Pinellas History

By Compiled by Times staff writers

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 6, 2000

May 23, 1911

The Most Remarkable Political and Legislative Victory in the History of Florida is Now Consummated

Notwithstanding the rainy evening, a large crowd, red fire and cheers greeted Mr. S.D. Harris when, accompanied by Mrs. Harris, he alighted from the train Saturday night upon his return from the finish for the victorious campaign for Pinellas county at Tallahassee.

It has been hoped that Hon. John S. Taylor would be received with them, but Mr. Taylor had thought it best to remain at the capital until all the formalities of the bill should be disposed of.

The reception given Mr. Harris was one any citizen must be proud of. After the greetings, all proceeded to city hall, where in an informal way the citizens were given at first hand a full history of the now historic contest.

Mr. Harris expressed his sincerest appreciation for the reception, but he did not fail to bespeak for all other workers a full consideration, laying especial stress upon the long, loyal and masterly campaign of Mr. Taylor, and according great praise to Sen. McMullen for adhering strictly to his pledge of a square deal for Pinellas despite all the "pressure" from Tampa to compel him to do otherwise.

May 23, 1911

If any one of "The Tampa Bunch" -- as several speakers pleasantly christened them -- has any lingering notion that the people of Pinellas peninsula in the November election are going to vote to have "The Bunch" continue to handle and control their $4,000,000 tax assessment roll for them, instead of doing it themselves, he should have been at Clearwater last night.

It would have busted up his dream; but the sooner such things are busted, the better it really is for the dreamer.

A special train of two coaches loaded to the gunnels from St. Petersburg, and then some more from Largo, rolled into the new county seat at 7:30, and marched up the main thoroughfare of the city, being greeted by Clearwater's splendid band, and with the Clearwater crowds and delegations from Tarpon Springs, Green Springs (now Safety Harbor) and other points assembled in and around the big band stand.

A larger gathering of more representative people more unitedly and enthusiastically celebrating a better cause was never gathered anywhere -- not even in Philadelphia in 1776, which time and place were used as a comparison by many of the earnest people present. S.S. Coachman of Clearwater was the first speaker and made a rousing speech. S.D. Harris of St. Petersburg followed with a sketch of the work in Tallahassee, and also made a plea for credit for St. Petersburg's oft-made assurances that she was not seeking the county seat, now or at any other time.

Mr. Joel McMullen, in a characteristically Joelesque speech, told of the conditions that had made him a divisionist. W.L. Straub offered a tribute to the sterling stand against unfair "pressure" made by Sen. Don C. McMullen and urged further that St. Petersburg meant to stand by the motto, "A Square Deal," upon which the campaign had been made and won, the square deal of the future demanding that the county seat be in the center of the county and that all parts treat each other fairly in all affairs.

Former County Commissioner A.C. Turner, claiming to be the original county divisionist, and seeming to prove it, made a speech full of shots that went straight to the mark, speaking from personal experience and knowledge of the inner workings of Hillsborough that has expended many hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxes without giving Pinellas any appreciable substantial improvements. Mr. Turner knows whereof he speaks, and is loaded for any and all emergencies.

Dr. Sessions of Green Springs, who was formerly a strong anti-divisionist, paid a glowing tribute to old Hillsboro and her strong men, but said that after mature consideration and fair judgment he and other Green Springs citizens would put their shoulders to the wheel for the new county, which was not to injure Tampa but to help make Florida still greater.

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