The Pensacola journal., 1920-03-16
AN OPEN LETTER TO MIR. PETERS.

herein. Mr.. Peters claims to devout reader O.
the editorial page of all papers, but can hardl!
claim to be careful reader. judging from his crlt
cism OF The Journal and the comments made OF
editorials appearing in this paper which were takei
from and credited to the state exchanges.
II Mr.. Peters had been in Florida longer. he woult
better understand the present situation. The posi-
tion OF The Journal towards Governor Cats is wei
known The Journal was of the few news
papers In the state which consistently fought Gov
ernor Cats during his gubernatorial campaign. ant
since Mr.. Peters heard Governor Cats In MS re
cent address here. he knows that Governor Gait
was defeated in Escamba county for governor ant
does not expect to carry this county in his cam
paign for the senatorship.
number OF the newspapers OF the state wh
supported Cats for governor are now opposed t.
him, because they feel that his administration ha
not reflected credit this state. Their opinion o
Governor Cats is based upon his record during tn
past four years, and for this reason, The Journa
has felt that these editorials of special interes
at this Time and reproduces to them. always credit
ing them, however
The Journal believes that the people are inter
ested in all sides Of political questions and 70
this reason has published editorials the opinion
expressed In many being diametrcally opposed
just letters published in the Vox Populi col
umn OF The Journal. differing in opinon-as for in
stance, the published written by Mr.. Patter
son extolling the Miami Herald for its attitude to
wards Cats, and the from Mr. Peters takin
issue with The journal that and other editorials
In speaking of the ruling of the State Executiv
Committee whereby one would have to take an oatl
to the effect that they would support the nomi
nee in the general election Mr.. Peters SAYS: 81 ais
noticed your comment in which you declared tha
the committee was devoid of brains, and that yo,
would not support them, especially If your frien
~ Cats was the nominee"
If you will consult the files of The Journal
which at your disposal at any time you will
find that the comment which you have credited t
The Journal belongs to the Palmetto News
Mr.. Peters goes as follows Then you com
still stronger in editorial copied from an ex
change. in which you say that if Cats is electe
it will be because he appeals to the 'uninteligen
the ignorant and the bigoted.' and because the un
intelligent vote OF the state will outweight the in
telligent." Mr. Peters has erred slightly in thi
he will find that it is taken from the Miami Herald
is credited. published in quotes" and that quote
verbatim. it is as follows IF Governor Cats
elected it will be because his appeals to the unin
telligent, the ignorant and the bigoted find re
sponse in the hearts Of sufficient number o
voters to outweigh the intelligent vote of the state
Mr.. Peters then asks: Mr.. Editor is that not
strong statement to make regarding the white peo
pie Of Florida? Is that not terrible charge t
make of the governor of your state? The question
is. is your statement true? Has the living condi
tions reached a point in the Rte of Florida, tha
il you oppose any candidate that you are ignor
ant? l have met of the finest people that
has been my privilege to know. To my Ger
tain knowledge some of those people are staunc
supporters OF the governor
That is true. Some fine people are supportin
Governor Cats. And these people may be highl
educated, even highly cultured; they may be th
very salt of the earths-many of them are. But still
they may be ignorant, in the that they ar
not informed to the record of Governor Cats
just as it is evident that Mr. Peters is an educate
gentleman, and yet is not fully informed as to th
record of Governor Cats.
1t is because The Journal wishes to inform tn
people that the editorials from the state exchange
are published. Additional weight is given the edi
torials from most of these newspapers becaus
they were not fully informed to Governor Cats
they gave him their support. Now these news
paper editors having found out their mistak
through four years of the Cats regime. are warn
ing the people against him.
Mr.. Peters says: Some days ago. while travel
ing Mississippi another travelling asked
Florida was what it advertised to be. / toll
him that did not know. Now when 1 see m
friend 1 will tell him that if he gets the sanction
of The Pensacola Journal regarding his politics
views that Florida will welcome him with ope
arms Your state extends a welcome to all tn
world Advertses its balmy climate. its natural re
sources yet one dares not come here for fear tina
he will be classed ignorant and unntelli
gent person, before he has time to consult the DO
litical advisers OF the people"
There has most certainly been nothing in the col
umns of The Journal to justify any such statemen
to his friend on the part of Mr.. Peters, and Tn
Journal would suggest that friend Friend Wi
probably not take any such off-hand statement a