The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-11-02
Chairman McAllister of District
Organization BrOadcasts APP
peal for Backing From County
Committees.
COLONEL BEARD PUTS
FAITH IN COMMISSION
Believes That Pensacola Will Be
Designated and Calls on State
Board to Consider West Flor
ida in Making Decision.

Chairman Felo McAllister of the
Centennial District Boosters organ
ization issued a broadcast call last
night to his county chairmen for help
in putting Pensacola's aspirations be-
fore the State Centennial Commission
at Jacksonville next Wednesday,
Chairman McAllister is calling on
every county chairman to be ready
with five or more boosters to join the
Pensacola delegation when they go to
the East Coast metropolis. MIR. Meal
lister wants the county chairman to
wire the names of their men to Secre-
tary J. II. Bayliss-
Chairmen of the various county
organizations are: Santa Rosa, John
H Collins; Bay, w B. MARSHALL:
Jackson, c. L. Wilson; Washington, S.
A. Afford; Holmes. Jud Green; WAL
ton, p. P. Miller; Okaloosa, ]. C. Nc
Cul1um.
Col John S. Beard, who on three
separate occasions has presented
Pensacola's claims to the State Com
mission, and who is one of the hard
est workers for the centennial be-
lieves that Pensacola cannot fail to
be designed. In an interview with The
Journal yesterday, Col. Beard, said:
1--WE believe that the Centennial
Commission will designate Pensacola
as the site for the International Ex-
position. We believe so. because we
have faith in the Commission. We
are satisfied that the Commission is
constituted of honorable gentlemen.
who VIII not be influenced by Sec
tional prejudice, bias or interest, in
their decision, and the commission
being so constituted cannot decide
otherwise. than in Pensacola's favor.
"As 1 have pointed out on several
occasions, in addresses to the COM
mission, Pensacola is entitled to the
decision, historically logically and
sentimenta1ly. In Pensacola was
staged the great historical events
which it is intended to commemorate.
1t was in Pensacola that the change
of flags took place, in the presence of
Gen. Andrew jackson, representing the
United States government. In Pensa-
cola General jackson made his home
while military governor of East and
West Florida. In Pensacola the first
legislative council met, after East and
West Florida had been united under
one territorial government by con-
gress. In Pensacola the first session
laws. under the Stars and Stripes. were
enacted. In Pensacola Colonel Will
liam P. Duval, the first territorial
governor of Florida had his home.
Pensacola was the first territorial cap
itol of Florida.
Because of these facts Pensaeola's $
pre- eminent fitness was recognized by
the legislature of 1915 by concur
rent resolution which, after reciting
the historical events intended to be
designated Pensacola
as the Centennial City. Again in
1917 the legislature designated Pen
sacola by empowering the city TO issue
five hundred thousand dollars of bonds
in aid of the exposition authorized 10
be held in Pensacola by the legis-
lature of 1915. The State Bankers
Convention and the Wess Florida Press
Association recognized Pensacola's fit
ness and unrivaled claims by endors-
ing her as the Centennial City. The
legislature OF 1919 again designated
Pensacola as the appropriate site for
such a celebration
Pensacola did not go, and is not
before the Centennial Commission ask
ing that the Centennial be awarded
her That has been done by the leg
islature, creating the commission: but
Pensacola is before the commission
insisting that the commission do not
attempt to take away from Pensacola