The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-05-29
TOO
LATE
TO
CLASSIFY
BY RUSSELL KAY
FLORIDA News Service)

It has been a tough two weeks
for those candidates IN the run
off, confronted with the problem
of arousing public alarm over
matters of local import in COM
petition with fast moving world
events, accounts of which have
monopolized our front pages and
dominated the air waves.
The plight of our old folks and
the matter of a few thousand de-
pendent children seems of little
consequence when we contrast it
with millions of refugees whose
homes are in ashes and vast
armies trapped, awaiting slaugh-
ter.
Of even greater import is the
matter of our own position in
relation to what has happened
and sharpening in Europe, and
We find the average American
citizen today viewing with much
more alarm the plight of Demo-
cracy than such trivial questions
as diversion of the gax tax or
chain store domination.
And so as this is written we
stand on the eve of a second pri-
mary election to determine who
shall hold this or that office
While normally such questions
might be expected to arouse 10
cal interest, they are so over
Swallowed by world events as to
make them seem of little con-
sequence.
Floridians in particular have
reason to be concerned over tine
turn of affairs in Europe for this
state, because of its geographical
location, is in a most precariouS
position in relation to the ma
tional defence. Closest of all
states to the Panama Canal and
to the Island possessions of in
volved powers located in the
Caribbean, we may well ask
what the future holds for us.
At Tampa, Jacksonville, Cocoa,
Miami, Pensacola and Key West,
we see the feverish activity of
army and navy officials as they
rush plans for the establishment
of military bases that should
have been set up long ago.
The hum of flying fortresses
and pursuit planes drones in
Florida skies as youthful pilots
are put through their PAGES.
While offshore the casual OBJ
server may glimpse the grim
gray shapes of prowling battle
craft assigned to patrol duty in
our waters.
| In spite of the fact that oceans
temporarily separate us from the
scene of conflict, the thoughtful
citizen no longer finds that fact
very comforting, particularly
since the fate of British, Dutch
and French possessions at our
very doorstep remain in doubt
and the possibility of the i'm
mediate establishment of naval
and air bases on these islands by
an unfriendly power becomes a
possibility.
It is indeed a time for clear
thinking and straight talking,
and Floridians have right to
look to their delegations in Con-
gress and their leaders at home
for action that will insure protec-
ton of our state and its people.
! Today our principal cities
most of which harbor military
detectives, stand without protec-
ton. There are few, if any. anti
aircraft guns in the state, and
should the enemy decide to at
tack. we would find ourselves
practically helpless, dependent
wholly upon our naval forces and
aviation units to ward off enemy
planes and prevent the invasion
of our shores.
If Florida is to be called upon
to stand guard over the Panama
Canal and the Caribbean, and be-
cause of the military activities
within our borders be in line fol
the first blow when it is struck
we should receive first con-
lsideration from our federal gov
Iernment in the matter of provid-
ing every possible means of de-
Tense, and it is the duty of Flor
ida senators and representatives
as well as of our governor, to do
everything In their power to see
that we receive such considera-
ton without further delay. The
thought of our children wearing
gas masks and fleeing for the
protection of bomb shelters is
not a pleasant one. But even
more grim and terrible is the
vision of what could happen il
we continue to sit idly by, max
ing no effort at defense or pro-
lection, absolutely at the mercy
of the first ruthless attack that
may be directed at us.
Florida should look to the fu-
ture and look NOW. Not hyster-
ically, or with undue alarm. but
rather as people intelligent
enough and COURAGEOUS enough