The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-12-18
To Do Battle
For Pensacola.

TOT FcIlSdCOid.
The Chamber OF Commerce is al
koxether in the right The resolutions
adopted Tuesday were none too
strong. They were virile and to the
point; ringing with determination
the slTest forerunner OF success. Now
uet these resolutions be carried out
to the letter; let communications be
addressed to the commercial bodies
pf all southern cities protesting
against the expenditure by the govern
cnent of vast sum OF money for the
equipment and maintenance of a
great navy yard at Guantanamo, Cuba.
while similar institutions are neglect
ed at Southern ports of the United
States, ports more suitable and where
their activities would rebound to the
good of the people of the United
States. s.+ls.
There Is no time for dilIy dallying
in the matter. The general navy
board has declared Its intention of
agnoring the claims of Pensacola for
the enlargement of its yard and buiI-
ing Of craving dock. Immediate
pressure must be brought to bear to
secure reversal of this decision.
Congress must be appealed to. No
avenue of attack must be neglected.
Right is on our side, for no govern
ment is justified in neglecting the
welfare of its own people. by refus-
ing to develop to the fullest extent
the possibilities of one of its best lo-
rated deepest and most extensive
ports in order to enrich foreigners and
pccupy station whose superiority
with respect TO strategical availability
is very questionable.
In Pearson's Magazine for Deem
Der there appears an article by Henry
Reuterdahl under the title president
Roosevelt and the Nays Renaissance.
1t will be recognized, TO be sure, as
one OF the many magazine boosts
which have been intended to make
Roosevelt famous. for so far as the
"navy's renaissance" goes, everyone is
aware that 1t occurred under Cleve-
lands administration when William.
G. Whitney was secretary of the navy.
But. nevertheless, the article proves
Very clearly what monumental mis-
takes have been made by the navy
department In the past: how millions
upon millions have been squandered
upon naval establishments at points
where improper location and natural
disadvantages Indicate that their Sc
lection was the result of political pull
on the one hand playing upon misin-
formation on the part of the powers
that be.
One instances cited is that of the
training station on Lake Michigan
near Chicago. ut will ultimately cost
millions" says Mr.. Reuterdahl. "One
third OF the year the climate is not
suitable for out-of-door work. For
four months OF the year there can he
no drills. afoat. the lake is frozen or
filled with pack ice. The station is
10 train men for battIeships, but our
treaty with Great Britain forbids the
maintenance of modern man-of-war
on the Great Lakes"
May not the proposed establishment
at Guantanamo prove as serious a
blunder as the one on Lake Michigan?
Truly. the people OF Pensacola have
a Just right to feel aggrieved that
their magnificent harbcr, open the
year round and blessed with the most
equahle and delightful climate in the
world. was ignored when the station
On frozen Lake Michigan was ordered,
although that is within the confines
of their own country. How much
greater should be their righteous in
dignation should the government
sgain slight their city and lend it's
aid for the advantage of a foreign
port which. besides it remoteness, is
often cursed by overwhelming torrid
heat.
The Journal repeats that the Cham
Der Of Commerce Is to be praised for
Its determination to avert this calam-
lty. It should have the sympathy
and aid OF every city of the South.
II is bent upon preventing a great
wrong and should most surely triumph
when it champions so Just cause.
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