The age-herald., 1901-01-21
WEST FLORIDA IS
 FOR ANNEXATION Mass Meeting Held in Pensacola
 Last Wednesday PRACTICAL STEPS TAKEN Committees Will be Sent to the Leeis- latures of Both States to Urge AA Action-The Sentiment
 is Growing.
PRACTICAL STEPS TAKEN

Sentiment favorable to the annexation of the western portion Of Florida to Alabama continues to grow in both States, and the movement towards that end which was started some time ago is assuming tangi- ble shape.
 At a mass meeting of the citizens of Pen sacola, held on last Wednesday to discuss the subject, great enthusiasm was aroused and the first practical steps taken towards annexation.
 Among the speakers at the mass meeting was Richard H. Fries, former member of the Birmingham bar, now resident of Pensacola. MT Fries is one of the leading spirits in the movement, and on a recent visit here expressed the opinion that the people of west Florida would vote favor able to the action.
 The Pensacola Meetinq.
 The Pensacola News of Thursday gives the following report of the meeting:
 More than 100 delegates and citizens of West Florida and Pensacola assembled in the Circuit Court room last night in re- sponse to the call of the president of Pen sacolas two commercial bodies to consider and discuss the subect of the annexation of West Florida to Alabama. President w. K Hyer Jr., of the Young Mems Business League, called the meeting to order, and President w. A. Blount of the Chamber of Commerce was unanimously chosen to act as chairman. MT. Frank L. Mayes of the Daily Journal was chosen secretary
 The purpose of the meeting-called in pursuance of instructions to their respective presidents by the commercial bodies-hav- boo,, .l,. for expressions of opinion and information on the subject, Hon. J. J. Sullivan, chair man of the special committee on annexation of the League, responded in excellent address, replete with facts, illustrations and arguments in favor of the annexation scheme.
 Judge Walter Tate followed, urging that efforts be made to ascertain the sentiments of the members-eect to the Florida Legis- lature on the subject.
 West Florida Unanimous.
 MT. John Thomas Porter of Jackson Coun- ty, being called upon, stated that he had always been in favor of annexation, having in August last, in his paper-The Echo-pre- dicted the agitation of the question as a logical result of the capital removal con- test; and he now predicted the practical unanimity of the people of West Florida in favor of the project.
 Judge F. B. Bonifay made an interesting and humorous speech, comparing west Florida-in the estimation of the people of the other sections of the State-to what is known among stockmen as a .harridick. :" He closed by stating that he was born in Florida, that his father was born in Flor ida, and his grandfather came to Florida when very young, but that notwithstand- ing these facts, he is strongly in favor of the annexation of west Florida to Alabama.
 Rev. Percival H. Whaley, rector of Christ (EpiscopaD Church, was called up- on and responded eloquently, calling par tcular attention to the fact that the Ro- man Catholic and Methodist inhabitants of west Florida are a part of the diocese and conference of Alabama, having noth- ing In common with those of Florida.
 MT c. P. Lynch, speaking for Washing ton County, argued from the standpoint that west Florida naturally suffered in it's rights to adequate harbor and river im- provements because of the extensive coast line of the State, the Congressional dele- gation at Washington being thereby ham, pered in obtaining due recognition of the States needs at particular localities.
 In Sympathy With Alabama.
 Hon. John G. Ruge of Apalachicola, rep resenting Franklin County strongly advo- cated annexation for similar and other reasons, and assured the meeting of the support of the people of his county.
 Chairman Blount being called upon to speak, responded in one of his happiest ef- forts-clear, logical and comprehensive His comparison of the respective appropriations for harbor improvements of Pensacola and other gulf ports was forcibe and just, and his picture of the lack of interest and senti- ment between West Florida and the rest of the State was graphic and convincing.
 Richard IT Fries active ohar of the League special committee, spoke elo- quenty of the state of feeling on the sub ject existing in Alabama, where he resided for several years, and to which State he