The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-18
DIDN'T LIKE THEIR RECEPTION.
THE FARMERS CONGRESS HAD TO
PAY ITS WAY IN ATLANTA.


Delegates, in Which He Reviews
the Manner in which the Congress
Was Treated-siaj. RyaIs Explains
How He Came 10 Invite the Com
gFess TO AtIanta-He Put I'D $50 TO
Cover the Expenses.
The National Farmers Congress, which
met in Atlanta last month. viii probably
not meet there again very soon. The con-
gress had a very chilly reception. and the
delegates here said good many things
about it that it would not be pleasant
for Atlantans to hear
Secretary John NJ. StahI Of Chicago, a
leading writer on agricultural topics, and
a prominent IllinOisan, has issued a let
ter to the delegates, showing the man
ner OF the reception and treatment Of the
congress in Atlanta. The letter was au-
thorized by the congress before fl ad-
journed. 1t is quite lengthy and shows
how the congress came to meet in At
lanta and how it was treated after it got
there
The congress met in Savannah three
years ago and had a most hospitable re-
ception, which the members have not
forgotten. The next year it met in Park
ersburg, W. Va. "At Parkersburg, says
Mr.. Stahl, in his letter, Seven cities ex-
tended an invitation to the congress to
holds its next session. The invitation
from Atlanta was by far the most ELUSIVE
and elaborate the congress had ever re-
ceived. 1t was printed and was signed
by the governor at that time, the presi-
dent of the Senate, the speaker OF the
House NOW governoD, by the mayor and
council of the city, by the mayor-elect,
by the officers of the Georgia Division
United Confederate Veterans, by the
president (for the executive committed
of the Cotton States ond International
Exposition, by both Georgias United
States senators, by the com
missioner Of agriculture, by the
president of the State Agricultural So
ciety, and by Representative Georgians
in each congressional district" The work
of presenting the invitation to the COM
mittee on location and the congress was
placed upon Maj. Ryals of Savannah, our
first vice president, as he is an eloquent
and persuasive public speaker. Remem-
bering the hearty assurance given him
and Capt. Purse at Sedalia; knowing
that the invitation was singed by some
that certainly knew of the requirements
Of the congress, and by others that GER
tainly ought to have known, if they did
not know, those requirements; and pre-
suming as anyone else would have done.
that Atlanta would be glad to do as much
for the congress as all other cities in which
II had met had heretofore done, especially
as in practically every case those cities
had been smaller and had not gotten up
such profuse Invitations. he promised, on
behalf of Atlanta, that that city would
pay the expenses OF the congress, which,
IT was supposed, would not be less than
500 or more than Sl.O00. The congress,
up this invitation. decided to meet in
Atlanta.
During the twelve months that inter-
vened between the meeting Of the congress
at Palkersburg and Atlanta, Mr..
SeaiIt say no oncer or the
congress received any intimation
that Atlanta would not redeem the prom
Uses made in her behalf. On the contrary,
the Atlanta people with whom the secre-
tary had to do frequently wrote as If At
lanta would pay all expenses"
When the western delegates started
south TO attend the congress they went
as body from Chicago ana accompanied
by the president and secretary of the con-
gress, the officers of the executive COM
mittee and the wives and daughters of
the delegates. The secretary telegraphed
the Atlanta committee of the coming of
the party and asked that accOmmoda tons
be secured. when the party arrived in At
lanta," Mr.. Stahl says, there was not
a person at the depot to meet it, and the
women and children had to sit in a crowd
ed depot until the president and secretary
drove about the city and engaged rooms.
Your secretary will not soon forget the
look Of sorrow and humiliation on the
face of the honored president of this
congress! He remembered the kind, hos
pitable treatment of the other cities in
which the congress had met. He knew,
Parkersburgr'
Mr.. Stahl goes on to show the import
ance of the congress as a national organi-
cation, and refers TO the prominence of
its president, Hon. y. f. Clayton, and
adds: This man came in his official ca
pacity of president of the Farmers Ma
tional Congress, to preside over the first
Pan-American Agricultural Parliament;
he came in response TO a fulsome invita-
ton; and in all Atlanta there was not one
to show him, or the women and children
that came with him, the least attention or
consideration"
When it was too late to make other ar
engagements, the congress was notified by
Gov Atkinson that it could not meet in
the capitol. The exposition authorities
offered the auditorium. and one of the ex-
position directors, who had signed the
invitation to the congress to come to At
lanta, notified the secretary that the ex-
position directors expected to derive a
considerable revenue from the meeting
Of the congress on the exposition grounds!
Through the kindness of the mayor the
congress was permitted to meet in tht,
city council chamber. OF the officials that
signed the invitation to the congress.
Mayor King was the only one to welcome
ii or to show it any attention whatever.
with the exception of ex-Goy Northen
ana LOT the Hfsl time IN the history OF tnf.
congress II was not welcomed by the gov
eTnor Of the state when it met in the cap
ital city.
After, the congress had been in session
three days its finance committee report-
ed that it had not been able TO get a dol
lar from Atlanta. The delegates then
proposed to defray the expenses which
had been incurred by an assessment un0n
the members and an assessment of *
was levied. In the meantime one of The
Georgia delegates asked for a committee
of I'VE TO see what could be done. The
committee was appointed and promised
to get the money which had been Dieged
It failed to do so, however. Bv mar
time most Of the delegates had gone home
and the only way to pay the expenses ~
the session was by assessment which WAS
collected from the members still in AZ
tendance, and since the congress adiOurn-
ed all of the delegates have been notified
of the assessment.
Maj. g. NJ Ryals, first vice prssi-
dent of the congress, who had seconded 1
the invitation Of Mr.. WILDLY al Parirsrs-
burg 10 come to Atlanta forward -
check for $50. ana the secretary says that |
is all the money the congress mas re-
ceived from Georgia. The delegatss |
present when the congress adfoiirno5
paid, in addition TO their assessment fbs |
expenses Of postmistress. serpeants4
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