The Pensacola journal., 1907-05-03
Special to -he Journal.

SPECIAL TO -he Journal.
Tallahassee, Fla, May 2--Yester-
day afternoon Witnessed The closest
contest which the legislature of 1907
has so far produced. and was 4 vic
tory for the county diyisionisrs Of
HillsbOrough. The motion to iudefi-
aung the county of Pinellas was
lost by vote of 26 TO -. So close
was tho vote all the way down that
4 1t was several minutes before the re-
suit was appreciated. and the an
nOuncement Of the vote was received
with loud applause by the division
lists and their friends.
The debate on the bill commenced
at $40 p. m, when Chairman Melton
OF the house committee on city ana
county organization made a motion TO
indefinitely postpone the bill. a duty
which the rules of the house impose
upon the chairman of a committee re-
! porting bill unfavorably. Mr. Deck
er OF Hillsborough. the author Of the
! bill. made d brief speech against the
motion, and was followed by mis- col
/ league. and for the present lis IN
tagOnist. Mr.. Dudley, who pTedicatcd
| his objections upon his belief that
| eighty per cent of the people Of his
county were opposed TO the division,
and not more than twenty per cent
We're in favor OF it. His speech was
we'll delivered. and received close at
tention- He argued that III a distri-
button of offices and in all matters
pertaining TO the county government
the west coast. the proposed county
of Pinellas, has been treated fairly,
and had no just cause for desiring
! y M ali
was upon the democratic principle of
majority rule, which he declared was
as firm as the rock of Gibraltar. and
by which the Legislature should be
guided in its disposition of the ILL.,
/ He regretted very much he said TO
have to disagree with his colleague,
fO- whom he entertained the highest
regard. but felt that his duty TO the
county he represented, compelled him
to oppose the measure.
Mr. Decker Talks.
Mr.. Decker, in support of his bill,
read a typewriter speech OF some
length. in which he covered very thor
Oughly the reasons of the divisiOnists
in asking fer the creation of the pro-
posed county. He disclaimed that the
measure was intended to injure Hills
borough county, or the people Of the
west coast were hostile to Tampa, for
which they entertained a just pride
which should never fail. He present
ed statistics showing the populate
and wealth of the proposed new cOun-
ty and spoke at length of its progress
and enterprise, giving many of the
details connected with the business
interests of the west coast towns,
their growth and their prospect for
the future. In return he expressed
appreciation of Mr.. Dudley'S honesty
in opposing the bill, but stated that
he was misguided, introducing a. this
iUncture petitions signed by several
hundred labOTing men of Tampa fav-
Oring the division, arguing that Mr.
Dudley was mistaken in thinking that
all of the people on his side OF the
bay were opposed to division. He de-
MED that the proposed division would
iujure the prestige of IIillsbOrOugh
county. saying no one could doubt
that even without the west coast the
Banner County" would soon resume
its place as first in wealth and Dopu-
l5tiOn of the state. He appealed to
the legislature to give to the people
Ot the proposed new county what they
justly asked at their hands
Other Speakers.
Mr. Parkinson of Volusia and Mr.
Paul of Holmes, who with Mr.. Nc
CUtcheOn of Pasco and Mr. Decker.
signed a minority report in favor If
the bill, both spoke against its in
definite pOstpOnement Mr.. Paul max
ing a motion TO lay the previous mo-
tiOn on the table, but withdrew it
Immediately upon the objection of Mr.
MacWilliams of St. Johns that il
would shut off debate. Nj Paul
spoke very briefly, declaring his be
lief that the people of The FinellGs
peninsula had d righteous cause, and
the legislature should give them what
they asked Mr. Parkinson expressed
the same opinion at greater length.
holding that the legislature should
decide the case upon its merits, and
not upon the question of whether i
aiOrity of the people of the county
desired il or not. saying that the
thirteen colonies reyOlted without ask
ing the consent of the majority of the
people of Great Britain. and that the
Southern States seeded without ask
ing the consent of a majority of the
people of the North. The consJitu- |
tiOn empowered the Legislature to Gre /
ate new counties in order to prevent /
a majority from imposing upon the /
and to secure TO the minor /
ity local self government. He was /
deciding this case on its merits. ir- /
of whether ii helped or /
hindered his prospects of securing /
the passage of his bill for the division .
Of VolUsia county.
Some of Mr.. Parkinson's remarks !