The Pensacola journal., 1920-03-30
Florida Press Opinion,
II Is Worth Investigation.

II Is Worth Investigation.
II it were not exasperating the publicity that
Florida sometimes gets from outside writer. would
be amusing There is a Washington correspondent
who is sending letters to the Atlanta Constitution.
end in one OF them he attempts to tell his readers
of the political situation in Florida He claims
weight because he at one time connected with
La Florida newspaper.
Perhaps nothing that has before been said
about Florida and Florida politics constituted such
La conglomeration Of misinformaon the particular
article which recently appeared in the Constitution.
Something of the correspon,nt's familiarity with
the history of Governor Cats, may illustrate how
densely ignorant he really is of Florida affairs.
He says that the governor came to this state some
eight or ten years ago. when as a matter Of fact
he has been in the state trifle five years.
just long enough before he became candidate to
qualify as voter. He says that about five years ago
Cats announced himself candidate on the pro-
hfbition ticket and that without much money but
with a little automobile of well known make, he
began to speak among the country people," OF
course every Floridan knows that Governor Cats
announced himself candidate before the demo-
cratic primary. and that when he began his campaign
he did not travel in automobile but made most
Of his trips on foot taking up collections he
went. 1t has been since he became governor that
the autEnobile became possible.
And when the ballots were counted" says this
sapient correspondent. he elected by about two
hundred, and though contested he was given his
seat" Again. every Floridian knows that Cats was
not nominated in the primary and that he brought
what contests there and that after the su-
court had decided that another candidate had
received the majority of the votes the prm-
ary, Cats accepted the nomination from the prohi-
bitionsts and elected by several thousand votes
over his democratic competitor
All this leads up to the remarkable statement made
by this Washington correspondent that Senator
James A. Reed has been called upon by the Cats
force to to this state to speak to the anti
sentiment" of America, whatever that is He says
that Senator James Reed of Missouri, who is re-
garded at the patron saint of the present anti
sentiment in America has been asked to go into
Florida and help the anti cause along. Therefore
yielding to that demand. he has agreed to speak in
the near future in Pensacola, Miami and Jacksonville,
the three corners Of the state ostensibly in oppo
stion to the League of Nations but really in sup
port Of the candidacy Of Cats
This is all so untrue that Ii sounds very much like
Cats propaganda. Senator Reed as the Herald
happens to know, was not called upon to come to
this state to help out any local cause, whatever.
He was not even invited to come until it was known
that he would be at liberty. He has been speaking
throughout the country the subject of Ameri-
in Florida If he could conveniently do The men
who were asked to the advisability Of his coming
agreed that 1t would be well if the people of Flor
ida could hear the senator Naturally. they wanted
any OF the great speakers Of the country to come to
Florida no matter what subject they might talk.
II finally arranged for the senator to speak in
Jacksonville Miami and Tampa, and he will address
enormous crowds at every one of these places, be-
cause he is of the most eloquent men now in
public life and because the people of Florida are
taking intelligent interest in national affairs Not
one of the who has had anything to do with
making the arrangements for the senator to speak
in this state but is bitter opponent of the COVER
nor's political ambitions and are opposed to his
election United States senators with all their
hearts and souls.
The effort to make the coming of Senator Reed
appear as move in support of Cats is ridiculous
that 1t hardly needs denial. but at the same time
there are those who will. If the statements Of the
Washington correspondent not refuted, harbor
the suspicion that there is political movement in
voved There is nothing of the kind.-Miami
Herald