Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-06-15

reading maltly passed between j. w
sUBsCRIPTt Palatka, secretary of tn
this = 500 Removal association, and H
able 1nyair, president of the Jackson
R R v AsChamber of Commerce.
It appears that the Jacksonvill,
~ y lhamber of Commerce was invited
to send representatives to the ses
sions of the Capital Removal associa
tion held in Ocala and Orlando, bu
both invitations We're; ignored; but ;
more insistent invitation that Jack
sonville be represented at the meet
ing of the Capital Removal associa
ton being held in Palatka today al
least Smoked em out" Mr.. Adail
says Jacksonville purposes to be neu'
trail on this question which has beer
agitating the people of the state fol
years. To quote from his letter:
"If I should attend this meeting
representing the Jacksonville Cham
Der of Commerce, it seems to me that
I would thereby definitely pledge
that body to a present active cam
paign for capital removal. The mere
membership in your Florida State
Association for Capital Removal
would offend the good friends of
Jacksonville in middle and western
Florida; to oppose it would offend
the good friends of Jacksonville that
comprise the Florida State Associa-
ton for Capital Removal. We value
too highly the friendship of each side
of this controversy to support one
side against the other at this time.
II believe that at the present time
Florida is the most prosperous state
of its area in the world. The whole
United States knows this, and the
eyes of the%whole country are upon
Florida. l believe that during the
next few years we will see the great
est influx OF population and the
greatest development that this state
has ever known during a like period
in its history. During that time it
seems to me that it is essential for
the good of the whole state that we
here in Jacksonville maintain the
closest and most cordial relations
with every section Of the state, SC
that we may render to and receive
from every section alike all possible
aid and cooperation to enable all
sections to take advantage of theil
great opportunities. This the Jack.
sOnville Chamber of Commerce can.
not do if it takes sides the one way
or the other in the capital remova
controversy.
Therefore, | regret to say that
cannot accept the courteous invita-
ton that you and Mr.. Wilder have
extended in your letter."
President Adair's letter was no
satisfactory to Secretary Hart, ant
in his reply he INDUCES in some very
straightforward comment on the evi
dent purpose of the Jacksonville or
ganization to carry water on botf
shoulders:
have more or less anticipated
such reply, after a conversation
held with Mr.. Smell in St. Petersburg
last Friday. I doubt there is any
room for neutrality" in the issue
once you understand it, and in view
of your public utterances, if the
press TO Jacksonville has correctly
reported them, | am lacking in the
conviction that you are neutral, even
if we were to take your understand
ing of the objects of the Capital
Removal association as correct-and
they are not.
The sole object of the Capital Re-
moval association is to determine
whether the majority of the citizens
of Florida want the capital removed.
You cannot confuse location with
this issue. Every member of the as
ISOLATION is bound to its principles,
which clearly stand out as having no
interest in where the capital is re-
moved to, but, as l have stated, they
are bound together to get an express
sion as to whether or not the ma
jority want the capital removed. On
that isnue there is absolutely no
room for neutrality.
If, as you contend, you do not care
to offend the sensibilities of any part
of Florida, then | must in perfect |
frankness, say to you. that there are
several sections Of the state that do
not understand a point you made in
an address before the Rotary club |
of Jacksonville, that while you ia
vored reapportionment, and you
thought it would carry, that you had !
some misgivings of the amendment |
carrying if as a result of it any part
of Florida hope dto make capital re- |