The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-08-24
False Charges Refuted
By The Journal.


vate opinion about those editors who
do not read its columns. In its
egOtism it may think they miss a
mighty good thing-we are all of us
weak minded when IL comes to meas
uTing up our own Importance But
we will not say the reason for their
neglect has been because they were
asleep, nor yet would we declare that
that neglect has been in the nature
Of a Joke" on them We do say,
however, that when they fail to i'm
bibe our wisdom they run risk when
they criticize our acts of omission or
commission.
For behold two exchanges from our
beloved brethren which reached The
Journals table this morning contain
unwarranted charges that The Jour
nal has been mapping, that there was
jOke-though a poor one-on The
Journal. And the reason assigned for
| these accusations is that we were ig-
| noTant of the fact that "once in the
| flight of ages past" an organization
was formed known as the Florida
state board of trade. Before crush
ing these critics, let us see what they
| have to say This is from the Jack
sonviIle Times Union:
The OcaIa Banner editor has a good
memory. He says: Have the Pen
sacOla Journal, Orlando Reporter
Star and some other Of our state ex-
changes been taking a nap? They
say that one Of Florida's great needs
is a state board of trade. We have
had a state board of trade for several
years. 1t was organized in this ciAy
and Mr.. Samuel A. Rawls, now of
Jacksonville, was made its president"
Most FIOFidians, including, we truly
believe. the founders OF that move
ment, have forgotten the State Board
of Trade. At the time 1t was organ
lied the Times Union, although in
favor of the establishing of such an
institution, predicted truly, as subse-
Quent events proved that the first
meeting would also be the last-and
thereby aroused the ire of several of
its contemporaries. But, I'VE told you
So" Afterward we tried to arouse
this board of trade to the Importance
of holding a meeting to pronounce the
voice Of the state on q matter on
which all Floridians were agreed, but
our appeal seemed to fall on deaf
ears. We suspect Editor Harris OF
sarcasm.
And this is from the Miami Me-
tropolis:
It's a poor joke, Wen confess, but
yet the joke is on The Pensacola
Journal and the Orlando Reporter
Star. These papers have been print
ing paragraphs calling attention to
the need for a State Board of Trade,
having evidently forgotten that a
State Board Of Trade was organized
some three years ago. This meeting
was held at Ocala, We believe, and
delegates attended from several
cities The State Board of Trade did
nothing. 1t died just as many other
such movements died, from sheer
lack of life.
Let us add, however, that we appre-
ciate the further assertion Of the Me-
trOpolis that it is with US in spirit
and will lend hand in establishing a
bureau devoted to the Industrial and
agricultural upbuilding Of the state
free from partisan and political in
f1uences."
Now here is The Journals para
graph" about the need OF a board of
trade which was published in several
issues: IF any state ever needed 3
WIDE AWAKE AND ACTIVE board
of trade that state is Florida" And
subsequently when commencing edi-
torially the support given this view
by the Orlando Reporter Star, the
following was said:
Florida, about three years ago, did
possess a board of trade. Politics or
some other equally evil influence got
the better of il, however, and like
several other good intentions" II
went to help pave the roadway to
you know where. But such a board,
conducted on business principles, with
members who will brace up to think
4 little less about themselves and q
great deal more about the state, is
what Florida needs. From a COM
mercial standpoint it needs few things
quite so much.
So We cannot see that there is much