The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-07-13
ERIE WRIT WAS
IMPRESSED With
SPIRIT OF West
Potentate of Egypt Tenn
pie Gives the Barlow
Record Some Of the I'M
pressions Gained On
the Pilgrimage To San
Francisco
(Gail Binkley in the Barlow Rccord

(Gail Binkley in the Barlow Rccord)
REALLY, my outstanding impress
sicns of California said h. Il. Writ,
local banker. when interviewed on the
subject of his recent trip through 'the'
West, twas, first, the way California
people beautify their homes and their
state, by planting; and second, the
California boosting spirit. Californi-
ans are first. last and all the time,
for California
Mr. Writ, one of the most promi-
nent MasOns in the state, and poten-
tate of Egypt Temple, Tampa, was
among the Floridians attending the
national convention of Shriners in
San Francisco, but he did not follow
their exclusive route, as he and 9TH
er friends wished to make a more
comprehensive visit to the West, than
was allowed in the Shriners' party
Mr. Writ and Frank G. Thompson of
FrOstproof took the entire trip to-
gether, making stops at Denver, Colo
RADIO Springs, the Grand Canyon, San
Bernardino, Los Angeles, San Fran
cisco, San Jose, Banif and Chicago.
From Los Angeles on, they were ac-
companied by Fred Fletcher of
Tampa.
Asked particularly about the finan-
cial situation in the West, Mr.. Writ
exclaimed, at is simply amazing that
people in one part Of a country can
know so little about the conditions in
another part of the same country. OF
course, California is SO completely
separated from the East that they
hardly seem related to it. In the West.
that is, in California, where l looked
into the financial situation just as q
matter of my own interest, l found
that they really didn't know that
we've had a hard time in the East.
They haven't been hit, and they don't
feel the result of the financial deprcs-
sion that has been Gripping us so
over here, to any appreciable extent
at all
This was 4 new angle that the Rec
ord in its previous interviews with
recent western travellers had not been
given. Why, pray should the west
erners feel so little Of the financial
near-panic that had caused such dis
''You see,' continued Mr.. Writ,
THAR export trade has been just as
active since the war, as before it.
OF course there were difficulties dur
ing the war, just as there were in all
Uarts of the country-but following
it; there was practically no Teadjust-
ment to be met. California exports
10th raw and finished material to
Asia. The East exports TO Europe.
There's the difference Europe hasn't
been able to buy in the quantities that
the East has begun to rely upon, and
has not, moreover, been able to pay
for all it has bought. Asia has had no
more difficulty since the war than
before it, because it has been prac-
tically unaffected. Then, too, what
ever product was shipped east 10
points in this country, has been paid
for by its users in the East. So the
West has been able to sell both the
things It raised and the things II
manufactured, and has moved on al
about the usual pace without financial
difficulties Of any appreciable seri'
BUSINESS at all.
"And California Is spending a tire
mendous amount OF money. It's cities
towns and rural communities are
building rapidly and in the mos
modern fashion. I was particular,
impressed with the construction worl
saw going on in Los Angeles ant
San Francisco Sacramento, too, hal
much new building this year.
l"And speaking of LosN Angeles ant
San Francisco-it is only in these tw,
towns, when residents of either plac'
are speaking Of the other-that Wis
itor ever hears anything other thai
the typical California boosting. TIL
two towns, although some ,470 mile
apart, are keen rivals, and have It'll