The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-03-26
THE PEOPLES RIGHT.

ing when it said The people resent being used for
political purposes just now They have not invited
Senator Reed to to Florida nor did they In
vite Mr.. Gompers to come. They are resentins the
fact that these gentlemen. sehnvited. are forcing
their opinions upon the public That spirit Of re-
sentiment is also opposing every politician in the
state who holds views who tries to inculcate
methods foreign to the we'll known and strongly be-
lieved in Florida ideas OF government"
In this way the Tampa Tribune comments on an
editorial appearing in The Journal Of March under
date of March ~.
The Miami Herald quotes this comment from the
Tribune which it credits to The Journal and says ::
And that is the spirit. hasten to add of slow
mindedness and lack OF vision in public affairs.
1.-The who is reluctant. especially when that
side is presented by the leading opponents of re-
opinions gentlemen Of standing and honor.
who speak not from political expediency but from
their sincerity. Is the who will remain
always stumbling block to advance and him
drance to his community.
Even II Florida holds views strongly believed
in that she has no fear of being converted she
should be willing to hear the opinions OF others.
Perhaps day conditions will shift and change
and some OF her views and methods will of neces-
sity shift and change also. Then 1t will be the
F1ordian who not afraid to let his own ideas
stand the test of contrast with others who will be
the valuable citizen not the who resented the
very fact that there existed other people who did
not agree with him.
THE attitude of The Pensacola Journal is one Of
extreme and rather case hardened conservatism. 1t
is dangerous mental attitude for individual and
dangerous mental attitude for state If it were
carried to its logical conclusion it would exclude
fre the state all speakers who differed in any jot
or title from the opinions Of The Pensacola Journal
SINCE it may be readily conceived, The Journal would
hold that its opinions the opinions Of all
Florida
Florida should welcome the presence here of all
men Of such national prominence as Samuel Com
pers and Senator Reed, whether not the state
agrees with them. Certainly there is large enough
body of people In Florida who do agree with both
gentlemen to warrant their hearty reception.
"And surely Florida people are not so churlish
so mentally cramped the Pensacola paper would
have believe"
But in this editorial, probably based solely the
Tampa Trbunes comment. and not on the original
editorial appearing in The Journal. the Miami Her.
aid shows a somewhat hasty spirit. The editorial
appearing in The Journal based upon the fact
that the Miami Chamber of Commerce had refused
to allow the of public park, over which that
body has Jurisdiction. for, Mr. Reed to deliver his
famous speech against the League of Nations, and
incidentally to attack the head Of this nation he
has invariably done in such public utterances. The
editorial columns of both the Herald and the Me-
sentfng the commercial body OF Miami, had taken
and these same newspapers carried advertisements.
one full page and the other half page, which
went to show that Mr.. Gompers had not been well
received in Miami
/ What The Journal said
/ There is something very significant in the recep-
ton which has been accorded both Senator Reed
and Mr.. Gompers in Miami. Members of the Cham
Der OF Commerce have fatty refused to allow Mr..
IN which they
jurisdiction to speak against the League Of Nations,
and Mr. Gompers has been the occasion of several
unpleasant incidents.
| While 1t is to be depIored that any of public
character should be treated with discourtesy in
Florida there is lesson to be drawn from both
of these incidents and 1t is thus: UNLIMITED guests
seldom find themselves as welcome at the invited
guests
s"rhe people resent being used for political pur-
poses Just now They have not invited Senator
Reed to come to Florida. did they invite Mr.
Gompers to come. And they are resenting the fact
that these gentlemen sef-invted, forcing their
| opinions upon the public.
1.-The feeling in Miami seems to be that If these
sentlemen are coming Florida private citizen:
they are welcome. But if they trying to make
political capital out their visit, that the people O
, Miami do not wish to be used to pull politica
chestnuts out of the fire"
The Journal based its editorial expression on in
formation secured FROM the columns OF the tw'
Miami newspapers. The fact that these newspaper
did not agree with the feeling that was evidenceC
in Miami in nowise alters the fact that the Cham
Der of Commerce. or certainly some of its most in
lfuential members, opposed to allowing tn
luse of Royal Palm Park to Senator Reed, to spea
: against the League of Nations and Mr.. Wilson AM
that there was strong feeling against Mr. Gomper
e in Miami as there in Jacksonville.
: The Journal believes that Florida will always ex
IS tend a most cordial welcome to any man woman
lx,nn .iSitr Stn nriyate citizen xxhl