The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-11-10
A GRACEFUL SUGGESTION

There is a familiar saying TRY to please every
body and you please nobody. says the Times Union
1t is aptly illustrated in the action OF the florioa
Centennial Commission. which. after hearing the
claims of number of cities desiring to stage the
event decided in favor Of four cities-for cen
EenniaI celebrations in state in the same year.
aInstead giving the choice to one city, with al
he state unitedy working for the success OF the eel
bration by the of state event it has decided
Ito give of localities slice of the pie par
ceiling it out to make go far possible This
probably done with the mistaken notion OF try
ing please everybody The result is to please no.
body The celebration is to be broken up before y
is even started of centering the interest
land attention of millions of people upon Florida
Whole as a great state growing greater, that in
crest is divided scattered that section OF
another attentionat the expense of the state
N entirety.
In this respect Instead of being state af-
fair it becomes local enterprise and will be so re-
arded by the home people, those of the respective
localities selected. and by the erger number of peo-
pie presence and interest is desired-the pub
lie large. From county fair to a one-fourth
state fair much of advancement In effect the
faction the commission will be to advertise abroad
that Florida has not single city large enough OF
enterprisng enough back centennial celebration
Of the founding of the great state. This is not the
fact Any one of cities selected, Jackson
VILE Pensacola. Tampa Miami, is capable of put
ting such avent in the manner that 1T should
be especially with the entire state backing up
the enterprise would have been the case had the
selection fallen any of the cities named. The
-.action here bettling to one OF
the four cities. 1t cannot help but be regarded
by the general public.
There is one practical solution of the proposition
it stands and that is for three of the cities
named to withdraw their claims in favor of the
Fourth i'm the list All of the four can unite on one
kplace for holding the celebration and then by uniting
with all other cities and section of the state make
the event the and the advantage to Florida
that 1t ought to be. This is not suggested In any
selfish spirit any of the four cities named
is just well entitled the exposition any
other If broadminded. practical Judgment prevails
this will be the taken. and that prompt
ly"
The Journal agrees with Times Union in be-
iieving that three of the cities should withdraw,
leaving the centennial celebration was
originally intended celebration of international
scope.
In view of the fact that the centennial idea was
born in Pensacola, been fostered by Pensa-
colians. and that this city has been three times
designated by the legislature the centennial
city. The Journal would suggest that the graceful
thing would be for all other cities the state to
retire in favor of the city in which the centennial
came into being. and which has been instrumental
In giving the centennial the gresAest amount of
publicity ever given any state enterprise
The Times Union, which is well posted on Florida,
declares that any one of the four Florida cities In
question is capable of putting event in
the manner that it should be. and especially with
the entire state backing the enterprise. Pensacola
is capable of holding the celebration than any
other city, for already Pensacola can command ST.
100000 for the purpose.
No other city in the state has any just
claim to the centennial. Four years 80 the move
started in Pensacola. The idea, originated
with ex- Senator John b. Jones, who in June, 1915,
introduced a resolution in the legislature
holding the exposition in Pensacola which resolution
adopted. On November 18th of the same year
a centennial committee OF fifty prominent men was
appointed to promote the movement this committee
tional in scope. December, 1915. George Hervey,
then Pensacola citizen, sent a delegate
from this committee Washington. seek federal
Florida, presented a resolution congress. the
that the matter would receive every attention.
Plans being perfected for carrying the ex-
position and for legislation by the legislature
authorizing the counties of the state cooperate
with the centennial committee and the national
eminent. when the world put stop the
movement. The city commissioners at the meet
ing Of the legislature in 1917 amendment
to the city charter, empowering Pensacola
bonds for centennial purposes Immediately after
the signing of the armistice the city commissioners
again renewed their fight and again applied for an
amendment to the city charter These facts make it
potent that Pensacola alone has rightfuI claim to
the centennial The Times-Union suggestion is an
admirable one. The three other interested cities
Tampa, Miami and Jacksonville, should step aside
favor of the only city with any to the CEN
ID nnial-Pensacola, where history was made which
The centennial win commemorate.