The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-02-23
PRESS COMMENT
Press of Florida Can Render Real

Press of Florida Can Render Real
/ Service
Protesting against the unwarranted
and insidious attack on Florida's eco
nomic condition in the latest edition
of the Literary Digest, w. B. Powell.
secretary of the Lake County cham
Der of commerce, in a letter to The
Metropolis, states facts that could not
be made clearer by any editorial
writer in the country.
The letter follows:
THE Literary Digest of February
! IL, 1921, has a lengthy lead article
on conditions throughout the United
States.
"The only reference to Florida is in
the body of the story which says
Tampa reports growing amazingly
fast
Every state in the union is repre-
sented except Florida.
"Yet on page IL the Digest paints a
chart from the Chicago Tribune,
which hates Florida and the south
worse than the devil hates holy water,
which shows Florida a black dot, with
key to effect "A whole state in black
because of extreme depression. etc.
This lie should not be allowed TO
be circulated undisputed.
Florida is the one exception in the
whole United States of progress and
prosperity. Florida never has called
upon the rest of the world in time of
any calamity-the world has never
passed the hat to assist Florida. When
clearing house certificates were is
sued some years ago Florida never
printed any until forced to DO so by
banking interests and it is doubtful if
$1,000 of this currency ever passed
current and none in circulation-a few
pieces were bought as souvenirs.
Florida shows prosperity in hotels,
in boarding houses, in stores, in
wholesale houses, on farms, and
groves, in banks and there is not a
community in the whole state that
has cried calamity. On the contrary,
we have given work to tens of thou
sands of laborers and artisans from
the north who swooped down upon us
in flivvers and silk shirts begging for
something to tide them over the win
ter, as they were thrown out OF en-
ployment in the north.
This last attack on Florida again
proves the need of the Florida de-
velopment board, an organization that
alone can combat these insidious at
tacks, provided the state supports it
as a unit"
Mr.. Powell hit the nail on the head
in this statement of facts. He is in a
position to know the details Of the
situation and Florida Is as familiar to
him as the contents Of a popular book.
Being aware of this, The Metropolis
thought that the use Of his letter as
an editorial would add emphaSis IN
our protest of Tuesday against this
article which was given so much
prominence in the Literary Digest.
The Metropolis is of the opinion that
the press of the state can render valu-
able service in proving the fallacious
statements made in this article-by
the editors throughout the state US
ing their ink to advantage in review
ing conditions in their immediate To-
calities, and a general compilation can
be made of these and distributed
broadcast, which perhaps can be done
best by the various chambers of COM
merce and boards of trade.
Florida refuses to be recognized by
anything that the Chicago Tribune
might say. TIA however, is not the
point. The Li,S-ary Digest is a ma
tionally-read publication and it car
ries weight in the business circles of
the nation. For this reason it is the
duty of those interested in the welfare
Is given credit for her real financial
and economic status.
Now is the time for all good men to
come to the aid of their state.-Flor-
ida Metropolis.