Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-25
FLORIDA SOCIETY
FOUNDED IN 1872.
Enthusiastic, if Not Now Very
Active Body, Was Started
by Senator Fletcher.
BY MARGARET b. DOWNING.


Although the local society of Flor
ida cannot be classed with the amaz-
ing activity apparent in the state
proper, it is, nevertheless. virile or
ganization. Planned with generous
and all.embracing tendencies, 1t pos
Sesses immense opportunities for
growth, since in the past two years
practically every State in the Union
has had more or less permanent resi-
dents in Florida and many from Flor
ida are now in Washington.
The Floridians in Washington ex-
tend a welcome to all who have re-
sided in their State, however briefly
and that means a large company, II
even a fraction of these respond.
The Florida Society in Washington
as 1t is today was organized by Sena-
tor and Mrs. Duncan u. Fletcher in
1912, but there had been previous
gatherings of Floridians for social
purposes as far back as the 1890s.
Senator and Mrs. Fletcher have been
residents of Washington since 1908,
when the former came to represent
his Commonwealth in the upper
House of Congress, and they have
been dominant factors in all it's af-
fairs during this interval. In 1912.
soon after Mrs. Fletcher had laid
down the burden of the presidency of
the Congressional Club, she and the
Senator began energetic efforts to es-
tahlish local society after the pat
tern of the many in active operation.
The first meeting was at Hotel Lo-
gan, and officers were elected and the
general policy was decided. Senator
Fletcher was elected president and
retained this office until five years
after, when the present executive,
Col. William c. Harllee, U. S. NJ. c.,
was named as his successor. Ross
Pollock was named the first vice
president, which Office he has held up
TO the present time. The charter
members included the entire congress
sional contingent, Senator and Mrs.
Nathan P. Bryan. Representative
and Mrs. Frank Clark and their
daughters, Representative and Mrs.
Dannitte Hill Mays and Repre-
sentative and Mrs. Stephan NJ. Spark
man. Others active and prominent
among the founders were Mr.. and
Mrs. Daniel Fowler, Mr.. and Mrs.
Ross Pollock and Gen. Charles Pelot
Summerall, U. S. A., now in COM
mand at Governors Island, n. Y. then
in the War Department and a lee
turer at the War College.
Monthly Outings Held.
The association at once entered on
an active social existence, held month
ly meetings during the season proper
and then rounded out the year by pic
mics, al fresco dinings and patriotic
celebrations. Meetings were held for
some time in the American Institute
of Banking Building through the cour-
tesy of Mr.. Pollock. All of the con-
gresSional delegation entertained the
Fioridians socially. and these meetings
were called rather than held at stated
Il -fxaI
for each gathering. In later years
Col. Harrllee has often entertained his
associates in his home in Mount Pleas
ant and Senator and the late Mrs
Trammell have been it's hosts. Dances
and card parties have recently been
added to the Winter schedule. and at
times some eminent son of the Ever
glade State makes an address before
its local society. Gen. Summerall, who
was born in Lake City, Fla, and is in
tenSely proud of his State, often joins
the society In it's frolics, and he has
often been the principal speaker at
the banquets, which are given from
time to time during the Winter or
when some special occasion calls for
such a demonstration.
The Florida State Society has inn
posed no dues on it's members. A col
lection is quietly made when expenses
require liquidation, but an annual sum
for each member as holds with other
such organizations in Washington is
unknown. The genial secretary of
Senator Park Trammell. Robert r.
Tomlin, is in charge of this delicate
duty, and he has managed the finances
so well that the routine continues most
tremendously without the unpleasant
theme of funds intruding on the social
pleasures. For the past year the so
ciety has not been as active in Wash
ington as it had been previously, but
this was due to the abnormal activity
of State affairs and the absence there
of many who would have been the
leaders of such affairs here. Col.
Harllee, however. held the society to-
gether admirably, and now that Flor.
ida has gotten back to nordmalcy the
local organization wiz resume its regu-
lar routine next Autumn.
Former Senator Depew, who is the
president of the Historical Society of
st. Augustine, is always an honored
guest of the local Floridians. and
when he and Mrs. Depew come to
Washington every Easter they are
usually given a reception or dining,
This year, however, no meetings were
held, except the annual one in No
vember, at which the officers were
elected and q program of wider i'm
portance determined.
Not Booming State.
The Florida Society is entirely non
political, and it has hitherto avoided
undue endeavor to attract attention
TO the States resources, believing
that this feature had been somewhat
overdone and liable to react on the
general welfare. But in the expand
ing ideals the interesting and impor-
tant historic chapters in the States
progress will be developed and a lit.
terary feature will be added to social
and patriotic assemblies. Senator
Trammell and Mr.. Tomlin are from
the beautiful regions about Lakeland.
and though this section has not the
connection with the Revolutionary
War and the subsequent struggles
with British and Spanish fleets that
make the annals of St. Augustine and
Tampa, 1t iS-an important link with
Florida during the years in which An
drew jackson was warning with the
Seminoles.
Senator and Mrs. Fletcher are from
Jacksonville and they have been for
years members of the Historical So
ciety, which has its headquarters in
the splendid old fortress at Fort