Having Florida’s capital tucked in the corner of the state in a far-flung city like Tallahassee has been a constant source of conversation almost since Florida became a state in 1845. Over the years, the Orlando Sentinel has been a big proponent of moving the capital to a more central location, like, oh, Orlando.
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One of the Sentinel’s big pushes to relocated the capital here came in 1933, with editorials and news stories explaining the virtues of making the City Beautiful the Capital City. It included a look back at previous failed efforts and explained what needed to happen for it to become a reality.
“Let us sell ourselves on the idea of removing the capital to Orlando,” a Sentinel editorial stated. “The Sentinel suggests the formation of a group of citizens to work year-in and year-out for the next four or five years, if need be, on such a project. Certainly there is no other civic program as ambitious as this one.”
Here’s a portion of one story by Herbert Mosher about moving the capital that appeared in the Orlando Sunday Sentinel and Reporter-Star on Sept. 3, 1933:
In this era of new deals many a good citizen is wondering why Florida could not be dealt a new capital. Many a Floridian is asking: Can the capital be moved from Tallahassee to Orlando?
The answer is, “Yes.” Authority is several of Orlando’s best attorneys. Legal steps necessary to make Orlando the capital of Florida are so simple, in fact, that any one can figure them out. Article 3, Section 1 of the Constitution of Florida at the present time reads: “The seat of government shall be at the city of Tallahassee in the county of Leon.” However, the Constitution of Florida can be revised to read: “The seat of government shall be at the city of Orlando in the county of Orange.”
All that is required to switch capitals is a constitutional amendment. To bring about such an amendment, as shall presently be seen, is not an involved matter.
Only political trickery can prevent such an amendment for as Orlando’s good mayor, Sam Way-declares: “I think that 75 percent of the people of Florida would be glad to see the capital moved to Orlando. It seems to me that in the past such a move has been blocked by a minority of about 25 percent.”
Before going further into the legal steps necessary to locate the state capital in the center of population where untold benefits would accrue to the citizens of the entire state – including the citizens of West Florida – it might be well for this writer to recall something of previous battles to move the capital.
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Bill Brokaw, one of Orlando’s old-timers and a Florida born historian, remembers the time Ocala made an effort to secure the capital. That was about 47 years ago, as Mr. Brokaw remembers, and at the time the late Tom Harris started a newspaper in Ocala which he called “The New Capital.”
Apparently this campaign died out and for a time the politicians in West Florida slept peacefully. Finally, so Mr. Brokaw declares, another wave of enthusiasm to move the capital swept the state – as he remembers this was about the year 1897 – and a proposed constitutional amendment was drafted.
Jacksonville, St. Augustine, DeLand, Ocala, Orlando and Lakeland entered the arena to try for the prize and eventually the people voted to cast ballots. Tallahassee, naturally a powerful contender, had no difficulty whatever in coming out on top with the remaining vote split between half a dozen or so cities. The contest was like sending in half a dozen small boys to box with Jack Dempsey – the outcome was all settled before the battle began. As Mr. Brokaw remembers Jacksonville received the second highest number of votes in the so-called contest.
Geographically, Tallahassee hasn’t a leg to stand on. When it comes to reciting history it’s mighty difficult to find anything worthy of praise which ever originated up in that country. Then, too, the appearance of a state capital counts for something – some would say it counts for a lot. Is Tallahassee as beautiful a city as Orlando? And, especially, is the state capitol building an attractive building? Which any Floridian could point to with pride? Is the capitol building an asset to the state?
On several occasions this writer has had the pleasure of gazing at the aforesaid state capitol building at Tallahassee … which looked, at first glance, like a garage only there was a kind of dome on top and garages usually do not have domes.
“Hey! What building is that?” your correspondent asked. “Is that the post office?”
“That is the state capitol building,” was the reply of the one addressed.
Orlando, of course, should have a most attractive building. The building should be the most beautiful and imposing structure in the entire state. It is generally admitted that Orlando’s capitol building should be located on the shores of a lake. It has been suggested that from the capitol grounds should radiate a number of fine highways, like the spokes of a wheel, over which Floridians could drive, easily and quickly, to all parts of the state.
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