The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-10-06
The Miami Metropolis
And a Board of Trade.

The Miami Metropolis accuses The
Journal OF mistaking ''candor for pes
simiSm.'' because we recently applied
the latter term to our contemporary
expression OF doubt concerning the or
ganiZation OF a state board of trade,
ct IL not pessImistic to understand at
the outset the character OF an under
taking declares the Metropolis. 1T
IS rather the better part of optimism
to have comprehensive appreciation
OF the difficulties to be dealt with and
10 be prepared TO meet or obviate
them from the start"
We are truly glad TO know that that
is the view we should have taken of
the opinion formerly expressed. And
this is an assurance that the Metropo-
lis will do its full share toward over
coming every obstacle and aiding the
formation of a business body which
would be of more service to Florida,
If composed Of the right material,
than any other one thing we can think
Of
jure up before its mind unnecessary
bugaboos. Why should it be down
hearted because Georgia or any other
state failed in getting the right sort
OF men to run its Chamber of Com
merce? Right here In Florida there
has been lamentabIe failure so far
as the state board of trade organized
three years ago IS concerned. But that
should be no criterion. Suppose the
sterling body of men who compose
the California board OF trade, which
has given that state wide and pro-
ductive advertisement, had looked
around for the failures of others and
permitted their contemplation to send
a spasm of terror to their hearts
What unfortunate results would have
followed: abandonment Of the project,
no doubt. and an inestimable loss to
the great golden commonwealth OF
the Pacific coast.
Let US look on the brighter side.
Il may be that the better part of
valor is discretion but, at the same
time, we cannot help thinking that
true optimism would induce our
esteemed contemporary to call to
mind successes rather than failures
and to base on them perfect faith
In the capacity and the willingness OF
the brainy and patriotic business men
Of Florida to give their time and at
tention and even q portion of their
worldly wealth toward the establish
ment of this board.
In its concluding paragraph the
Metropolis declares:
We have noticed that the newspa-
pers OF the state have chimed in with
paragrHphic lack OF solidity, that the
state board Of trades q good thing
and that T. Albert Jennings is q good
man, The Metropolis is quite willing
to agree with these light remarks OF
the frat" but We haven't seen an
Dsactical suggestions yet-not ever
from The Journal. The Journal says
get to work. We might make the
same retort. We have our man read!
10 help you with this board of trade
and he is the only citizen in the STATE
who has come forward with an en-
couraging word for it. So, get bus!
yourself, Mr.. Journal, and trot GU
your delegates.
It Is scarcely the part OF the pres
to dictate the method to be pursue'
in effecting the organization; but VI
think II should originate with dele
gates chosen by the various loca
commercial organizations, these dele
gates In convention to formulate
pIan of organization and lay out
program of the work to be undertaken
The main point is to impress upol
each OF the local boards to appoint N
man to represent it who is not know
TO be heart and soul devoted nrSt
last and all the time to the interest
of his state and is one Of those pre-
destined boosters who, Ike poets, ar
born, not made" OF this class. with
out doubt. is the Miami gentleman re
ferred TO by the Metropolis,
This country is said 70 be on tn
eve of a period OF unexampled pros
perity, Every sign points TO the full