The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-03-23
THE COMING CONVENTION

C0Tlkles Sugges ions Commented ON,
baltimore sun
In his inaugural address at Charles
ton, on March 4, Governor William A,
MacCorkle, OF West Virginia, expressed
his hearty sympathy with the object Of
the approaching convention of south
ern governors to bO held April -, in
Richmond, Va, In order to speed tho
development OF the South 1t Is desired,
among other things, to inaugurate u
concerted movement for the promotion
OF immigration from the North and
Northwest The time has arrived for
such movement The tide that for
merly flowed 80 steadily TO tho West
and Northwest is now stayed, The at
fractions in those directions are not 80
great as they were, and enterprising
men are looking Tor opportunities in
other quarters. Not only has tho west
ward flow been arrested, says Governor
MacCorkle, but ''at this time the reflex
tide OF immigration is again directed to
the South and Southwest and away
from the Northwest" II is for the lead
ing men Of the South, by suitable effort,
to give new direction to this reflex
tide" The Richmond convention will
give progressive men with progressive
ideas al audience capable OF apprcciat-
ing applying with prospects of success
the suggestions they may have to otter
for the attainment OF the general desire,
Governor MacCorkls expresses a
special interest in 1.-THE small land own
or and actual settler" West Virginia
needs 10 DO OH its guard, he thinks, II it
IL to escape having "land problem"
such as has been plaguing Ireland for
so many centuries. The extent and
cheapness of tho mineral lands and
timber lands OF the state have tempted
iron.kingS lumber.ktngs and other big
capitalists OF Pennsylvania, New York
and Ohio to buy vast areas. These
aliens do not reside on their Estates
but hold them "lor rise." Many OF
them, owning similar properties else
where, which have larger present
value, arc interested to prevent the
growth OF competition i'll West Vir-
ginia and other states of the South.
What they own in the South they own
for the protection OF their larger inter-
ests in other sections. They are &C.
cordngly not helps, but positive and
intentional hindrances 10 tho develop.
lncnL OF the South's natural resources.
There arc, no doubt, exceptions, but It
is unquestionably the fact that local
enterprise is i'll many regions checked
and paralyzed by want OF interest on
the part OF absent landowners in local
development.
The nature Of the problem is best de-
scribed in the governors own words:
1.-THE state" he says, sis rapidly passing
under the control OF large foreign and
nonresident landowners. Wewelcome
into our state the immigrant who comes
TO us with tho idca OF liome.seeking and
BODYBUILDING with all its profits to the
state, with its family ties, with its clear.
ing of the forests, its building OF church
and school.house, its expenditure OF all
that is made in our state and its eXer-
ciso OF citizenship. But tho men who
to-day are purchasing theimmense areas
OF tho most valuable lands in the state
are not citizens, and have onlypurchased
in order that they may carry
TO their distant homes in tho
north the usufruct OF tho lands
of West Virginia, thus depicting tho
state OF its wealth to build grandeur
and splendor in other states. In few
years at tho preseut rate OF progress VIC
will occupy the same position OF Vas-
palagc to tho North and East that Ire
land does to England, and, to some ex-
tent, for the same reasons. | do not in
any way wish to he understood as do
crying incoming wealth or offering OBJ
struCtion to its advent in our midst,
but believe that West Virginia, the
South and Southwest should take steps
to bring into their borders the small i'm.
migrant or home.builder, and thus, by
the actual settlers efforts, our lands will
be developed, those living upon them
and spending in our state the fruits OF
our mines, forests and fields. The effort
should be made by us to bring tho small
settler as well as the large landowner,
but not one to the exclusion Of tho
other"
The problem hero outlined is not con-
fined TO West Virginia. 1t is found in
the west rs we'll as in tho south. The
best solution OF it, Governor MacCorkle
thinks, Is the incoming OF "the small
land owner and actual settler" He
will, accordingly, 'oiler any assistance"
in his power ITO legislative or other NC
ton" looking to the promotion Of an in.
fluX Of actual settlers from other states.
The situation is worthy of tho best en-.
orgies Of tho wisest mon Of the south.
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