The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-07-16
THE STATE DIVISION.

THE STATE DIVISION.
The Montgomery Advertiser, which
wept such bitter editorial tears not so long
ago over the Florida elections now an
nounces the willingness of Alabama to an
mex West Florida.
Not anxious, mind; but coldly, dutifully
t'wi1ling.' The Advertiser thinks that we
have gone to perdition, but no brand is to
oe snatched fr ON the burning If the
brand chooses to walk out of the fire and
asks permission to illumine the Alabama
hall of fame, BarIis is willing"
That is, if the price isn't too high! Ala
bama,'' says the Advertier, putting the
bark in Barlzis, is ready to talk business
and Alabama will consider the price when
made" Isn't this fine? But what price?
Who pays? And who gets it? Can
South Florida sell West Florida and peck
ct the proceeds? Does Alabama expect
to buy slice of seacoast as if it were
beefsteak? How will the price be deter
mined? By prorating the, S5,O0O,00O the
United States paid Spain for all Florida?
No allowance made for storm wear? Or
will West Florida be sold by weight?
There are no heavy mountain ranges IN
this region and the Advertiser may think
Alabama would save money by buying
provinces by the pound.
These are very interesting questions of
course, but point that should be settled
first is, why on earth should West Florida
want to join Alabama or any other State?
Why Join Alabama? Why not Minnesota
There is a South Alabama and a North
Alabama the interests of which are as
widely apart as could be imagined-wit-
ness the difficulty of getting legislature
essential to the development of orange or
chards. There is also South Mississippi
and a North Mississippi South Louisi-
ana, and North Louisiana.
1t might be logical to propose a Gulf
Coast State, including the region from
Louisiana to Florida and embracing a
part of Georgia-all of which is identical
in climate, resources, and development
West Florida is too small for us to agi-
tate for a new State. It would be nice OF
course to have new State, but it would be
too expensive luxery Our wealth is
not sufficiently developed to warrant the
overhead" we would be swamped in
bonds, and buried under super-taxation
when this region becomes as thoroughly
developed as, say, Massachusetts, it will be
time for us to agitate for separation; but
iannexation-never Meanwhile. it would
be better for all concerned if North; South
Fast and West Florida cultivated better
relations and got to know each other more
sympathietically West Florida's welfare is
not antagonistic to the Peninsula The
prosperity of one region will help the pros
,perity of the entire county That there
should be rivalry between Pensacola and
Jacksonville, is not only inevitable, it is
well. Rivalries produce results. If lack.
sonville did not try to get ahead of Pensa-
cola, Jacksonville would not be as fine :
place as it is. If Pensacola didn't try tc
pull ahead of Jacksonville, there would BIZ
mud paddles where our banks now stand
deserted beach where ships now dis
charge and take on costly cargoes; innocu
Gus desustude, where our people are nov
racing to make our city a, leading Ameri
can seaport and agricultural center.
-O