers and forgers
in connection with the wholesale pe
tition.
"A prosecution of that nature would
have to emanate from the office of the
district attorney." said Mr. Hewitt.
"The city attorney has no jurisdiction
over felonies of this kind."
District Attorney Fredericks, when
questioned about the matter, declared
that his attention had not been called
to the affair and that any prosecution
of the offenders must be initiated by
the city.
Not content with having put them
selves in jeopardy with the first peti
tion, which proved insufficient to make
it mandatory on the city council to
call a special election to extend the
wholesale liquor zone, the backers of
the movement are preparing to circu
late another petition for the extension
of the zone, but will ask that it be
submitted at the next general mu
nicipal election instead of at a special
election called for the purpose.
But there seems to be little likelihood
that the petition will be sufficient even
for a general election. The people at
large do not want the wholesale liquor
zone extended, if any conclusion is
drawn from the fact that not enough
good signatures rould be secured on
the last petition, although it was cir
culated for months, and when first pre
sented and found insufficient the last
minute allowed by law was used to get
more signntures, and even with the
amendment was found to contain an
insufficient number of names to make
the initiative clause of the charter op
erative.
The city clerk had more trouble with
this petition than with any other that
has been presented to tim to check up.
The first petition contained about 4000
signatures, but seven sections had to
be thrown out because the circulators
UNHAPPILY MARRIED
WOMAN KILLS BABY
Former Waitress Confesses to In
fanticide and Attempted Sui
cide, from Which She Is
Scarcely Recovered
SAN FRANCISCO, July 7. — Mrs.
Laura McDonald was held today to
answer before the superior court on a
charge of having murdered her baby
son, Kenneth, last May.
The woman wept bitterly as she told
of marital troubles which led her to
fire a bullet through the baby's body
and then attempt to end her own life
by swallowing poison.
For over a month her life hung by a
thread and she still showed the effects
of the drug when she appeared in court
today.
Mrs. McDonald was a waiteiess be
fore her maVriage and the waltereUM
union is defraying the expenses of her
trial.
SINGING AFTER TEN
O'CLOCK AT NIGHT
DISORDERLY CONDUCT
WASHINGTON, July 7.—"Piano play
ing and singing after 10 o'clock at night
In disorderly conduct, as much no an
curbing and lighting," declared Judge
Ivory <;. Kiniball in the police court to
day. The court announced that here
after a curfew would ring promptly at 10
o'clock and all offender* brought before
him would receive a ftne.
GIT IMP FT? POPrTTC!- on trains, s ce-vts
Oi-ll'^J-ii^ V>VJXXJI(O. ON TRAINS. S CENTS
CITY ATTORNEY LESLIE R. HEW.
ITT
THE CITY SAYS IT'S UP TO THIS
COUNTY
City Attorney Leslie R. Hewitt I "A
prosecution of that nature would bate
to emanate from the office of the dis
trict attorney. • The city attorney has no
Jurisdiction over felonies of that kind.
It does not devolve upon th« city at
torney's office to begin* an action of this
kind. The charge* made are distinctly
of a criminal nature, anil the prosecu
tion must begin elsewhere."
who swore to them were not themselves
qualified electors, or at least their
names did not appear of record on the
great register. The person who swears
to the section of the petition must also
sign the petition, and in his oath de
clares that the signers of the petition
are duly qualified electors. Some of
the sections of the petition were not
attested at all. truthfully or falsely.
Some were signed by a notary, but not
by any one who had signed the peti
tion. When it came to checking up the
petition it was found that many of the
names on the petition were forged, ac
cording to the signatures on tho great
register. Several whose names ap
peared on the petition positively de
nied having signed it. One notable ex
ample of this was Emmett H. Wilson,
chief deputy city attorney.
When the forgeries were thrown out
and after careful work the city clerk's
force found that out of the 4000 or more
signatures the required number of
qualified electors could not be found,
the circulators of the petition were no
tified. They immediately placed the
matter in the hands of Benny Cohn,
who has had much experience in this
kind of work. Cohn and his lieuten
ants made a moat strenuous campaign,
and in the ten days allowed by law for
amendments succeeded in securing
about 2000 more names. When these
were checked up more forgeries were
found In proportion to the number than
had been discovered on the llrst peti
tion. The city clerk promptly notified
the petitioners that they had not the
required number of signatures, and on
their demand returned the petition.
It is not known who was responsible
for the forgeries. The backers of the
movement allege it was the persons
they hired to circulate the petition.
But the evidence is no longer in the
hands of the city authorities, and it
may be difficult to establish the real
criminals.
ARMY BOARD WILL
INVESTGATE DEATH
Mother of Deceased Marine Officer
Declares Her Son Did Not Com.
mlt Suicide as Reported, but
Was Murdered
WASHINGTON, July 7.—Commander
John Hood has been designated the
head of the board which has been ap
pointed to make a section Inquire
ment into the cause of death of Second
Lieut. James A. Sutton of the marine
corps at Annapolis In October, 1907.
The court will assemble at Annapolis
Monday. July 19. MaJ. Henry Leonard
of the marine corps will be judge ad
vocate.
The mother of Sutton declared that
lie was murdered Instead of having
committed suicide, as stated at the
time.
TRAINING SHIP ALERT
SOUTHBOUND TO SAN PEDRO
Will Complete Enrollment of 250 Re.
serves at Southern Ports and
Sail for Ensenada
SANTA BARBARA, July ".—II. B.
training: ship Alert loaves here at mid
night for San Pedro.
She came In this morning with 128
naval reserves aboard and picked up
twelve more here. At San Pedro
San Diego her full compliment of 260
will be reached, and the vessel will ,s ro
to Esenada, Mexico, for target prac
tice.
*^ CEIVTS
ENTHUSIASTIC
CONSOLIDATION
MEETING HELD
EAST SAN PEDRO RESIDENTS
FAVOR MERGER
OPPONENTS OF UNION UNABLE
TO ANSWER ARGUMENTS
Friends of Greater Los Angeles Hear
Unauthenticated Rumors of Dis.
satisfaction Developing In
Wilmington
ARGUMENTS for <onsolidation
clearly put at the meeting: a
Terminal Island pavilion In
San Pedro last night. Aftor
lifs Stewart Laughltn, the <■
man of the evening:, askod if anj
could advance a single argui
ußainst consolidation! but none
advanced. The opinion of the vol
present seemed to be heartily for
BOlldatlon, ;\nd tho suggestion by
of the speakers that at least 200
mlnal votes should be registered *,>
union with Los Angeles was heartily
applauded.
".ruining- the city of San Pedro, the
city of Wilmington and the city of
Terminal with the city of Los Angeles
is i step necessary in making one of
the greatest and most powerful cities of
America," said Mr. Laughlin, in calling
the meeting to order. Tho hall was
tilled before the meeting opened, and
in addition to residents of Terminal
Island there were two ferryloads of Los
Angeles and San Pedro voters who
came over to the meeting.
Btoddard Jess, Thomas E. Gibbon, M.
P. Bnyder, A. P. Fleming and Joseph
Scott were the speakers from Los An
geles, and E. D. Seward, secretary of
the San Pedro consolidation committee,
spoke on behalf of that committee.
To Utilize Pacific
"If any credence is to be placed in
the signs of the times, consolidation
will tarry hands down," said Mr. Jess.
"This question of distribution of pro
ducts which is involved in the making
of a harbor is the world's greatest com
mercial problem. Handling is indus
try's severest handicap. And there is
no place where this means so much to
the future as in Southern California.
The markets for our products are now
more than 2000 miles distant and trans
portation must be over a country con
tributing but little local freight, so that
freight rates are of necessity high.
"We have been unable so far to util
ize this magnificent Pacific ocean, part
ly because of the great distance in
volved in the route around the Horn
and partly because the great portion
of our products is of a perishable char
acter. But here we have all the re
quirements for building a great harbor
which shall fit in with the opportunity to
1 solve this problem and afford a proper
handling- of a tremendous commerce.
"You cannot have commerce without
1 population, but Southern California has
been filling up rapidly. We have a
great p'ty building in Los Angeles.
With the coming of the Panama canal
the building of a great hnrbor will add
many thousands more to our combined
population.
Union Will Harm None
"Tills question of consolidation is a
question of benefit for all—not for the
benefit of a part and the Injury of
others. There is not a person In this
great southwest who will not be bene
fited through the building up of a great
ocean commerce through San Pedro
harbor.
"Los Angeles does not assume to
take anything from you, but asks tho
favor of spending millions at your
doors. And for every dime of benefit
that Los Angeles may get from the
harbor you will get a dollar in profit."
Mr. Gibbon, the second speaker,
called attention particularly to the ad
vantageous position of San Pedro har
bor when the coming diversion of the
routes of ocean commerce by the open
ing of the Panama canal is considered.
He showed that the great circle routo
from the Panama canal to the largo
group of oriental ports which transact)
the commerce for 500,000,000 souls lies
within seventy miles of Deadman'a Is
land, so clo.se that it will be almost
possible to see the smoke of the great
steamers which will take that route.
On the other hand, Mr. Gibbon
showed that San Pedro harbor is
noarer to Salt Lake City, Butte and
Other western territory than San Fran
cisco, while it Is the best situated port
on the Paolflo coast with regard to
railroad connections for distributing
commerce. This combination, he saitl.
should make it Impregnable as a great
Irusiness distributing and collecting
point, providing attainment o^ its
proper position is assured through thu
development of a great public harbor.
Bring European Commerce
Mr. Gibbon showed that this posi
tion once secured would bring groat
Kuropean commerce direct to Los An-
Holes, and this, in turn, would, by of
fering immense cargo space on east
bound voyages, provide cheap enough
outward transportation rates to In
fluence the establishment of manu
factures of commodities which will be
taken by Kuropean trade. He pointed
out the groat necessity for Immediate
construction of a groat harbor to selzw
the opportunity presented, and showod
how necessary also it is that the har
bor be built and controlled by the pub.
lie and not by private interests.
"Commerce doesn't come to a closed
door," he said, and he demonstrated
how the opening of the commercial
door iv San Pedro meant inevitably
the expenditure of millions of dollara
which I. os Angeles stands ready to ex
pend If allowed to do so through con
solidation.
Former Mayor M. P. Snyder referred
t,' lii.s rorollection of the harbor when.
. me in on a boat which landed him
at Wilmington twenty-nine years ago,
when he said that San Pedro and Wil
mington were but mere hamlets and
Los Angeles a town of but 8000 people.
He referred to the growth since that
time and predicted an even greater ad
vance through 00-operative effort of
all the persons most directly concerned.
"The strangest thing to my mind,"
said Mr. Snyder, "is that there ara
any persons living In San Pedro who
oppose consolidation. In Terminal Is
land you are not doing your duty un
less you turn in at least 200 of your
votes for consolidation."
Ferry Greatly Needed
K. P. Seward of San Pedro spok«
mainly on loi U • mnllttons. "Have you
aver realized," he said, "that It
10 cents to ride over here to Terminal
(Continued on fas* Firs) _ .