The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-03-22
A CALL TO FRIENDLY COOPERATION

ment, most of it favorable, that it is deem
ed fitting to call attention to the principle
invoked therein.
The case of the Columbia Laundry is
paralleled by that of many other institu-
tiOns that endured in Key West through
out the days of our tribulatiOn. By reason
of its prominence as a local industry, It's
record has become a source of pride to
every Key West citizen. Profits disap-
peared entirely from the picture, but the
laundry carried OF and today can boast
that not one of its people were forced to
go ION relief and the prOprietOrs took the
loss that they might have avoided by justi-
fable "lay-Offs'', with a grim determine
ton to hang on until the tide turned and
an abiding faith in the future of Key West
and the loyalty of those to whom they had
been loyal.
The laundry is not ali isolated in
stance The United States Government
was not the sole savior of Key West The
books of many of our merchants can tell
an eloquent story of aid rendered in cases
of distress when other aid there was none
or when aid was so Strangled by red tape
ard so administered by alien hirelings
that it was as bitter as the death to which
zit was an alternative.
And aid that came from neighbOr's
hands to meet neighbOr's distress, given
an that black hour when the only vestige of
security for the debt was the giver's faith
Hin human nature and the future of Key
West, can not be lightly forgotten, rOr can
the memory be obliterated by the promise
of superior service offered by those who
see the chance for profit and who, if
they did not see that chance would have
not the slightest motive to offer their serv--
ices to our citizens.
In almost every branch of our business
circles we have those whose names might
well be inscribed upon a roll of honor as
having stayed by the ship when ratiOns
were of the scantiest Our medical men
have gone about their works of mercy
when the hope of compensation was not
even dreamed of. The electric light serv-
ice has been maintained when the only re-
turn was an ever frightening book &C
count The Citizen has continued to record
the joys and sorrows of a struggling COM
munity under conditions that the business
office of any publishing company would
have considered as calling for a shut
down.
Now, when there is a chance of get
ting something out of it, horde of pub
licity experts essay dips into the public
treasury and the private resources of our
merchants, and expect to score, not on the
grounds of devotion to the interests of the
community nor. by any manner of means.
on their knowledge of the subject they
would exploit, but solely on their aggres-
Sive craftsmanship. In the dazzling claims
of these experts, we lose sight of the solid,
constructive work that has been done for
years by our own people; that accom-
plished historian and writer, Marie Cap
pick; that songstress whose lines vibrate
with passionate love for the beauty of our
lands and waters, Barbara Greene; and
s. C. Singleton, the secretary of our Cham
Der of Commerce who for twenty years has
given us reams of national publicity with
out asking Key West for penny and who
is now struggling to makefends meet that
ne may Detter contact All a"aNe"eu pun
lie
We have not cited the complete roster
of our roll of honor by any means. Space
forbids. 1t reaches into all our past activi-
ties and our past endurance.
This is not an appeal to provincialism.
New people and new enterprises are wei
come among Us and they will make honor
able places for themselves and become
part of the story of the rise of Key West.
But it is a call TO remembrance and .
warning not TO let our substance be carried
away by the eager flock, now eircling about
our horizon. avid for spoil. lowering over
the incoming tide. as intent as gullS upon
taking. with as little intention as gulls of
making any contribution 10 their source Of