The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-05-06
Mr.. Fletcher Demonstrated
Foresight of Denocrtic
Administration in Plan
ming Great Victory.
ANSWERS CHARGES
OF PARTY ENEMIES
Great Development of Har-
Dor Facilities Here Enurn-
Grated As Evidences of
Foresight.

Senator Fletcher's address last night
at the Garden theatre. in behalf of the
Victory Loan, was devoted mainly to
a demonstration of the foresight of
the present Democratic administration
In passing before the war the legisla-
tion necessary to victory, and he
showed in detail what the government
has done individually for ensacola and
Florida, for the country and the world,
to justify purchase of its securities.
Replying to the charge that money
has been wasted in the war. he said:
.sAll war is waste OF money, but the
best answer to the criticism is the
fact of how We won the war.
'The purchase of bonds need not be
justified, because they are a profitable
investment. To buy them is not a
sacrifice; it is a privilege. The govern
ment has never failed on it's bonds,
and in all reason never will.
Much Done for Pensacola.
"This administration has given Pen
sacola the best air station in the land. "
he said, zone that is pointed to from
every country in the civilized world.
It has given Pensacola the shipyard,
the finest south of Baltimore" Sena-
tor Fletcher was mainly responsible
for its location hare, and on inspecting
it yesterday for the first time, was SUR
prised to see how we'll it had been
built, and believed it would be per-
manent. it was explained In the in
production Of the speaker.
Through his efforts s431,00o was
added to the rivers and harbors ap-
preparation by the last congress for
Florida alone, part of which was to
promote the canal to Mobile, nine feet
deep and $50 feet wide, to afford an
outlet for the coal and minerals OF
the Birmingham district. A dry dock
has been located here, and this enter
prise will doubte1ess be the next inn
provement pushed. it was asserted.
Mr. Fletcher said certain great laws
passed by this administration just be-
fore the world war, now seem to have
been providential. 1t was providential
that woodrow Wilson should have
been president in such crisis. It has
been charged that the Democratic
party has no foresight. that 1t IS un-
able to prepare the country for emer-
gencies. The history of this admins
tration refuteS the charge.
"The income tax law was proyiden-
tfal, the fairest means Of raising great
revenues
The farm loan act, introduced by
Senator Fletcher. he explained saved
the northwestern farmers from mort
gage foreclosure by foreign capitalists
at the outbreak of the war, and en-
abled Florida farmers to borrow two
million dollars on their farms where
before these farms were not considered
to tustify a mortgage. Thus agricul-
ture, the foundation Of the worlds lie,
had been put on business basis
Federal Reserve Act.
"The federal reserve act was passed
when we did not know that we would
have to fight. When asked to loan to
the allies. our bankers thought the
limit of possibility would be half
hillion The reserve bank enabled US
n loan nine billions and supply our
own need of twenty-five billions, and
ali without the suggestion of panic.
The shipping act, to pass which the
senator. said he kept the senate in con-
tnuous session for record OF sixty
ave hours. twas passed as purely
business proposition, to take the de-
livery of our foreign commerce out or
tra hands of our competitors. At the
heoinn;ne of war, competitors ships
were withdrawn from commerce; our
shores were piled high with our pro-
ducts to be shipped. and there was no
TRANSFORMATION. How fortunate, then,
tbe shipping act, already passed, en-
abling the government to do for US
what private enterprise had failed Tor
6ftv years to do. Private enterprise
is to be preferred when it meets our
,aeds. when it fails. let the govern
ment respond"
ssNext came the government Win
insurance of shipping. where private
enterprise failed. and twenty millions
~ nrofits followed as reward.
aEneland would have been bied 10
death by the German submarine war
ssra ~ something had not happened
h,,t II happened Uncle Sam built ships
faster than they could be sunk. the
Hun hoisted the white flag to the
rrr,argancv Fleet Corporation, and
der, ocracy won. We must continue TO
b,,ild ships. and we must build them
bere in the south. where we have the
climate. the material, the labor ana
tha waters. And let us realize. the
enormous value to US OF an industry
90 per cent of the cost Of which is In
higl-class labor. Let us not forget