The evening leader., 1918-08-23
GOOD NEWS.

II
News from Washington, through
Senator Trammell, is that tourist
rates will be povided for Florida this
coming season, the railroad admins
tration giving the assurance of this
looked-for and expected action.
The Tribune is not only pleased, but
it is proud Of the results of the agita-
ton that has been kept up, along lines
dignified and at the same time patri-
otically determined.
We have declared from the start of
the questioning of Florida's tourist
transportation facilities during the
war, that this being business admin
istration we would have nothing to
fear. Whatever may be said of some
subaltern blunderers that may have
been slipped into positions of sarni-in-
portance, and who have caused trouble
through officious laundering, the heads
of the great administration bureaus
are wise men, business men, and men
of executive ability. The country has
but to sit quiet under whatever of
seeming unfairness is threatened, un-
til the executive heads get to that par
ticular thing, and then the past as
sures us of all being made right.
To he activities of cur own Region.
al Director Winchell, we have no
doubs, is largely due the prompt set
tleing of his important question. He
has shown the greatest interest in the
South, and escecially in Florida, which
is SO different from the other states
thar it almost is in region" by it.
self MIR. Winchell has always declar-
ed for the personal touch and personal
knowledge as factor in the equations
involved in these Southern problems
Of transportation. It pays both the
administration and the region, for
through the personal touch both, get
close to each other; and, understand
ing each other can and do work in
closer harmony than is possible under
a more distant or an impersonal hand
ing.
The work for Florida is now sing
led down to that of advertising this
season, or until the war is over. In
fact we doubt seriously That the rail
roads will ever again become the spec
ial advertisers of settlement, resort,
section or state. The transfer of the
burden has been shifted, and right
fully, 10 the shoulders of those who
banSft r1ost from the patronage to
be gained. The railroads we believe.
will be government operated for many
years, if not as a fixture, and our
Uncle Sam, while a great booster for
his country, never has been changed
with being spendthrift in advertis-
ing resorces, when he could get some
body surcharged with patriotism, like
the newspapers are, to do it for him,
free.
Florida must let it be known that
the tourists will have opportunity to
come to Florida in as great numbers
as ever. Florida must let it be known
that there is the same welcome here
that has always been extended. Flor
ida must above all else let it be known
that the sojourner in its bounds next
winter will not be treated like he is
expected to pay all the income tax and
excess profit tax of the state. In
other words, Florida must remembe
that people are not going to come
merely for pleasure alone, but they
Are coming because of a patriotic
obedience to the mandates, Conserve
fuel, food and clothing"
AS sojournars for patriotic pur.
poses, that man or set of men who at
tempt to profteer at their expense
will be held enemies Ct this state; and
they should be regulated out or posi-.
tion to harm again.-Tampa Tribune.