The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-23
SETTLE THE SITE AFTER
THE APPROPRIATIONS

Florida newspapers, especially
those Of Tampa, Orlando and Jack
sonville, seem to have lost sight of
the fact that the last legislature
designated Pensacola as the place
for LoIding the Centennial EXPOSE
ton in 1919, when Florida will
celebrate her one hundredth an
niversary of the passing of Spanish
rule. And, the legislature acted
wisely in selecting Pensacola, for it
was from Pensacola that the Span
iards ruled and this city is more
closely identified thereby than any
other in Florida.
Florida should celebrate the event
and do it properly and Pensacola is
the logical place for such a centen-
nal. But right now the matter that
should demand attention is proper
preparation, for the next legislature
will necessarily be called upon to
aid ~ making an appropriation.
/ Along these lines the Jacksonville
Metropolis says:
The proposition of a Florida Ex-
position to celebrate the centennial
of the acquisition of the state from
SpaiL is now being pretty generally
discussed by the newspapers
On the twcnty-seoond day of Feb
ruary. 1919. little more than three
years from now, it will have been
exactly 100 years since the passing
Of Florida from Spanish to United
! States rule. and it is NOTHING but
proper that Florida should take
steps 10 properly commemorate the
occasion. The day should be cele-
hrated and it should not be cele-
brateG in a haphazard manner The
whole state should join together in
making it monster affair. Yes,
the nation should participate, 1t
should be an exposition that would
command not only the supreme in
terest of the whole state, but the
attention of the whole. United States.
Many States in the Union have
staged celebrations not half so be-
fittine. Many of them have received
federal aid, so why should not Flor
ida, hy reason of the great historical
interest in the event, secure the as
sistance and cooperation of the gov
crnn'rnt in nakins it an exposition
worthy of the greatest note? 1t can
he done if Florida will only busy
herself. If we are to have an expo
sitior, Florida has not much time to
spare. After the raising of the
proposed $4,000 fund to advertise
the state, efforts should be pushed
forward to create sentiment in ia
vor CT the proposed celebration
There will be but one more meet
ing OF the Florida legislature in reg
ular session before the centennial
anniversary arrives. A fair-sized
appropriation from the general as
sembly of the state would be neccs-
sary before federal aid could be
fairly expected. vt might be well
for the representatives from the
various counties to so to the legis-
| IL, In, % %
holding of an expo ition. The new
egislature is elected next June and
it meets i'll 1917, in April and May,
If state aid is given it must be then,
and legislators should go instructed
interest manifests itself as it should,
Tampa and Orlando and other
ing that they should have the expo
sition. There will he continuous
agitation that the exposition should
be held here and there. Tampa and
Orlando have no more claim on the
exposition if it is held. than Jack
, sonville Jack onsiilc can present
. claims that entitle her to it. But
that is not the question now. The
thing is to set it started After ap-
preparations are assured and the cx-
position a reality, then we can
leave 1t to committee of men, pre-
ferahly five members of the leeisla-
tire Of 1917. two to be appointed
by the senate and three from the
house, all from different sections of
the state. This commission could
have the power of designating the
site Pensacola Iournal
T0DAY'S BIRTHDAY H0N0RS