The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-03-17
PEOPLES FORUM

Editor Pensacola Journal:
Writing to The Journal some time
ago, a correspondent asked, what Is
the matter with Pensacola" The
question should have been. What is
the matter with the people OF Pensa-
collar" There is absolutely nothing
wrong with the city as a city site. This
location is unsurpassed. There is moro
to be said for it and less against it
than any city In the country. 1t is
not the place 1t is the people. So many
blessings were handed to them with
out money and without effort on their
part, that they expect all the rest to
follow if they wait long enough. Mans
experience in tho Garden of Eden
proves that he is apt to come to grief
when nature is too lavish in her gifts.
We frequently hear that all cities are
governed by corrupt politicians by
rings and grafters who inappropriate
public funds
This is too many of our cities, and
the statement is an araignment Of
good Christian men and women; it is
calling in question their patriotism,
their Christianity and their love for
EH61E 4EllO"DltAls II you DEEOAAlC a Jain
rupt through neglect of your own bus
mess, who is to blame? If you leave the
stable door open, do you blame the
horse for getting away? The money
that is spent IN administering the at
fairs OF q city, state or nation, be-
longs to the people. They have not
given 1t away. 1t is temporarily en-
trusted to a few men who are paid to
use this money for the public good. II
the people are not satisfied with their
stewards they are given a right to hire
other men in their places. In every
city there are many honest. Christian
men, men OF executive ability, who
would be true to the trust reposed in
them by the people, who could, and
would, administer the affairs of the
city righteous1y and successfully, If
they were elected to office Why are
not such men elected7 In a speech the
other day a congressman made this
statement: 'tAlI the corruption and
misnlanageme of the cities is due to
the apathy of the good people" A good
man viii not run for office, because he
knows that good people won't take the
trouble to vote for him, that the wrong
sort win certainly vote against him,
and no man courts defeat. This non
voting class doesn't realize that by
failing to vote they are just as strong
a factor in the election OF the wrong
men as IL they had cast their votes for
them. They are the unthinking class.
Having plenty, they are not worried By
high taxes. Their boys do not visit
booze joints They forget the poor man
whose life is a struggle for existence.
They never think OF the other mothers
whose boys are being tempted n ques-
tionable resorts. They forget that we
are our brothers keeper.
A morning paper states that 6,00e
voters IN this county have so far failed
to register, and there are only sixteen
days more IN which to take advanta ge
of this privilege. Neglect to exercise
the right Of franchise shows poor ap-
probation Of the great blessing our
revolutionary forefathers died TO give
US. Let 1t be known that the good
Christian people viii register and vote
for a good man. and there VIII be no
lack OF public spirited patriotic men
willing 70 accept office.
a moral question y also an economic