The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-01-15
DENIES THAT HE
PLAYS FAVORITES
Intirnates That Someone Is
Trying Poison Minds of
Florida People.
Washington Bureau
The Pensacola Journal
BY GEORGE n. MANNING.


Washington, d. c., Jan. 14.-Sena-
tor Duncan L. Fletcher, in a statement
issued today makes a full reply TO the
mutterings being heard in some quart
ers of Florida that the has played ia
vorites in recommending to the differ
ent government department OF various
camps, cantonments, shipyard plants,
etc. as some points and has neglected
to look out for the welfare OF other
communities.
He intimates that someone with a
selfish purpose has been busy trying
to poison the minds of the Florida
people against him. Ills interest is I'm
the whole state, he says. not in any
particular section or community. In
urging the departments to look to
Florida for camps. cantonments. ship
plants, etc, he says, he has urged
that numerous sites have been exam
ined and has not favored this or that
locality.
He induced General Wood TO visit
the camp at Black Point, he said, af-
ter all other sites in the State had
been turned town, and General Wood
made a favorable report.
Senator Fletcher's statement is as
follows:
II have been informed there Is an
underhand effort being made by some
person in Florida to have it appear
that I favor one section, or district.
OF the state over another, in the mat
ter of the location of enterprises grow
ing out of the War Activities. Such
effort is unwarranted and ridfcu-
lous, and / am certain no one acting
with no Interior motive would attempt
TO poison the minds of the people in
any such manner. 1 am proud that 1
represent the whole of the State, the
best state in the union, and my In
terest is in the whole state and not In
any particular section or district. In
connection with the location Of these
enterprises in Florida / have invariably
urged the departments and board hav-
ing such In hand, to have each and
every locality thoroughly investigated
and it's advantages examined into and
reported on after citizens had been Civ
en- an opportunity to present facts and
figures to support their claims for pre-
ference / cannot compel any depart
ment or board to cause examinations
to be made of various localities nor
can 1 compel them to make favorable
reports or recommendations il the
facts do not warrant, neither can /
compel them TO locate any particular
enterprise at any particular place, ev-
EN- though il may be recommended. /
can only urge and recommend gen.
eral advantages, that examinations be
made, reports submitted and consid-
cred on their merits. | have all along
urged with all my might that care
full examination be made of each and
every community desiring to be con-
sidered in conenction with the loca-
ton of hydroplane schools, training
camps, machine gun schools, artillery
ranges hospitals, naval bases or ship
building plants. The matter and man
ner of making examinations is up to
the departments or boards and their
representatives As ! just stated, I
cannot compel them to do this, that,
or the other | can only urge or recon-
When the matter OF locating training
camps and cantonments was first be-
ing agitated. / urged the war depart
ment to cause Investigations to be
made of various localities, and after
adverse reports were made on all, /
induced General Wood to visit Black
Point, where the state and government
owned an ideal location for camp.
and he made a. favorable report, which
in time resulted in the Quartermaste-
Training Camp being located thee. /
requested him TO visit other localities,
but IL was no fault OF mine that he
did not It was Black Point or no
where in the state. ! induced General
Squier to wire instructions to Colonel
Edgar to visit Florida on his tour Of
inspection. and as the result, there
are now two Aviation Training Camps
being constructed near Arcadia. I
urged the navy department to cause
an investigation TO be made in con-
n action with the location ne hydro
plane schools. which resulted in a site
being selected near Miami I urged
the same department to instruct Ad-
miral Helm to carefully investigate
the advantages OF all harbors that 1t
was thought might be found suitable
for the location of a naval base, and