The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-09-15
A PLEA FOR JUSTICE TO
JACKSONVILLE.
(Dixie.)
. . . . . . . . . . = . = I


in the State of Florida, by which
Jacksonville is severely criticised for
having more than its share of public
officials of the State.
This has famed into a flame rather
vigorously in some sources and it
bears the brand of such absolute I'M
fairness to this large and generous
community that it ought to be allayed.
Jacksonville wants the good will
of all of the people OF Florida outside
of its boundaries.
: 1t deserves the good opinion OF the
people Of the State of Florida, and 1
am sorry that for some mistaken rea-
son, any feeling of hostility what
soever should arise from any section
of the State Of Florida directed against
the people of the city of Jacksonville
for something in which they are not
at fault and do not deserve one atom
of censure.
The way to satisfy some Of our
critics who might otherwise be our
good friends, is to relate some of the
Office holding conditions that would
run back, say, a period of ten or
twelve years.
This would be a fair period to con-
slider, because there has been more in
stances in which Jacksonville has had
several office holders during that
period than any other ten or twelve
years at any time prior thereto
1 will make an exception of this
proposition with respect to the gov
ernorship. because that is the highest
State once in the gift Of the people
of Florida.
In that, I will go back thirty years.
can remember when Governor
Perry was the chief executive of the
State. and from then, on down to the
present day.
Perry was from Pensacola; Bloxham
from Tallahassee; Fleming from Jack
sonviile; Mitchell from Tampa: Biloxi
ham again, from Tallahassee; Jen-
nfngs from Brooksville: Broward from
Jacksonville; Gilchrist from Punta
Gorda, and Trammell from Lakeland.
Thus, in a period of thirty years
or so, there were two governors out
of nine incumb ents, from the city Of
Jacksonville.
| can remember that the office of
secretary of State, an Tallahassee, has
been filled for twenty-five or thirty
years by the Honorable John L.
Crawford, deceased, and now by H. G.
Crawford, both Of whom were claimed
by Wakulla county originally.
The comptre11er's Office from the
time of Bloxham, of Tallahassee, was
filled by Reynolds of Lakeland, Groom
of Brooksville and now in the hands
of Knott, formerly of Leesburg.
The attorney generals Office showed
from the time of Lamar of Monticello.
through the administration of the of
fee by Whitfield, afterwards Ellis of
Quincy, and Tramuell of Lakeland,
and now West, of Milton, a com
plete recognition Of citizens from every
part Of the State other than Jackson
vile.
In the Office Of superintendent Of
public instruction, through the several
terms Of Sheats Of Gainesville, came
Holloway, Of Gainesville, and now
again Sheats, elected while a citizen
Of Lakeland
The State treasurer showed the in
cumbency Of Collins of Ocala, Whit
field of Tallahassee, Knott, formerly
from Leesburg and now of Tallahassee.
and LtIning, the present incumbent, a
citizen Of Leesburg
In the office of commissioner of ag-
riculture, it was womble of West
Florida, McLin OF South Florida, and
now McRae, of Mariana.
The State chemist has been and is a
South Florida man, and the adjutant
general was General Houston, a West
Florida citizen, and now General
Foster, OF st. Augustine
The supreme court shows how the
State Of Florida has at least pre-
ferred to make it's selection from every
other part Of the State, except in the
instance Of Judge Cockrell from the
city Of Jacksonville.
The personnel Of that court for
many many years was Rainey of Tai
1ahassee, Liddon Of Mariana, Carter
of Mariana, Maxwell of Pensacola,
Parkhill of Pensacola and Mabry IF
Leesburg, all of the same having
either died or resigned.
OF the present judges of the su-
preme court, we have Judges Whitfield
of Tallahassee, Hooker of Ocala,
Taylor Of Gainesville, Shackelford Of
Tampa, and the solitary instance
above mentioned-Cockrell, of Jack
sonviIle.
1t is true that Jacksonville has had
for a few years two citizens in the
office of United States senator.
Since Senator Fletcher entered the
upper branch of congress, and with
his contemporary, James P. Taliaferro,
who also was a citizen of Jackson
Vile, from that time about six years
ago, these two Offices have been in
the hands Of Jacksonville citizens.
That does not of itself show any
inordinate greed from the Jackson |
vile standpoint when you consider all
the other conditions as above stated.
Jacksonville managed to elect Gov !
ernor Broward, of Jacksonville, over !
Senator Taliaferro, of the same city |
as u. s. senator.
1t was when Senator Bryan beat |
William A. Blount by not much over
five hundred votes in the State, that /
it really brought US to the charge Of