The Palatka news and advertiser., 1915-09-10


From Miami Metropolis.
Does Miami need to be a wide-open
CITY in order to succeed? Is there
any good reason why any retreat
should be sounded from the present
regime of prohibition?
Jacksonville furnishes the best an
swer to this question. That city
which is paraded as the metropolis
of the state is notoriously saloon-rld-
den, boss-ridden and wide open.
The Floridian of August IA, pub
Ilished in Jacksonville, edited by Al
bert M. Williamson, who knows what
he is talking about and tells the truth,
contains the following editorial refer
ence to conditions in that city, which
every Miamian should read CAREFUL y:
"There isn't very much doing in the
grating business right now. They
seem to have stolen about all there
was to steal, and are now waiting for
still another bond issue.
eve would have to print this paper
on asbestos" if we told just what we
think of the thievery and corruption
going on in this town and county.
at is of little avail to The Florldian
to expose this grating and stealing
among our public officials, unless the
decent people will help us kick them
out. We can't do it all single-handed.
"David's lamentations over Abso-
lom were never in it with the sad
walls that daily go up from the
hearts of our taxpayers over the cor
= ruption existing among some OF those
I county and city officials.
t Our commercial organizations are
: trying to induce immigration, but
!, what does the prospective immigrant
find? A horde of grafters dehllng
snG debauching the most important
and honorable positions in the gift OF
our people. There is nothing to be
+ accomplished by bringing others here
to ioin the ranks of the disgruntIed
. cts first make those who are already
e here prosperous, and there will be NJ
9 trouble for the newcomer.
"Mortgages are being foreclosed
y Property is bringing at these forced
sales less than one-half it's value. OuI
y banks are daily calling" the best mer
e in the town. They are unable to come
2, across. They plainly see inevitable
$. and irrevocable ruin staring them ii
|. the face. All on account of the thieV
IS ery and corruption of our "Countr,
IS Fathers!'
Could the arraignment of whisky
3. soaked city be any more severe thai
the above, deliberately printed in on
IS of the newspapers which speaks ou
,. fearlessly.
1t Without taking a poll of Miam
< citizens we answer for them the ques
< ton asked at the beginning of thi
~ editorial Miami does not need tn
i. wide-open saloon policy, knowing tina
i in its train would come the very con
~ ditions which have placed jackson
SIS vile in its present distressing att
4, tude. Miami is doing very well. |
h will do better when all boot-legglng, !
Il, stopped and the city Is literally dr.
;, in accordance with law.
b. There was a time when men sol
re emnly argued for the wide-open poll
I'd cv and contended that to close a tow
against saloons would spell tinancis
ne ruin. The facts gathered from re
ne suits show that saloons do not max
in city, Miami. without saloons, ha
ld prospered as never before. The aver
1e age desirable new citizen thinks nor
10, of such place as home for his wifi
be and children; and the kind who al
v travelling for the drinks are not de
ne sirable anywhere. Florida offers tw
,l- jacksonville with its So
n looms, and Miami without them. Whic
to is the better? Miami Metropolis.