The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-03-04
JOHN P. STOKES
PRINCIPAL SPEAKER
Says He Will Introduce and
Work For the Charter the
People Approve Today,
But Urges the Voters to
Reject the Semmes Char
ter = @ t h er Speeches
Along the Same Line.

80
Demonstrating their antagonism 10
the Semmes committee charter in an
endeavor to show that 1t is not one
that will give the people OF Pensacola
a representative form of government
five speakers representing the Repre-
sentative Government league. consumed
about two hours time in delivering ad-
dresses in Seville square last night.
which were heard by several hundred
who were enthusiastic. State Senator
John p. Stokes was again the princi-
pal speaker and in his talk he said
that he would work for the passage OF
the Sefnmes charter in the Legislature
IL it is adopted in the special election
today, although, he said the Evening
News tried to malign him.
Phillip d. Beall. assistant United
States district attorney, was the first
to speak. He said that in the Even
ing News the question was asked
where is the money comine from that
is being spent by the supporters of the
Jones charter Mr. BeaIi said the
money was coming from his own and
other members of the leagues pockets.
The Semmes committee supporters.
said Mr.. Beall, are spending more
money than the Jones supporters and
asked where is the money coming from
that Is being spent in an endeavor 70
have the Semmes committee charter
adopted.
He said that at a recent meeting OF
the Senmes committee chaTter sup
porteFs, he heard Mr. Semmes say that
he had never seen anything off-color
IN the present administration. but IN
a few minutes later he said the admin
istra ton was Shiny"
Mr.. Sen1nies, said the speaker, is Il
member of a corporation, the Export
Fuel & Ice Company, and asked if that
company did not have a board of dt-
rectors. He wanted to know if it was
necessary TO have a board Of directors
to direct the affairs OF two-by-four
coal company why was 1t not neces-
sary that a board of directors be elect
ed to manage the affairs of the. city,
as provided in the Jones charter.
Mr.. BINGHAM SPEAKS.
F. F. Bingham, a member of the
board of bond trustees. said that the
board of bond trustees had always
sought to secure the wishes of the
people and the city council on mat
ters before them. He saiJ that the
original municipal dock ordinance was
drafted by Mr.. Harp, but later was
amended by City Attorney Jones. The
Harp ordinance, said Mr.. Bingham.
did not give the matter of handling
Of bond trustees, but that Mr.. Harp
wanted ten per cent of that amount
for handling the matter.
Mr.. Bingham said the afternoon
paper jumped on him and Mr.. Bean
for being republicans. He said that
he is a republican but that makes no
difference If you are a citizen and op-
posed to centralized government. He
said he did not like the idea of mixing
up in this charter contest because It
caused hard feelings to arise among
friends.
Getting back to the municipal dock
business, Mr.. Bingham said that the
Pensacola Commercial Association is
vitality interested in securing the
handling of the bond money. in spite
of Mr.. Dobson's statements to- the
contrary. It is for the people to say
whether you are going to trust the
bond trustees. whom you know, or the
Pensacola Commercial Association,
whom you do not know. said Mr.. Bing-
ham. He said that both John A. Mer-
ritt and Joseph V. Riera. members oe
the board of bond trustees, are sup
porting the Jones charter.
r. Pope Reese said it was a pleas
ure for him to be present and speak in
support of a cause favored by those
who have fought for the principal OF
liberty years ago 1t is proposed -
this city, he said. TO do away with that
which the people have en-
ioyed for years and in its place
Semmes and others have taken up the
fad in its stead. Under
Continued on Page Two)