The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-07-17
Committee of Twenty-Five
Will Make All Investiga-
tions Preliminary to
Launching Campaign.
PENSACOLA'S CLAIMS
BE STRONGLY URGED
Every City in State Will Be
Appealed to for Recogni-
ton This City's Rights IN
Matter.

Pensacola will go out to win the big
centennial celebration. commemora-
tive of the purchase OF Florida from
Spain, from Jacksonville. If plans
made at the city hall yesterday by
representative citizens carry.
| The first definite step ID secure the
| celebration was taken when it was
decidod 10 appoint % men rs an in
vestigating committee. Immediately
after the committee Is named hey
| will go to work to place the city's
claims squarely before the centennial
commission and to ascertain the pub
lie sentiment.
The program proposed would prob
ably include the bonding Of tho entire
state for $20,O000 900, and the bonding
of the city of Pensacola. July l6,
1921. is the time set for tho beginning
of actual construction and November,
1922. the opening date.
Before any decision is made lhe
weight of public sentiment vii! be
tested to ascertain whether or not the
people are willing for the extra bur-
den of taxation, which would be the
price they would have to pay for the
wave of prosperity il is claimed will
follow.
A Pensacola, grown t. She size OF
Birmingham or New Orleans, through
the magic of one giant celebration. is
the picture which men ana women
who are backing the movement are
confident of realizing.
An exposition of the scope which
is being planned would bring repre-
sentatives from South American and
European countries TO Pensacola. and
mammoth buildings, equal probably 10
those used at the San Francisco fair.
would be constructed. The housing
problem would be one of the first
considerations and hotels and apart
ments would spring up under the in
fluence of the new movement, 1t is
said. and the vast sums OF money
which would be obtained.
An appeal will be made to every city
in Florida recognize Pensacola's
right as the centennial city. At the
same time Mrs. A. r. Beck, secretary
OF the chamber of commerce. will put
the matter up to commercial bodies
and boards of trade throughout the
state.
Backed by the support of united
West and North Florida, the commit
tee will go into the fight to win. This
decision was made and the men behind
the movement are determined to have
this city chosen. But one West Flor
ida member w. A. Blount is a mem
per of the commission. G. NJ. Cooper.
OF Jacksonville; w. A. Mcwilliams. OF
St. Augustine: q. w. Allen. OF Key
West and George Borein. OF South
Florida are the other committeeman.
Pensacola rich in tradition and his
torical incidents, is entitled to the
centennial, il is contended She was
at first selected for tho celebration.
but the world war caused preparations
to halt. Jacksonville took up the
gauntlet. Though both Representa-
tives Miller and Waybright OF Duval
county, are said to oppose the holding
Of the celebration there on the ground
that the city can not care for the vast
throngs of people who would be at
tracted to Florida, in addition to the
regular tourists. the fight is said 10 be
on to name her the centennial city.
In answer call from Mayor
Sanders members Of the committee
of 100, recently appointed by him, met
to lay out comprehensive program
of preliminary work. Dr. r. g. Rem
shaw was elected chairman, and J. RI.
Bayless, secretary. w. a. Rount.
members of the Florida centennial
com mission, was not present.
Claiming that Jacksonville is no
more entitled to be selected as the
site for the centennial than Chicago
or Philadelphia, John =. Jones made
an eloquent plea for Pensacola as the
city. The centennial
city without Pensacola would be like
Hamlet without Banquo's ghost" he
said. I'm this very building, then the
governors house, the Spanish COM
mission made the surrender to General
Jackson. Yonder. in the plaza, band
from the steamer Hornet, played the
Star Spangled Banner" as the Ameri-
can flag replaced the Spanish and the
national purchase was made"
THE question is" Mr.. Jones con-
whether we shall take ad-
vantage of the greatest opportunity
Pensacola has ever had or lay down
and let Jacksonville get it. II may be
a dream OF mine, but l believe IL We
take hold OF It We will never regret L..
7 know the spirit of the people of
that has led her people
20 push and push ever since the big
fire and that Gns made the magnif-
cent city. It is certainly a prize worth