The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-01-20
Good Roads VS..
Sectional Prejudice.

me 81 Augustine heCOru mas DScu
seeing things. 1t assumes to think
that conspiracy has existed or now
exists somewhere over here in West
Florida against the balance OF the
state, and it proposes a plan to make
us all satisfied with our lot and to in
still a spirit of brotherly love between
the several sections of Florida which
it likewise assumes are now antagon-
istic.
We do not agree with the premises
laid down by our contemporary in this
argument at all, but It's conclusions. if
carried into effect, would be of such
value to the state that we agree
y..eartiiy with them despite the fact
that they are, in this particular case,
evolved from wrong premises. We
quote the Record in full as follows:
The senatorial candidates are arous-
ing something OF a sectional feeling
in the state which we deplore since
protests cannot avail. For many years
our neighbors Of the west were fond
of threatening to run over into Ala
bama whenever a difference arose
among MISUNDERSTANDING nobody is
scared by such a proposition now and,
therefore, this has gone out of date.
But the sectional feeling fingers and IL
Mr.. Blount had continued his candt
dacy it might have developed into
startling proportions. We do not be-
lieve that the west has received less
than her. share of political honors
since there was time when she came
very near monopolizipg the most de-
sirable places-let them remember
the past and be content for others to
have a day in court. East and South
Florida supported Bloxham and Perry
and Call in their day and the middle
and the west can come In again for
their own whenever, they like. The
main point is that Florida should feel
herself q whole and not thing of
patches and parts.
Now there is a remedy for these d.
visions that must be applied; when
we have a few more circuits of good
roads for a practical demonstration we
shall insist on trunk highway from
Pensacola to Miami by way Of binding
all our Jewels on string like the
pearls on a necklace for the beauty
we all love. During the civil war
transcontinental railroad was planned
to obviate the possibility of a seces-
sion OF the Pacific slope; Washington
and Jefferson projected a system OF
roadways to keep the state together
oven In the beginning. Our wisest
see now and saw then the bonds OF
our friendship and the pledges Of COM
munity of interests and the principles
apply to counties as well as to states
and to our peninsula as truly as to
continent.
Give us highway down the length
of the state and many prejudices will
disappear as wisaom grows and &C
quaintance ripens; let the cotton
planters come down among our groves
and find that we are members Of the
same family and one In love as IN
blood. Set our business running on
that road and the ch44dren Of all Sec
tions will meet with pride ON a COM
mon possession animated by the same
feelings OF patriotism and mutual de-
votion. Let them do business with
one another and fall in love with each
other-the sooner they realize their
common interests and their seeming
differences the better for all of us.
Good roads is the instrument that
will make us one-why should a can
didate have praise or blame because
he comes from South Florida or West
Florida? Why should not Pensacola
love Key West as warmly as she loves
Tallahassee and why should Jackson
vile love Tampa better than she loves
Pensacola? Politicians may think it
is all In the game but we should make
them understand that they are not
pleasing us when they foment our
prejudices and seek to increase our
prejudices for their personal benefit.
From all Of which we are led to as
sumo that some one has been "foment-
ing" the Records 'prejudices" We
have no idea who he was or why he
did 1t, but We are glad to know that
the Record refuses to "foment' and
that, on the other hand, its idea of
the value of good roads is so clearly
defined. 1t is for the good roads argu-
ment in the above that We publish it,
and we endorse that argument with
out reserve. Give us this string and
Pensacola will be the biggest pearl on
the necklace.