The Pensacola journal., 1920-02-27
Florida Press Opinion
Sarasota's First Citizen.

Sarasota's First Citizen.
For several months past Mr.. Frank Huffaker, q
Tampa has been conducting a Who's Who" column
in the Tampa Times giving citizens OF Florida. who
have contributed to the upbuilding of the state,
prominent notice. South Florida being well repre-
sented in the splendid write-ups of its business men.
Later these will be published in book form and
given wide distribution over the state which will
preserve to history the record of the pioneer cit-
zens who blazed the way and builded the founda-
ton for the Florida of tomorrow
Two o: Florda's newspaper women, Mrs. Lois K.
Mayes of The Pensacola Journal and Mrs. c. v. S.
Wilson, of The Sarasota Times have been honored
by being given place among the builders Of Flor
ida history The editor Of the Times is very CRATE
full to Mr.. Huffaker and to The Tampa Times for
this distinction, also to the Sarasota citizens who
deemed her worthy of this place. says the Sara
sofa Times.
We publish the article as it appeared in The
Times:
There were five of them, all husky fellows, and
as they led the writer to the back end Of or
Walpoe's drug stores down Sarasota way he Won
dered what he'd done and what was going to hap
pen to him for doing it.
You gotta keep this matter quiet" said the
spokesman in one OF those alleged whispers that
seem to be created for the purpose of reaching the
dear departed who have gone west"
Sure, shivered the writer. "Whatve done. and
what's it all about?"
you've gotta put Mrs. Wilson in Who's Who,
and we don't want her to know anything about it,
She's the biggest institution in Sarasota"
THE only objection I've got" replied the writer
is that I'm not equal to the task. Easy enough to
write about you mere men, but when it comes to
real women-well you ought to resurrect and call
on one of the old masters. But I'll do my best
oaunter into the joint editorial and business office
OF the Sarasota Times any hour of the day-and
at some late hours of the night for that matter
and the first person to greet you will be pleas
ant woman, whose hair is tinged with gray. She
isn't much in the matter of avoirdupois but lack in
that particular is made up for in keeness of intel
lect and greatness of soul. That's Mrs c. v s
Wilson, South Floridas first woman editor-and the
equal OF any man in the profession whether in
writing editorials, looking after finances and
yes. even in setting type when such work happens
10 be necessary. She's Scotch and-well the high
est tribute that be paid her is to say that her
newspaper reflects her character And no one dares
deny that she and the Times are Saratosa's prin-
clpa asset. That's subject the Saratoans are
Unanimous on.
Mrs. Wilson born at Charlottetown, Prince
Edward Island, Ca. of Scotch parentage her father
being a native of Dundee and her mother of Glas-
gov. Her father moved to Florida and homestead
ed in the pioneer days of the early 'eghties and
eventually she married the lamented c. " S. Will
son for years Floridas oldest and most beloved edi
tor. circumstances made it necessary for Mrs. Will
son to assist in editing the paper, and when the
dean of the Florida press died in 19t0 the burden
fell wholly upon her shoulders-editorially, finan-
cially and mechanically
Has Mrs Wilson succeeded? Do real women ever
fail when confronted with seemingly insurmount-
able obstacles? The Sarasota Times speaks for itself
doesn't it? And Sarasotans speak for Mrs Will
on and the Times, don't they?
In addition to publishing a newspaper and look
ing after her home, Mrs Wilson finds time for club
work, in which she is enthusiastically Interested
She is secretary of the Sarasota Womans Club with
membership OF 3i5 and club house that is indeed
a Thing Of beauty" She was worthy matron of
Sarasota Chapter No. sc. o. E. S. for 1919 and is
treasurer Of the South Florida Press Association
But If Mrs. Wilson thinks she has accomplished
anything worth while she refused TO admit it,
That's another of her "Scotchsms"