The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-05-30

the liquor element, how comical it
looks TO see localities in which the
liquor element pleads even for high
license? The fact is. tEle element, IN
such instances, is on the run, and
looks back, pleading for compromise.
Now. that which is wanted, that
which the good people of Florida need
TO do, us to keep GilchTfst and the
element on the run VIII we do it?
The eventful day of June Is Will tell
Perhaps never before In Florida S
history did the people have such au
opportunity. Perhaps never before.
We're such unomentOus interests at
stake. And Yet, as would seem, per-
haps thousands of our people are in
al all but hypnotic sleep. VIII they
awake in time? Many We believe.
Will do so, as some have done already.
But the question is one that is ire
Dlendously serious. Besides. many
| have stumbled and are still stumbling
over the question CT the relative quail
ity Of character as between Stockton
and GilchriSt. Whereas, that is not
now the question.
The sole question now is the prin-
ciple involved; or, if we please. the
platform. Many Of US believe that
as his platform or declaration OF prin-
ciples. But, whether this is the case
or not. it cannot now be considered.
II would be now too late to get an
other man; and, at any rate, the prin-
ciple is the great concern. Let even
Gllch1iSt get right in principle and get
out of alignment with the liuIgor in
tereStS, and how changed would be
the situation,
If Stockton should come into this
writer's place of business. as GiI0hrist
personally. did, a few weeks ago in
the interest of his C..~didacy. and
when approached as to mis- stand on
the liquor queStiCn-if Stockton SHOULD
show himself to be essentially. and to
all intents and purposes. a really
booze candtdate--as Gilchrist then ami
! there did--in a quarter of an hours
| collOquy-it matters not what shall
| transpire as to his character. The
| principle as therein displayed would
settle it.
| One word about local option. The
| liqTCr element very we'll knows that
aside from the mater of the larger
cities containing an unusual amount
! or the contingent caned foreign -
| there Is a something about cities that
| initiates against purity and a high
/ 80 u CI 1ESTdlS. so IliEfl so
| deed. as to render Su0n aggregatiOns
as becoming next to incar4abIe of self
! government. And there eventuates
| the truism that without exception
what the historian, DeTOcGueville. sail
Of prospective America. is being nain-
| fully Yerlfied-when this country shall
| have increased, or shall have been
segregated into large cities, local self
government is at an end, or words
TO that effect.
| Once more. as may he known.
| Orange county a few months ago on
tered the dry" column Well. here
is an illustration of local option. Some
ten days ago. Orlando decided. bv it's
Sunday schools. 70 send a train LOAF
Of picnicers to Tampa All went well
III going, but how about the return ?
As might be expected, owing 10 ex-
iceedingly favorable rates. not all who
| went were Sunday school children
Some, indeed, were those who have
been giving good promise or a new
grip on life. because of changed C.Cn-
dIuons- But Tampa was too much for
them. The baggage car was turned
into menagerie, and we'll nigh rhe
| whole train-well, this writer yOIun-
| tarily relinquished his cherished seat
and thencefOrth rested himself on the
| edge of seats, in safe. or respectable.
| quarters to the point of destination.
| This might be called local ontion
| with a vengeance II was local As
TO Tampa and "OptiCn" as to sending
drunkenness over the rest of the state.
This, as all know. is precisely what
brought state prohibition to our proud
Isister-pace-makin state-Georgia- Il
was such cities as Savannah. AMI
others. perpetuaHy and persistently
and aggressively, nay defiantly, forcing
end coercing. 50 10 speak. their rum
| into every nook and corner of Georgia.
| dry or not dry. No. it was an out
rage, nay more, a crime-for Tampa,