The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-10-28
PENSACOLA TRUSTS FAIRMINDED-
NESS OF COMMISSIONERS.

At the last hour, Jacksonville is coming out into
the arena. and is attempting to make last stand
for the celebration. and in spite of the
tact that St. Augustine, Tampa and Miami are sup
posed to be of the running, expressions from st
Augustine and Jacksonville papers indicate that
these cities are unwilling for Pensacola to have
the celebration which belongs TO her by every his
torical, sentimental and commercial claim
John s. Beard in his speech before the Centennial
Purchase Commission yesterday voiced the senti-
of West Florida when he said that under no
consideration would this section of the state con-
sent to four centennial celebrations and reminded
The commissioners that their duties, designated by
Florida legislature. consisted in the designation
If the centennial site, and not in the location OF
any number of fairs in the state. 1t
officially stated by the legislature that the duties de-
yolving upon the commissioners was the choice of a
centennial celebration international in its
scope. and splitting the centennial into four state
airs satisfy various sections of the state. is en-
rely without the province of the Florida Purchase
Centennial Commission.
The following editorial, appearing in The Times
Union of Saturday is an indication that the entire
tate is waking up the fact that Pensacola intends
have the big show.
At the meeting of the Florida centennial expo
sition committee and business men in the cham
Der of commerce Thursday afternoon. it
stated by of the speakers that there q
sentiment abroad that Jacksonville was not ca
pable of handling big international exposition
fair. These speakers emphaticaIy repudi-
ated such assertion and called upon those
present to witness the fact that Jacksonville had
fallen down anything it had under
In dispatch from Tampa Friday morning, it
is stated that the centennial committee of Tam
pa held meeting about the same time in Tampa
and decided to go before the commission app
pointed by the legislature at its meetings in
Pensacola Saturday and Jacksonville Monday
and demand that the Centennial Exposition be
split up into four fairs to be held in Tampa,
Jacksonville Miami and Pensacola. Something
a month ago Tampa decided that it
unable to entertain the centennial and now it
has taken the responsibility of deciding for Jack
sonvilie that this city is in the same boat BY
what authority does it pass this to The commits
sion.
II such ridiculous position were taken by the
commission it would result in four cities in the
state holding local celebrations of the hun
dredth anniversary of the purchase of Florida by
the United States from Spain. Each of these
cities would be shooting wild in it's advertising
and duplicating each other and the result would
be confusion among the people and decision
TO the effect that Florida a house divided
against itself and of the little shows
worth making the trip to Florida for. In other
words, the Tampa crowd hates be left out of
II, although unwilling to take the initiation in
the big affair and for purely personal gain would
kill the great opportunity of advertising Florida
as IL has never been advertised before.
But enough of this, the plan will not be
given serious consideration by the commission.
At the meeting held here Thursday it was de-
cided to appoint committee of fifteen repre-
sentative citizens to meet the commission Mon
day. take them tour of the city suburbs,
showing them several desirable sites that
available for the exposition grounds. the
million dollar union depot and transportation
facilities, the many hotels and apartments that
will be available for the entertainment of the
crowds and the other general advantages of
Jacksonville for the location of the centennial.
This committee will then go into session with
the commissioners and present definite propo-
sition for the handling of the big international
fair. give assurance OF their ability to finance
it and carry it completion a that
will do credit to the state and the country.
The personnel of this committee is vastly i'm
on public spirited lines with the idea of hav-
ing each the committee a who
stands for something back of him. He need not
be the brainest the smartest but
he should stand for something substantial and
represent backing that the same as bonds.
Such committee should have its members
the mayor of the city, president of the council,
chairman of the board of city commissioners.
chairman of the board of county commissioners,
president of the chamber of commerce. president
of the real estate board. president of the Rotary
club, president of the Kiwans club president of
the county liberty leagues. presidents of at least
three of the big banks and editors of the two
daily newspapers. Such a committee would rep
resent the public officials Of the city and county,
the civic organizations. the financial institutions
and the publicity centers and when this is done