The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1946-03-13

In Tampa, / visited our great Fair
which is a credit not only to all
parts of the State, but to the
Nation. The agricultural and hor-
ticultural exhibits were as fine
as could be found anywhere in
the whole Nation, for which all
praise goes to Mr.. Carl Brorein,
President of the Tampa Fair AS
ISOLATION, and all those who made
that great institution possible.
And especially all praise to the
greatest Commissioner of Agri-
culture in all the United States,
Nathan Mao. There was an i'm
mense crowd at the Fair, evil
dence of its popularity not only
in the Tampa area. but in the
State as a whole.
One evening in Tampa, haG
the honor to address the Phi
Beta KAPPA Association on the
West Coast lat a great dinner
ably presided over by ME-. Tom
Shackleford, prominent attorney
OF Tampa.
Another evening, it was my
happy privilege to address the
Pen Women at a dinner presided
over by Mrs. ]. Ried Ramsey.
The ladies who are members OF
this organization have had their
writings, either prose or poetry,
accepted for publication and re-
eeived at least $50 year in pay
hienti for them. Among the mos.
interesting people I met at this
dinner was a great lady who be-
gan to learn to paint at IS years
of age and now at 81 has painted
a number of excellent portraits
and pictures and is still gong
strong.
While in Tampa I also met
with the Aviation Committee Of
the Chamber of Commerce to
discuss the aviation problems Of
the West Coast of Florida. Like
wise, l attended a large meeting
of building contractors and con-
Struction men who are vitality
interested in the housing pro-
gram and in a general construc-
ton program for the State and
the Nation. profited greatly by
hearing first hand from them of
the problems which they had to
meet in getting materials and
labor for construction purposes.
You know that Mr.. Wilson Wyatt,
National Housing Administrator,
has announced a vast emergency
program for home building in the
country. The Government is
going to aid those who produce
materials in getting those ma
terialS out. The Government is
determined to see that homes
are built, first for the veterans
of the nation and then for the
people generally. 'f.a'#l~ ~.
3 Already, / have been in con-
tact with some of the companies
formerly building ships in Flor
ida and some lumber mills about
helping the house building pro-
gram by beginning to manufact-
ure prefabricated houses. l have
been very much interested ID
see whether the end of the wa,
and the closing of many Army
and Navy installations in Florida
were going to affect our State
adversely. 1t has been very
pleasing to me to have business
men tell me they don't notice
any diminution in bask deposits
and in the purchasing power of
the people. That is a good sign.
1t indicates that Florida is funda-
mentally sound.
Coming on from Tampa to Or
l5tido, truly one of the beauty
spots of all the world, l got to
take part in Postal Education
Week, program for the educa-
ton of school children and the
people generally in the correct
addressing and mailing of mail
and parcels, ably sponsored by
Orlando's very keen and alert
Postmaster, Jimmy Bags. Thous-
ands of school childres took part
In the program, to which Orange
Codnty's outstanding Superin-
tendent of Public instruction,
Judson Walker, gave his very
strong support. Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General, Mr.. Walter
Myers, was down from Washing
ton. Postal Education Week,
started by Jimmy Boggs in Or
lando, was proclaimed State
wide event by Governor Willard
Caldwell and has been recognized
by the Post Office Department
IN Washington. l am glad to see
Florida continuing to lead the
Nation with new and good things.
AS an old school teacher, am
never happier than when l get
to meet with a group of teachers.