The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-01-30
Should Be No Let Up
In Strenuous Opposition.

George l.. Drew was chairman OF q
committee sent by the Jacksonville
board of trade to appear before the
senate subcommittee in Washington
in favor OF the Tallaferro naval stora
bill. The gentleman has recently
been interviewed by the Jacksonville
Metropolis, and in what he said per-
mitted his zeal to overcome his judg-
ment. In fact he stated in so many
words that the trade organizations of
the entire pine belt-substantially
every one of them-had been arTayed
in opposition to the bill by the Ameri-
can Naval Stores company.
Mr.. Drew paid his particular re-
spects to the Pensacola Chamber of
Commerce in this connection, deelar-
ing its recent action to have been in
spired by the trust" IL is a wonder
the gentleman did not also attack
the integrity of the newspapers who
opposed the measure and announce
them TO be paid hirelings of the big
naval stores company. Such a claim
would have been about as near the
mark as the one he made against Pen
sacoIa's commercial body and would
scarcely have caused greater surprise
among our people. But it will be we'll
to read Mr.. Drew's remarkable state
ment, just as he made it.:
The combine watch has done so
much to demoralize conditions in
Florida, however, continued Mr..
Drew. "has done its work with usual
thoTOughness. The independent ope-
Tators of Savannah have been made
to think that the passage OF the bill
viii mean ruin for their city, and
similar impressions have been given
ia trade organizations throughout the
pine belt. The board of trade OF.
Pensacola, as an illustration, sent up
a protest"
Everyone in Pensacola knows, and
The Journal wishes everyone else to
know, that the Chamber of Commerce
passed its protest because a majority
of its members saw in the Taliaferro
bill a direct menace to the interests
OF their city, a great injustice to ope-
rators and dealers throughout the
belt who would suffer delay and ex-
pense in the transaction Of their bus
mess, and moreover, an interference
on the part of the federal government
with matter which the states have
full power and capacity TO handle
with economy and entire satisfaction.
The naval stores trust had nothing TO
DO with this action.
1t mas been stated and is believed
by many that the bill was proposed
In order TO favor Jacksonville. From
the excessive ardor displayed by the
board of trade of that city, unsupport-
cd by any other organization save,
possibly and very naturally, the board
OF trade of Tampa, one is much in,
clined to join those who believe in
the disingenuousness of tie measure.
It is gratifying TO note that the
Weekly Industrial Record, of Jackson
vile, cannot endorse the bill as it
now stands. That paper thinks the
government should regulate the intra
state shipments of naval stores, but
objects 10 the inspection feature of
tde measure. But it is not easy TO see
Row the bill can be satisfactorily
broad ground that il should be killed.
That the states should be left to sup
GgvIse the markings and shipments of
the stOres--a duty they are fully Cd
pahle of performing This ground
most assuredly has not been taken
because of sympathy with the trust. .
for The Journal always has been and
always will be irrevoeabIy opposed %
every combination made in restraint
Of trade.
Il may be that our absolute indie
PenIence may not be appreciated by
those who viii step aside from The
ST 'aight path of principle and right
c,.Us conclusion in order 10 gain an
advantage, but it is nevertheless a
fact We most assuredly take the
part of Pensacola when an action is
attempted which will injure its com.
merce-an action which is repugnant
TO our sense Of justice and coneep-
ton of the equitable and harmonious
administration of the state and ma
tionai prerogatives. But we take such
q stand simply because it is right
r.. Poliafey-r0 hill Is clearly an on