The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-11-16
JOE MITCHELL cHAPPLE.

Joe Mitchell Chapple. Editor of the Ma
Mr.. President. Ladies and G1entlemen:
When I crossed the threshold Of your
magnificent hotel this evening. and learn
ed the story Of its construction. by and
for the people Of Pensacola. 1 felt indeed
that a typical Southern welcome was &C
corded to the wayfaring magazine man;
indeed. here am at the collective homes.
as 1t were. of the people of the Queen
City 81 the Gulf. for there are few homes.
I understand, that are not represented in
this splendid architectural monument of
West Florida and Southern progress.
One might we'll imagine himself in the
Waldorf Astoria. the Carelton-R Ritz, or
world -important centers, but for the pc
culiar air Of old-time Southern hospital
ity that seems to pervade the very at
one feel that he is at the festive board
of one Of those romantic turnpike inns
where strangers soon become friends and
The great wave Of information flowing
from such meetings this waterway VS.
gathering is vital factor in the progress
discussions Of this convention may have
been l do not know. nor do I know how
for the great Undertaking you are en-
that with such gentlemen to control the
destinies Of your organization as Senator
Fletcher-for have we not all seen at
tial manner in which he has represented
the State Of Florida and the nation. do
ing his part on all occasions to fulfill in
upon him by the Peninsula state? It's
success is ACQUIRED beyond peradventure.
A FAMILIAR FACE.
Another familiar face to me this even
ing is that of Congressman Small In
Washington they say that there is moth
ing small about Small except his name.
who is doing things for the SOUTH. ''''''
The speakers Tonight have touched
upon the great work on the Isthmus.-the
the Panama Canal last MAY. 1t seemed
forsooth that the world map had been
turned topsy-turvy. And you. Admiral
Younge. will soon find the old sea routes.
milton. The wedding of the earth's two
greatest oceans will weld the commerce
Of the world. 1t will bring the Western
land three days nearer the mother coun-
try, and Western South America in direct
COMMUNICATION with our own Atlanti &c
States than to any other part Of the ma
ton. 1t will mean more to Pensacola
than many OF you dream.
Congressman Small has suggested that
this waterways project is no longer a
dream: surely. not. the dream has to
precede the achievement--the cotton gin.
the locomotive. the reaper. the sewing
machine. the telegraph and the telephone,
all have been the result of dreams-but
throughout the length and breadth OF
the country. the Mississippi to the At
lantic Waterway, like Belboa's dream OF
| a united Atlantic and Pacific, is very soon
to be a dream realized
The genius Of the age is business and
commerce The genius of commerce Is
exploitation and transporta ton. The
genius Of transportation is information
such as you are spreading on the rolli
and records Of this organization and dis
| seminating throughout the country.
| The great project Of American water
| ways. beginning at the Great Lakes or
the north. sweeping down the MISSISSIPPI
| to the Crescent City. across the Peninsula
| Of Florida. up through the intra- coasta
| water channels of the Atlantic to tbs
| rock bound coast of Maine. leaves the
1 keystone Of this great WATERWAYS arch
| resting on the shores of the Cult