The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-12-13
A CALL TO ARMS

Some very dangerous propagal Ia has gone out from
Palaska, in reference to the q biennial the most
fragrant of which is statement made editorially in
the Paatka Daily News. that although there are
many active persons in Pensacola, who demand the
location of the exposition there there are many who
do not wish it. During recent visit there George
r. Hilty assured by OF the leading citizens
and those foremost in the initial fight for the site.
that If Palatka would become applicant Pensacola
would do all possible to have this city tPalatka)
selected"
The Journal does not believe that there is any
in Pensacola disloyal to the interests
of Pensacola and West Florida so blind to the ef-
forts of Others and devoid of all civic PRIDE as
reject the claims of Pensacola the Efforts OF its
citizens and to boost Palatka the centennial SITE
Here is the crux Of the whole matter The Palatka
News says: 1T is foregone conclusion that if the
centennial exposition Is held inA Florida the entire
state viii have to finance it. location Will make
little difference except that Ideal subscriptions to
stock would be heavier in the city where the expo
stion is located But in the instance of selecting
Palatka Jacksonville would receive almost as much
benefit she would if the exposition were actually
located there"
The Palatka News has entirely lost sight of the
reason for holding the centennial in Florida The
idea in its inception never to promote Jackson
vile, any other city; the idea to celebrate the
one hundredth anniversary Of the ceding of Florida
to the United States and the establishment in Pensa-
cola of the first government under the constitution
of the United States AS for financing the exposition
The Journal believes that Florida will readily
lend state aid to Pensacola and West Florida than
any other section. Millions have been spent in the
lions have been spent by the state in the develop
ment of South Florida but, far. West Florida
has been entirely neglected by the state
Recent industrial and agricultural development
here have proven beyond question that this section
is well worth every attention the state may give
it, AS for the local end of the proposition already
Pensacola is assured of million and a quarter dol
lars for the centennial celebration in addition to
the formation of million dollar stock company, to
be financed largely with local capital.
Among other things. the Palatka News says:
when announcement was made last week that an
effort is to be made to have the commission desg
nate Palatka the site some of our barnacles al
most lost their breath They smiled incredulously
and took it all joke. But it is joke. Paatka
has about much chance any other city in the
state and more than several Of those which have
been prominently mentioned"
Unless the commission is lost t1 all of fair
ness. Palatka has absolutely es1anee whatever of
getting the centennial The Journal does not believe
that Palatka has the ghost of a shpw But the COM
mission has already done strange things And
possible that Jacksonville may throw its forces
to Palatka. Stranger things have Happened
In closing its editorial. the Palatka News says:
MANY of those who have expressed Indifference
tive inactive, to the proposition, raise the OBJ
staeles before start is made They ask where the
people to be housed how is Paatka to furnish
sufficient power sufficient water sufficient
transportation to and from the exposition grounds
and thousand other detectives. These the very
things that Palatka will develop These are the
things that will make the city of that Importance
that it should be-
Here Palatka shows its hand
After years OF publicity the part of Pensacola
after inyincble will has taken up TIE work where
it left off, during the war, with determination to
put it through: after money, time ard effort have
freely spent the by Pensacola and
Pensacolians. Paatka. which has never had any
claim to the centennial celebration in any way has